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I had been seeing photos of the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Beautiful Melting Blush all over Facebook and blogs over the past several months. Both the cream formula and the beautiful packaging caught my eye. When Sephora had their VIB sale, I decided to give it a try.
My choice was between Nearly Neutral, a peachy-pink-brownish shade that the Sephora website describes as “soft neutral pink”,
and Nearly Rose, a bright pink that is described as “true pink”.
The pink looked very spring-y, but I was concerned that it might be a tad too bright for me. I went with Nearly Neutral.
Nearly Neutral is just the kind of peachy-pink (the above photo is in sunlight) that I love because I think it’s a good fit with my hair color. Even though it is supposedly pink, on me it is more peach.
The packaging of Rare Beauty Stay Beautiful Melting Blush is both lovely and handy. It comes in a good quality plastic compact with a small but very usable mirror and a magnetic closure. (Wouldn’t you know I photographed the French side of the outer box!)
The cream blush is formulated with a dip in the middle that makes application with a finger a breeze. Rare Beauty Melting Blush is aptly named. I think it has an oily or greasy feel that is different from all of the other cream blushes I have used over the years. I know that sounds like a negative, but it isn’t. The cream melts to a super-lightweight oil consistency makes it very easy to apply with a finger, which is the way I like to apply cream blush. The blush goes on sheer, and stays sheer. It is truly a flush of color, but it is buildable. I usually apply 2-4 swipes with a finger to my cheeks to get to the color level that I like. Perhaps because of the liquidy quality of the blush, it dries down within a few seconds, and it is imperceptible on my skin. Actually, it dries down to a second skin. As a result, the shade Nearly Neutral is a very natural looking shade.
Here’s how Rare Beauty describes Melting Blush:
“First-of-its-kind formula combines pigments with a non-greasy blend of lightweight oils and spherical powders for a mistakeproof blush like you’ve never seen or felt before. Goes on smooth and seamless for a natural satin finish with a soft blurring effect.”
My friend Marcia from Prime Beauty Blog told me that she tried Rare Beauty’s liquid blush, and that the color was too strong, too bright. Rare Beauty Melting Blush, at least in the shade Nearly Neutral, is subtle. And as I mentioned before, it’s completely natural looking.
My only complaint about Rare Beauty Melting Blush in Nearly Neutral is that when applied the easiest way, with my finger, it fades over time. I’m glad the compact is small and easy to carry in a pocket or makeup bag, and that it has a mirror, so I can reapply it on the go. I have dry skin, so maybe that’s why my skin just sucks it up? The color seems to disappear on me after a couple of hours. The photo below is an hour after I applied the blush on bare skin with my finger. You can hardly see it.
Maybe it fades because I chose the most neutral shade? Perhaps if I had purchased Nearly Rose instead, the color would have lasted longer?
I am on the fence about Rare Beauty Melting Blush. If the color would stay on my skin longer, I would say I loved everything about it. I don’t know if it’s just this shade or just my skin.
To try to get an idea if the fading issue is unique to my skin or unique to Nearly Neutral, I took a look at the reviews on Sephora.com and RareBeauty.com. Rare Beauty Melting Blush is rated about 4.2 on Sephora and 4.8 on Rare Beauty’s website. I read through lots of the reviews, and most women adored it, thought it was a holy grail blush. Nevertheless, others who tended to have purchased Nearly Neutral or Nearly Mauve were disappointed that it disappeared on their skin too quickly or that it lacked color payoff.
After reading the reviews, I read the Q&A on Sephora.com. There was a question about how to keep the blush from fading so fast. The answer was to apply it with a dry blending sponge. I tried it, and the color is much deeper with the sponge. Two hours later, it also lasts better with the sponge application than with my finger, but still not quite as much pigment as I would like. Nevertheless, I’ll keep trying the sponge. This is what Nearly Neutral looks like after 2.5 hours: definitely better than the other photo.
Rare Beauty Stay Beautiful Melting Blush is available in 5 shades:
- Nearly Apricot: muted coral
- Nearly Neutral: soft neutral pink that looks peach on me
- Nearly Rose: true pink that looks like bright candy pink
- Nearly Mauve: true mauve
- Nearly Berry: deep berry that looks absolutely stunning
Right now, Nearly Apricot and Nearly Rose are sold out on Sephora.com, but they may be available in the Sephora stores. Nearly Apricot and Nearly Mauve are sold out now on the Rare Beauty website. Nearly Apricot must be great because it’s sold out on the only two websites where you can buy it! The compact contains 5g, and it’s priced at $21. It’s cruelty-free, parabens-free, and vegan.
Have you tried Rare Beauty Melting Blush? If so, what has your experience been with it?
What a gorgeous color and packaging. It is unfortunate that it fades so quickly. Putting this product on my wish list.
Allison just a little make up tip: put a little “setting powder” on before applying a cream blush on, it will last longer thru the day. 🙋🏻♀️🥰
You are an early bird, DiEtta!Thank you for the very helpful tip! I will have to see if I have any setting powder left. My skin is generally too dry for powder, so I gave all the new powder that came my way over the past couple of years away. But I will see if I can find my pretty Estee Lauder purse powder compact with translucent powder and try it. I will also try it over foundation one of these days and see if that gives it something to grip on to. When I cleansed my face last night with micellar water, the blush definitely came off on the cotton pad – but it wasn’t very visible on my skin! This is ghost blush!
This is a gorgeous color, and it is perfect for you. I was looking at these during the Sephora sale as well, but didn’t purchase any. I might try Nearly Mauve at some point, and your in-depth review is very helpful!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Hourglass Nº 7 Finishing Brush Review
It’s a beautiful blush, just wish it stayed on me longer. Maybe you would have better luck? I will try powder underneath next.
I like that shade though it would fade on me too. I dislike applying powder on my dry skin but I think a very light dusting with a super fluffy brush would help. This is going on my list.
MarciaF recently posted…Celebrate beauty and Mother’s Day with the wonderful eleve Organic Golden Beauty Oil
The formula of this blush definitely intrigues me! I love the shade you choose and I agree, it looks more peach on you. It’s too bad the color doesn’t last throughout the day. Have you tried applying with a brush in a stippling motion or setting with a spray or powder?
I am obsessed with these blushes they are my favorite I have all of them except the deepest shade it was sold out in store!
Heather, how do you get Nearly Neutral to stay on??? It fades in minutes on my dry skin. (I haven’t been wearing foundation. Maybe I should try primer on my cheeks first?)