Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Colour

The Beauty of Crème Blush

Blush is available in a variety of formulas, ranging from powders and cream to liquids and gels. I've always favored the liquid and cream versions because their lasting power is so superior to the other formulas. It follows that I've also tested a wide variety of these formulas in order to ascertain which is best (and also because it appears I have no problem adding to my seemingly endless blush collection).

Though everything I've tried has had its share of pros and cons, cream blushes all share a generally similar consistency and offer the promise of a natural, long-lasting flush. In my experience, not all of these blushes actually live up to their lofty claims. One that passed the test with flying colors, though, was the Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Colour.

Blush Fanatics Love It

If you're a blush fanatic, you may already be familiar with Laura Mercier's line of blushes. She offers a variety of formulas, including:

• Basic Powder
• Mineral Powder
• Illuminating Highlighter
• Highlighting Stick
• Face Tint
• Shimmer Powder
• Crème Blush

When it comes to staying power and practical color, nothing tops the cream version. Just a stroke on each cheek is enough to see you from an early morning meeting to a late night dinner.

Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Color Selections

Don't be fooled by the fact that this versatile product is only available in four color selections. I was almost immediately struck by how flattering each shade was on my relatively fair skin. Colors I normally never wear, like neutral browns, suddenly became options for me. The moral of this story? Don't commit to any one color before trying them all out.

Blaze

At first glance, the coral-rose color might scare some people off (it sure did me!). Despite that, I gave it a shot in the interest of fairness. I blended a small dab into the apples of my cheeks and was more than surprised at the end result.

While I expected something more akin to red blotches, I was pleased to see that my skin looked vibrant, fresh and naturally flushed. That's no small feat, since a blush that appears so dark can take on quite an unattractive cast on fair skin. This was a pleasant surprise.

Canyon

One of my holy grail blushes and a staple in my makeup kit, Canyon is one of those colors that very easily suits most skin tones. Despite its slightly ruddy, orangey appearance (sounds great, doesn't it?), Canyon is a true champion when it comes to brightening up the face.

Ideal to wear year round, it lends the skin a warm, peachy-tan glow. If I want to deepen the color, I dust a hint of bronzer directly on top of the blush. If I want to tone it down a bit, I use Mercier's Loose Setting Powder to counteract the color and bring it to a level I'm more comfortable with. Of all the options available, Canyon offers the most versatility, wears well with all shades of eye and lip makeup I own, and makes me look awake – even when I'm running on four hours of sleep.

Oleander

This is truly a shade I never imagined I'd be able to pull off. In fact, I shied away from it in a way most people jump when they see '80s-style blue eye shadow. It's a cross between mauve and pink and is by far the most "girly" shade of the bunch. Though not suitable for everyone, it did offer me a faint bit of color. Strangely, no matter how much I built it up, I couldn't achieve anything brighter than a vaguely pink tint. It did flatter my face, though I didn't feel it was enough color to pull off a truly well-blushed look.

Praline

Don't let the beige-brown appearance of this blush fool you. It is by far one of the most wearable shades out there! Individuals who tend to steer clear of browns may opt to skip this one, but in my opinion it's worth a try anyway. I was never fond of deeper shades until I gave this a shot. Praline offers some semblance of a healthy tan (without the obvious dangers of the natural method). It's slightly less warm than Canyon, yet it provides a similarly vibrant glow that pairs well with all makeup shades.

Application Methods and Tips

Cream blush is practically foolproof to apply. The only secret is to blend quickly and thoroughly! I prefer to apply it to the apples of my cheeks and blend it outward. This lends my face a very natural glow that isn't limited solely to my cheeks and it helps prevent that unfortunate streaky look.

It goes without saying, of course: Apply cream blush after you've applied your moisturizer and foundation. In my experience, moisturizer of any kind is a must – for me, it's twofold: My dry skin needs it and it helps the blush blend in flawlessly.