I Was One of the First to Get My Hands on Glossier's New Blusher—Here's My Honest Verdict

It's not often that you'll find me fawning over yet another makeup launch, let alone a blush. But every beauty insider knows that Glossier Cloud Paint is far from your average blusher. Having flipped the world of minimalist makeup trends on its head all the way back in 2017, this iconic glowy blush has found its way into practically every beauty editor's makeup bag—courtesy of its buildable pigment and a radiant finish.

And in my humble opinion, it paved the way for the whole cream blush movement before it even became a thing (a bold statement, I know). In fact, I can account for at least five emptied-out tubes that I've thrown out in the last four years alone. Now, imagine my excitement when I got wind of the news that Glossier is launching a new iteration of the Cloud Paint blusher—a hybrid plush formula that applies like a cream and dries down like powder for a soft-focused, blurred makeup look.

Full disclosure: I've sworn off powder formulas a good few years ago, and apart from an occasional dab of setting powder, my choice of makeup products often leans on the glowier side (read: skin tints, cream bronzers, liquid highlighters—you name it). So, although I was very much intrigued by the launch, at first, I was convinced that because of its powdery nature, the new Glossier blush wasn't for me.

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From the get-go, I loved the packaging. In keeping with the brand's aesthetic, it is minimalist yet playful, mirroring the colour of each shade on the outside. Housed inside each compact, the formula is unlike any blush I've tried so far (and that's no mean feat, considering I've quite literally tested hundreds). The "memory cloud" soufflé-like texture means that each dab into the product feels like touching the softest Play-Doh.

Innovative textures aside, the shade range doesn't disappoint either. With ten shades in total, four of said shades were inspired by the original Cloud Paint blush line-up (Puff, Beam, Soar and Storm), while the remaining six are brand-new additions. From wearable mauve-y pinks and bolder corals and reds to the more muted blonzer-esque shades, there's no shortage of options to complement every skin tone.

Having opted for shade Puff (a neutral pinky hue), I first applied it using the brand's new dual-ended Cloud Paint Cheek Brush, which features a pillowy-soft end that feels like applying makeup with your fingertips and a fluffy brush end designed to buff, diffuse and blend.

Glossier

Cloud Paint Plush Blush

Make no mistake: this isn't the most pigmented blusher on the market, but nor is it trying to be. It offers a buildable veil of flexible coverage that can be easily amped up if you're after that dramatic look, but it's also sheer enough to wear on a day-to-day basis.