Best Brushes in Compact Blushes
Why the Most Important Part of a Good Blush Isn't Actually the Color
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I've always had trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and despite my nightly resolutions to wake up early(ish) and make myself pretty, it rarely happens. Luckily for me, my commute in the morning is anywhere between 25 minutes and an hour — plenty of time for a swift makeup application. Because this is common with working ladies such as myself, makeup brands have adapted their products, prioritizing making quality applicators to go along with their compact products. Companies have created sleek ways to apply lip gloss, mascara, and powder, but one product remains a blindspot: blush.
I have a giant blush brush in a mug in my bathroom, but I don't want to tote it around all day. Thus, having an affordable blush with a built-in applicator is at the top of my must list. It might sound silly, but it makes a big difference! I went ahead and checked out the leading drugstore brands, so you don't have to sacrifice your cheeks in the name of science — just read on and find out what I loved. Disclaimer: I only reviewed the brushes, not the actual blush itself.
1 CoverGirl Classic Color (shown in "Iced Plum")
You know what they say about large compacts? Bigger brushes! Though the handle is nice and long to give you a good grip, the bristles are legnthy too. Use them in a sweeping motion, and note that they need some softening.
2 E.l.f. Blush (shown in "Shy")
Don't be fooled by the photos — this brush is teeny tiny, about the size of your thumb! While it feels soft on your hand, it's a bit rough on your cheek, so apply it lightly.
E.l.f. Blush ($2)
3 Physicians Formula Argan Wear (shown in "Natural")
This is a round container, and the brush fits right in under the blush. This means that the blush brush is wider, with a curved edge. It's easily twice as wide as some of the other brushes I tested, and the bristles are also long enough to really get pigment pressed onto your cheeks.
4 L'Oréal True Match Super-Blendable (shown in "Baby Blossom")
What an unexpected great find! The container is round, and the brush tucks into a small area on the back. Unlike the Physicians Formula one, it doesn't utilize the space to create a wide brush. Instead, the tool has a strategically designed curved edge, as well as finger indentations to give you a good grip. It is also the softest brush I've come across and actually feels silky and luxe!
5 Maybelline FIT Me! (shown in "Medium Coral")
This blush comes with a small but very wide brush. While the bristles aren't the gentlest, they're densely packed. This is both a positive and negative, because you'll get lots of particles of powder when you use it. Luckily, there's an easy fix: simply blow off the excess pigment before you apply the product!
Maybelline FIT Me! ($4)
6 CoverGirl Cheekers (shown in "Classic Pink")
Ah, the old standby. I've been using this for years, so I can say from experience that the bristles on this relatively small brush do expand after wear. This is fantastic, because when you first get it, the width is pretty small. But beware that your brush is going to stop wanting to fit in its little case.
CoverGirl Cheekers ($5)
7 Revlon Powder Blush (shown in "Racy Rose")
These bristles are shockingly high-quality, and they're not terribly short, either. While the brush itself could be larger, I do appreciate the ever-so-slight indents for your fingers.
Revlon Powder Blush ($9)
8 Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon (shown in "Rosé Champagne")
Well, this is the itty-bittiest brush I ever did see! Seriously, if I saw this out of context, I would think it was an eye shadow tool. The upside is that because it is so little, 90 percent of the container is dedicated to the actual blush. So . . . more product?
*Note: What's shown is a new formula with new packaging, not yet available. You can still get the previous formula at the link above.
