Who needs bronzer this summer when sun-flushed cheeks are having such a beauty moment? The Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash blush is the latest launch to make light work of adding a rosy glow to the tops of your cheeks and bridge of your nose. But how does it stand out from the rest of the blusher crowd?
The first thing to note is that it's not a buttery cream formula. Instead, it's that more elusive of blusher textures: a liquid. But if you're imagining a pigment-heavy, ‘90s cheek stain situation, think again. This is like the beauty equivalent of tinted fruit water, so the texture is lighter, making it more of a cheek tint.
This is down to the water-based formula (think mineral-rich sea water and coconut fruit water), which creates the type of sheer, watercolour finish that still lets freckles have their day. Plus, the shot of hydration ensures the blush won't greedily cling to uneven patches of dry skin.
It's also worth mentioning that the formula is shot through with skin-brightening vitamin C from an Australian superfruit – so the aim here is very much a natural, lit-from-within flush rather than statement draping.
The Products
As for how to apply the Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash blush? The brand recommends using the pipette to dispense a couple of drops directly onto your cheeks and blending them in with your fingers. Or use the back of your hand as an easel and then apply the blusher with a brush (just note that, either way, you'll need to wash your hands immediately afterwards as it does stain the skin).
There are three shades available: Coral, a warm red-orange hue; Vintage Rose, a berry shade with mauve undertones and Flushed, a bright red colour. They are said to work on all skin tones, so you can be guided by your mood or how intense you want to blush.
Here's what our editors had to say when they tried it out…
Fiona, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director
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Shade: Flushed
I like low-key makeup that meshes invisibly with my skin, so I was probably destined to love this blusher. But honestly, my first reaction when I saw the frosted glass bottle was a deflated, “Oh God, not a liquid blush…”. My track record with this type of product is not good (read: my cream bedroom carpet resembled a crime scene the last time I tried a cheek stain).
That all changed when I added a few drops of Flushed (reportedly Victoria's go-to shade) to the back of my hand, swirled a makeup brush into the liquid and swept it across the high points of my cheeks and bridge of my nose. It added a convincing, gossamer-fine flush to my face but was so subtle that I actually found myself going in for another dip and swipe.
It took me a little longer to master the finger application. I'd recommend only using a smidgen – like one or two drops applied with your head tilted to the side – and then build up the intensity.
Also a word of warning: The Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash blush doesn't set quite as quickly as old-school cheek stains but you still have to work fast. And, like any cheek tint, you need to have moisturised skin underneath in order to create some slip for blending (I apply it after serum, sunscreen and before bronzer).
I really love the finish – it's one of the most authentic flushes I've ever created using blusher (and I've tested a lot of blushers in my career). It literally looks like my skin is doing the blushing and feels like I don't have any makeup on at all, which ticks a lot of boxes for me. The staying power is another big plus – most non-powder blushers disappear on my skin after a few hours but this didn't budge even on a humid day.
I've used the Colour Wash every day since filming and, if I was scoring on the end result alone, I'd award it a rare perfect 10. I also always apply my complexion products in the bathroom before heading out in the morning so it fits neatly into my routine. But, for full transparency, I'm knocking off a point simply because you wouldn't be able to apply this on the go (unless you were equipped with wet wipes).
Rating: 9/10
Sophie, Senior Commerce Editor, GLAMOUR, Europe
I've been a powder blush girlie for as long as I can remember. I've had a handful of coral-toned blushes that I've used, religiously, on rotation – but this summer has had me wondering whether a pivot to cream or liquid would help me achieve that coveted dewy glow a little better. As such, the launch of the Victoria Beckham Colour Wash blush felt perfectly timed: a serum-like watercolour blush, which promises a natural-looking flush.
TBH, I didn't set off to a great start – I found the applicator tricky to dispense the product through without using both hands, and I struggled to neatly apply the product directly to my cheeks without it dripping everywhere. I tried dispensing the product onto my hand instead, but thanks to the products' insane staying power, my fingers were quickly very stained.
Eventually, I settled on using a beauty blender – which, I learned, felt like the best approach. Applying the product to the flat side of the blender before buffing it quickly into my skin left a pretty, pigmented flush (that stayed all day).
As someone who often applies their makeup on trains and Tubes, I'm not sure this is something I'll be using day-to-day – but when I've got a little more time to spend on my complexion at home, (with a sink nearby) I'd definitely reach for it.
Rating: 7/10
Dominic, Acting Beauty Editor
Shade: Coral
I'm slightly torn on the Victoria Beckham Colour Wash blush. This product bills itself as a watercolour blush, so don't expect a highly pigmented pay-off. Instead, the serum-like formula leaves a wash of colour that gives the most natural-looking flush I've ever seen. I went for the shade Coral, which complemented my skin tone perfectly and left it looking nice and dewy.
Now, here's why I'm torn. I use my fingers for applying almost all of my cosmetics – the universe gave them to me for a reason! While the brand suggests using a brush, I threw caution to the wind and applied with my fingers anyway, which meant most of the product ended up all over them and didn't budge – even after scrubbing. While this is a testament to its long-lasting wear, I don't love the idea of leaving the house with pink-stained fingers.
Rating: 6/10
Lian, Senior Manager, Audience Development
Shade: Vintage Rose
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little caught off guard when I tried the new Victoria Beckham Colour Wash blush – purely because I have never come across a liquid blush quite like this! The water-like consistency intrigued me, with the vibrancy of the colour being apparent even before application.
Using the shade Vintage Rose, I dropped some of the product on the back of my hand with a pipette before picking it up with a buffer brush. Applying this felt like painting a watercolour in the most whimsical possible way, with the shade coming up in a beautiful mauve flush, which looked super natural and wearable.
A little goes a long way, and the key with this seems to be to apply not long after your skincare to make it easier to blend in. Overall, I loved how this melted into my skin and was so impressed with its staying power through the day.
Rating: 7/10
Katie, Senior SEO Manager
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Shade: Vintage Rose
As a low-maintenance makeup gal, I'm always hesitant and critical when trying new products, as I only keep a select few in my rotation. The products need to be easy to apply, long lasting and easy to transport! I was pleasantly surprised by the Victoria Beckham Colour Wash blush.
While the application takes a bit of training to get just right, the long-lasting wear and petite size makes it reliable and easy to throw in my makeup bag for a quick post-work touch up. The product itself feels almost like watercolour paint. It's so lightweight and, dare I say, dewy? It feels cooling to the skin upon application and blends like a dream.
I was a little intimidated initially and a bit worried that I went too dark with my shade selection of Vintage Rose, but the pigment gave me that perfectly flushed look that I love to achieve with a blush. Overall, this blush is definitely making it into my rotation!
Rating: 8/10
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
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