Rare Beauty Nearly Neutral Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush Review & Swatches

Nearly Neutral

Rare Beauty Nearly Neutral Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush Rare Beauty Nearly Neutral Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush ($21.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a muted, dusty pink with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer to semi-sheer color coverage in a single layer, which was as described, and could be built up in coverage, but I felt the formula made that less desirable as the product became more prone to lifting and pushing away from itself (which resulted in a patchier, more uneven result) even if the coverage did build up otherwise.

The texture was emollient, lightweight, and thin–more like a traditional cream blush–when initially touched and picked up from the pan, but it turned to a drier, more powder-like feel when it came into contact with skin. Because I found the product to be less forgiving after it had dried down (and it is very quick to do so!), brushes gave me more working time and ultimately a higher success rate than fingertips. I found fingertips were better for getting a little top up of additional color if I only needed it in a very small area. It worked well applied over bare skin and over lighter coverage foundations for that initial layer.

It wore well for eight hours before fading visibly but wasn’t prone to sliding around as it didn’t remain wet or tacky after it was applied.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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MAC Spring Flock (LE, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
NARS Day Dream (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Interstellar (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
NARS Croisette (LE, $30.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Cat's Eye (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Persona Carmel (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
MAC Cheer Up (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
KIKO 108 Orange Coral (DC, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Tarte Endless (LE, $29.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
Rare Beauty Nearly Mauve (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$21.00/0.17 oz. - $123.53 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be a "liquid-like cream" that "melts" on skin for a "second skin" look with a "wash of soft-focus color" that is "water-resistant" and has a "satin finish." It did seem water-resistant when I tested it on the back of my hand and certainly didn't move readily after it had been blended out and dried down.

The texture was thin, emollient, and more like a traditional cream in the pan and when initially picked up on a fingertip or a brush, but it was quick to dry down and turn to a more powder-like finish that was satin-like--not totally matte but not dewy at all--when it came into contact with skin. For this reason, a stippling brush was a little easier to work with and more forgiving than a fingertip.

The pigmentation was as marketed; it was sheer to semi-sheer with some ability to build up coverage, but the more silicone-heavy formula was better with one or two layers than more heavily built up as it had a tendency to pill and lift when fussed with too much. I don't know that I'd consider it to be an effortless formula, but once you figure out the best technique, the results themselves, as the coverage is sheerer, are more foolproof.

The formula worked better on bare skin and lighter coverage foundations that were more matte to natural but not overly dewy/luminous. The formula was blendable, but if I didn't get a decent blend quickly, it was harder to correct on its own; it was easier to blend out the edges using my foundation brush (and whatever was leftover on it) to soften any unblended edges. They lasted between seven and eight hours on me before fading visibly.

Browse all of our Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Isodecyl Isononanoate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR: Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 6 (CI 15850)].

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.