Review: Make Up For Ever HD Blush

I love Make Up For Ever's foundations, but until now, that was the only product that I ever used from them. About a year ago now, they came out with their HD Microfinish Cream blushes.They are described on the Sephora website as "A cream blush that naturally sculpts and highlights the cheeks for a healthy glow. HD Microfinish Blush combines mattifying and reflecting powders to create a soft-focus effect for a radiant complexion. Its ultra-fine, second-skin texture blends seamlessly, imparting a healthy glow that's hard not to notice." They are also long-lasting, dermatologist tested and paraben free. They come in 14 shades on the Sephora website, I know there are more shades available however.

These blushes retail for $25US/$29 CAD, you get 10ml in this really cute plastic bottle with a nice pump. However, it's the pump that turns out to be the letdown. Since you only need the tiniest (I mean tiny tiny!) amount of this product, what you get when you pump out some is far too much and it's wasteful. I personally would never ever go through a bottle of this stuff. A good option is to pump out some into a sample jar (like the ones I have below) and then use it from there, that way you get as much as you need. In terms of application though, these are a dream, they look like your skin, and trump any powder blush that I've ever used. Cream blushes are definitely the way to go, these are like a cream-liquid texture. They last all day for me, they have a luminous finish and blend in nicely. I apply these with my fingers, dot a tiny amount on each cheek and then blend in quickly to get the most natural and quick application.

I've been testing out samples of these for a while now, I started with 2, the ones in the centre and then got more as I went along. You can get samples at Sephora, just ask the sales people and they will happily give you some. And I highly suggest getting samples of these, it's all you will need for a long, long time! There are lots of colours, but I am a fan of peaches and pinks myself. I ended up getting the full size of 12 First Kiss which is a beautiful orange peach shade (Sephora calls it a "bright apricot"), perfect for summer and totally the colour that I go for most in blush.

And here are swatches of the samples. As you can tell these are super pigmented and bright, although once you blend them out they aren't as shocking. I am betting that everyone can find a shade that they like. From left to right: 4 Walk of Shame (bubblegum pink), 6 Quickie (salmon pink), 7 One Too Many (peachy beige), 12 First Kiss (bright apricot), 13 Smooth Talker (vibrant pale pink) and 14 Star Struck (pale peach). For more swatches of all the colours, check out Karlasugar's swatches here. On my NC15 skin, I find Quickie turns out looking more red than the pretty colour that it looks here. Smooth Talker shows up a tiny bit, I would suggest that one for the ubber fair, or else you will have to build it up quite a lot.

Would I recommend this product? Totally I love these. Get a sample at Sephora and see if you like them before committing to the high price though, that sample will last you loads of time and will give you a chance to get used to the texture and application of these.