Nothing says ‘summer’ like a pretty flush of blush. A quick swipe awakens my complexion like no other, adding that stunning (and safe) sun-kissed hue to my cheeks.
With a UK heatwave on its way ~ hallelujah ~ I’ve been analysing my options for the weekend ahead of pub garden-ing. My formula of choice for the occasion? Rimmel’s Blush ‘N’ Brush Stick.
Rimmel’s Blush ‘N’ Brush Stick, reviewed
As you’d guess from the name, one end of the stick houses a creamy blush while the other features a compact buffing brush. There are six pinky hues to choose from, but as a lover of anything peach-toned, I immediately gravitated towards ‘Nearly Suede’ – a sort of burnt nectarine shade.
With a butter-like texture, I directly scribbled the stick onto my skin – like a big, adult crayon – and it deposited a creamy sheen of pigment. It did so all without disrupting my foundation underneath (winning!) which will be especially helpful if you’re wearing a skin tint during the heatwave, as you won’t want the blush to move your light base around.
The blush also applies like a cream but actually dries down into a powder – which I only came to realise after being so impressed at the wear time. I tested this bb on a sweaty commute to work (the joys of living in London) and it lasted the day without any touch ups needed. But if you do require a touch up, the compact stick is easy enough to bring on the go.
Out of pure curiosity, I did use the built-in brush – albeit that being the first and last time. While I found the blush itself didn’t move my base underneath, the dense brush bristles disrupted my foundation and caused some slight patchiness to occur.
For the festival szn ahead, the brush may come in handy, but for now, I am sticking to my own brush to blend in the creamy and pigmented formula – which, to reiterate, I am very impressed with.
Some of the shades have a matte finish but ‘Nearly Suede’ lends a subtle shimmer finish to my complexion which, when hitting the sun in the right places, gives that golden-hour glossiness to my cheeks.
So now you understand why this will be my new go-to pub blush? And hey, if I lose it between the bar and garden, at least it only costs me £10.99.
Shop: Rimmel Multi-Tasker Blush ‘N’ Brush Stick, £10.99
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
