First Blush

Elizabeth Arden's new blush and highlighter collection delivers the glow up you didn't know you needed

Hello, Gorgeous!

Does anyone else have this weird summer beauty conundrum? Despite slathering on SPF at all times and wearing hats, I have healthy color on my face, but am still unable to find a blush that works for my summer skin. Powder blush sinks into the aforementioned SPF leaving very attractive streaks that highlight fine lines. Gel or liquid blush look blotchy as I inevitably sweat it all off. Which is why I was delighted/excited to find Elizabeth Arden’s brand new collection, which is the perfect happy medium for glowy summer skin.

Elizabeth Arden Powder Blush and Highlighter

This isn’t going to be a great big review. You know why? Because this is the lightest, fluffiest blush I can remember trying. And despite the texture of these powder products being as soft as week-old kittens, there’s a whole lotta pigment if you need it. Better to layer gently instead of swiping on a lot at once.

Interestingly enough, the marketing language says this line is designed to melt into your skin. It doesn’t quite do that. It adds a bit of shimmer of healthy glow without being obvious.

This isn’t an extensive launch, though I hope more colors follow.

For right now there are five shades with the descriptions provided by the brand with my input afterward:

• Berry Kiss: A cool, deep pink with plum undertones (this is the shade I tried, but it was a bit too deep for my skintone).

• Pink Sunset: A warm, bright pink glow infused with golden shimmer

• Blushing Mauve: A soft, rosy mauve with a matte finish

• Nearly Nude: A neutral brown with subtle champagne shimmer

• Rose Quartz Glow: A light pink highlighter with cool undertones to brighten the high points of the face with an ethereal glow (I tried this one too. Very fun shade with a ton of shimmer. I’d almost use this one as an eyeshadow highlighter instead).

The compact is a lovely lightweight brushed gold that should be easy to carry around for touch-ups on the go.

Incidentally, don’t use the blush brush that comes in the compact to apply the blush or highlighter. While it’s definitely better than in days gone by, this blush requires a great big fluffy brush so you can apply subtly and maximize the glow or sheen $31, elizabetharden.com).

Random pro tip: I don’t always carry makeup brushes with me when out and about. While blush brushes that come with blush aren’t great for applying blush, they can be fantastic for eyeshadow. So for instance the brush in this compact is a lot wider than the kind that come with eyeshadow, making it great for applying neutral color eyeshadow or blending on the go.

Are you having problems finding the perfect summer blush ? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋