Here at Glamour, we’re pretty serious about blush. Our beauty editors are constantly on the look out for blushes that deliver perfect cherub cheeks. We’ve tried everything from viral TikTok wonders to trendy colors and cult favorites in search of the prettiest flush.
When I look for blush, my greatest concern isn’t the formula or pigment (though they are two very important factors). Instead, the big test is the finish—how the product appears on my skin. As someone who has struggled with acne my whole life, I’ve found that most blushes tend to enhance my blemishes and texture. The deep, pitted acne scars on the sides of my cheeks are my biggest insecurity, so the last thing I want to do is draw more attention to them.
I’ve always been a big fan of the Pat McGrath Labs formulas. Yes, the brand is celeb-loved, and sure, McGrath is a runway makeup legend, but her products truly live up to the hype. Most important, I’ve never met a Pat McGrath blush I didn’t like. The reason? McGrath’s formulas never enhance my texture and have the most flattering blurring effect on my skin. It’s basically like wearing an IRL filter.
You can imagine how excited I was when McGrath announced her latest launch, the Divine Blush: Legendary Glow Colour Balm. Just in time for summer, the blush stick is a cream formula promising a juicy skinlike glow. Enhanced with skin care ingredients like squalane, passion fruit extract, and shea butter, the Colour Balms are multiuse for the cheeks, lips, and eyes.
The shades come in six vibrant colors: soft peach coral, warm pink coral, soft rose, rich cool rose, warm sienna, and rich berry. I was able to view the full range at an event Pat McGrath Labs hosted to celebrate the new launch (perks of being a beauty editor!) and immediately gravitated toward the rich, cool rose color, Fleurotique.
Chatting with one of McGrath’s skilled makeup artists, I learned the best way to apply the Colour Balm is with a fluffy brush. Using a gentle tapping motion, she deposited the color onto my cheekbones for a bit of lift, before applying the excess onto my apples. The result was the most natural glowy flush—like I had just spent the whole day at the beach. My cheeks looked smooth and glassy, instead of textured and rough.
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