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Blush is the first thing to disappear from my face. By 2pm it's usually a faint memory, and by dinner I look like I've had a long week, even when I haven't. So this autumn I set myself a challenge: wear a different blush every working day, apply at 8am, and take a photo at noon, 4pm and 8pm.
Fourteen blushes went in. Five came out the other side.
How I tested
All blushes were applied over the same base: moisturiser with SPF, a light skin tint and a little setting powder through the centre of the face. I didn't touch up. Days included an office day, a long train journey, a studio shoot under hot lights and one family wedding with a great deal of dancing.
A blush "survived" if it was still clearly visible in the 8pm photo, without patchiness or a strange colour shift.
The five that made it
1. Parlour Beauty Cheek Tint Stick in Petal
The clear winner, and the one I've rebought twice. A cool rose cream that looks like your own flush and grips the skin once it sets. At 8pm it had faded by maybe 20%, evenly. It also works on lips in a pinch. I've written a full review in the shop.
2. Velle Powder Flush in Sorrel
A finely milled powder in a muted brick shade. Powder usually lasts longer on me than cream, and this was no exception, though it looked slightly flat by the end of the day. Best for oily skin.
3. Maren Liquid Blush in Rosehip
Tiny drops, enormous pigment. Use one dot per cheek and blend quickly, because it stains almost instantly. Once it's down, it doesn't move. Not for beginners, but very good once you have the hang of it.
4. Oakhouse Cream-to-Powder Pot in Fig
A deeper berry that turns soft and powdery after a minute. Lovely on medium and deeper skin tones, where many pinks look chalky. It survived the wedding, which is all I'll say.
5. Harlow Glow Balm in Apricot
The most dewy of the five, so I was surprised it lasted. It fades rather than disappears, which is the best you can ask of a balm. Lovely in winter on drier skin.
"Layering a thin cream under a matching powder doubled the wear of almost everything I tried."
The trick that worked for everything
Whatever blush you own, try layering. A thin cream blush first, set with a translucent powder, then a light dusting of powder blush in a similar shade on top. The cream gives the colour something to hold on to, and the powder seals it. Every blush in my test lasted noticeably longer this way, including the ones that didn't make my final five.
What failed and why
Most of the blushes that didn't make it were very emollient creams or sheer jellies. They looked beautiful at 8am and migrated into my smile lines by lunch. If your skin is oily or you wear little powder, look for words like "cream-to-powder", "stain" or "long-wear" on the label.
The verdict
If you buy one, make it a cream blush that sets, then learn the layering trick. Your blush will finally make it to dinner.
