The Cream Blush Making Me Look Alive on Zoom Calls Since 2020
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Is anyone else kind of sick of their own face right now? Same.
Between family FaceTimes, video calls while working from home and staring at my sad reflection in the mirror, I'd rather look at a mouldy bag of baby spinach than my own mug at this point.
That was, until I tried the brand new Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Creme Blush Stick and realised I could go from a shell of a human to a vision of vitality and wellness with one swipe.
Just look at them, would ya?
There's so much to love about these cream blush sticks:
The sleek gold packaging.
The S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G shades.
The way they make you look like you put in effort when you 100 per cent didn't.
I'm going to tell you all about them, as well as show you exactly what each of the shades look like on.
But first, let's quickly go through the blush basics.
Is Cream Blush Better Than Powder?
Look, I'm not about pitting blushes against each other. We love all blushes.
But the difference between cream blush and powder blush comes down to how you want to wear it and the way you apply it.
Powder blushes will last longer and give a more polished effect. They also enjoy being applied with and layered on top of other powders. On the rare occasion I've got a wedding or an all-day event on, I'll choose a powder blush applied after foundation and setting powder because I can trust it won't slide off as easily.
So, how long does cream blush last? Cream blushes don’t always have the same staying power as powder blushes, but that's because they're juicy, dewy, ‘flushed’ - all the good things. They sit beautifully on bare skin or on top of SPF, tinted moisturisers or dewy foundations, and won't go cakey or sit in fine lines (a lot of makeup artists recommend cream blush for mature skin).
Side note - Over 40’s makeup expert Amanda Ramsay showed us her 5-minute daytime glam tutorial (including cream blush) in the IGTV video below!
How to Put on Cream Blush.
Honestly, it couldn't be easier.
You can apply cream blush directly onto your skin and blend with your fingers, or with a makeup brush, or with a damp Beauty Blender sponge. Pro tip: If you use your fingers, you can swipe any excess product over your eyelids as a cream eyeshadow. Win!
There’ll always be differing opinions on where to place your blush. You might've heard about smiling to find the apples of your cheeks to figure out where to put your cream blush. I do this by smiling just slightly - like I have a secret - rather than a full on grin because no one holds a grin for an entire day, right?
I dab a small amount of cream blush onto the apples of my cheeks and blend upwards towards the cheekbone. If you haven't used cream blush before, start small and add more until you're happy with the colour.
As for how to use a cream blush stick, it's even easier because you can swipe it straight onto the skin.
Want more help with applying brush? Adore Beauty Social and Content gal and resident makeup artist Megan shows you how in the video below!
How to Make Cream Blush Last Longer.
Excellent question. Cream blushes are really buildable and easy to reapply throughout the day when you need a lift, but here are a few other tips to try:
- Apply your cream blush in layers (go over your handiwork a few times with the same product).
- Go over your cream blush with a light layer of translucent powder.
- Lightly press a powder blush in the same shade over the top of your cream blush (pressing rather than sweeping keeps your product from moving).
- Try a primer underneath where you want your blush to sit.
- Spray a Beauty Blender in setting spray and press over your cream blush.
My Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Crème Blush Stick Review.
Now for the fun part!
I've been wearing all three shades of the Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Creme Blush Stick on my Zoom work meetings this week and not to toot my own horn, but I looked damn good.
See Exhibit A below.
But about the actual blush though. It's a goodie.
First up, it comes in three fun shades:
Go On Rose (a muted, dusty rose), Pink Lady (a wearable fuchsia) and Save The Coral (a fresh AF salmon coral).
Some experts reckon there are specific shades that'll suit your skin type, but I’m inclined to say it’s about what you like the look of on your own face.
I mean, c'mon. Why just pick one?
This cream blush stick is special because it gives you the best of both worlds: the radiant, 'I just had...' flush of a cream blush and the staying power of a powder blush.
The formula is luscious and creamy but silky at the same time, and glides onto the skin ridiculously easily. Pigment-wise, the colour payoff is impressive and you can wear it sheer or built up into a bright pop of colour.
Once you've blended it out, the cream transforms into a long-wearing velvety, suede-like powder. The paraben, artificial fragrance and mineral oil-free product doesn't contain any shimmer or highlight. And it's vegan, too.
Here are some before and after photos of me wearing each of the blush shades. No photoshop here, just great lighting from sitting in front of a window.
Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Crème Blush Stick in Go On Rose.
Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Crème Blush Stick in Pink Lady.
Napoleon Perdis Cheek Switch Crème Blush Stick in Save The Coral.
And that brings us to the end of my TED Talk on cream blush.
You're welcome.
Feature image: @theamyclark.
