Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush Review & Swatches

Mood

Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush ($28.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a glossy finish. It never fully dried down and remained fairly emollient to the touch (so by no means transfer-resistant), so that glossy finish was very noticeable!

It had sheer coverage, which was as marketed, and could be built up to semi-sheer to medium coverage if desired. The texture had a lot of slip and felt very emollient to the touch, so it was spreadable and blendable, but I was surprised–and happy!–to see that it did retain its color when applied and didn’t just spread away to nothing. The product worked well over bare skin as well as on top of foundation as it did not lift up base products. It stayed on nicely for six hours before fading noticeably.

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

Top Dupes

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Too Faced Peach Berry (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Glossier Storm (P, $18.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Psst (P, $7.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
Clinique Black Honey Pop (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Sublimate (Shade) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
LYS Beauty Empower (P, $16.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
Tower 28 Power Hour (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Buddy (Matte) (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
NARS Dolce Vita (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
NARS Out There (LE, $30.00) is cooler (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$28.00/0.31 oz. - $90.32 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to give a "transparent veil of color" with a "light, balmy finish" that is "long-lasting." It's one of the more emollient consistencies I've come across in cream blushes these days! It looks like a solid, dome-shaped balm, but as soon as I touched it, the texture had high slip and felt almost oily as a result. They delivered on the "transparent veil of color" with sheer to semi-sheer coverage that blended out to a more watercolored-effect on skin.

I was surprised--but in a good way--to find that it applied well over foundation and didn't seem prone to lifting up my base products as often, very emollient textures can interact more noticeably when layered over other things in my experience. It worked well over bare skin, too, and didn't "sink" into pores like some cream blushes have for me.

It didn't dry down and remained movable hours later, so the shorter-wear time (six to seven hours) wasn't a surprise. The product didn't feel tacky, just emollient throughout; I have more "normal" skin on my actual cheek area where I tested this formula (I'm drier near my nose and on my nose).

Browse all of our Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Polyethylene, Silica, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Wax, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax, Cire Microcristalline), Tocopherol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake).

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.