It's hard to imagine there was once a time I would forgo blush completely. I was a bronzer girl through and through never really understanding the power of a fake flush. My indifference began to lift the day I was introduced to Glossier's Cloud Paint, £24, a fool-proof, blendable, buildable gel-cream blush that is so natural-looking I liken its finish to watercolour rather than make-up. With shades inspired by golden hour sunsets, I was still able to get my dose of warm, bronzy hues but in a totally elevated and nuanced way, which introduced colour into my palette and would keep me locked into blush. But Glossier's newest cheek offering, the Cloud Paint Plush Blush, £26, gives us reason to fall in love with blush all over again.
Eight years on since the launch of its cult classic blush, Glossier welcomes the new generation of cheek huggers. Like the OG, the Cloud Paint Plush Blush is inspired by the majestic tones of New York City sunsets – the very city where founder Emily Weiss launched her millennial-favourite brand. And while it may look like a traditional blush there is nothing old school about this newbie.
What is the Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush?
While the OG blush was one of the first to usher a new wave of cream blushers into a world wedded to the powder medium, the Cloud Paint Plush Blush once again reimagines what a blush should look and feel like for the next generation of blush wearers. Expanding its first-of-its-kind portfolio, the new blush offers up a pillow soft texture that is malleable and putty-like while still technically being a powder. That's achieved with the brand's unique bouncy Memory Cloud texture (a quick swipe will mold to your fingerprint), which feels cool, smooth and satiny to the touch before adapting into a breathable, featherweight powder that leaves the skin awash with a diffused, soft-matte colour that, again, looks much like watercolour.
The concept of painting is a mainstay in Glossier's blush range. The brand's first-ever blush was encased in aluminum vessels inspired by paint tubes that could be applied by your fingertips and the new iteration continues the theme. Though a powder, its one-of-a-kind texture invites its wearer to finger paint by maintaining that intuitive hands-on application, which can be mixed and blended with other shades for a totally customised flush akin to, you guessed it, a sunset.
Speaking of, the connection between the OG and modern update runs through the shade range, too. Existing Cloud Paint shades have been repurposed for the new formula, including Puff, Beam, Soar and Storm. But there are new shades specific to the Cloud Paint Plush Blush, like Burst, a bright red, Billow, a pretty lavender, and Bloom, a cool pink which has proved so popular it is already sold out at Space NK. So head our warning, waste no time adding these to cart pronto.
Shop: Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush
www.spacenk.com
The next generation of Glossier Cloud Paint blushers are as exciting as you would hope. The OG Cloud Paints may have set a precedence for brilliant cheek enhancers from the brand, but the newbie has followed in hot pursuit. With a unique Memory Cloud texture that molds to your fingertips, it can be applied by hand (much like the OG) or brush if you so please for a diffused yet buildable wash of colour that mimics the look on a watercolour sunset painting.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I am a Cloud Paint devotee, in fact the original blush from Glossier is responsible for taking me from blush forgoer to blush obsessive. Having a range of the OG shades in my make-up bag at present, it is safe to say I had high expectations for the new iteration and I'm pleased to report it lives up to the hype. While the colours look punchy in the pan, they swatch with a soft finish that can be built up to something bolder. I have taken to the shade Bloom, which is every cool-toned pink lovers dream. Other than looking dreamy on the skin, they also feel incredibly good. The bouncy, putty-like Memory Cloud texture is to thank for that, which adapts onto the skin for a diffused wash of colour that feels breathable and light. A lot of care has clearly been given to the way the blush feels, read: the inclusion of clover flower extract, which give the bush its filter-like blurry finish, and ceramides with botanical glycerides, which keep the soft-matte finish feeling comfy all day long. In a word: obsessed!'
Rachael Martin, beauty director says: 'For a dreamy, hazy hit of pigment look no further - this blush is as good as it gets. I use my fingers to apply, gently dabbing straight from the pan across the apples of my cheeks with the warmth of my finger-tips. It blends beautifully with little effort. While it looks and feels somewhat powdery, the finish is gorgeously creamy thanks to the infusion of ceramides. My only gripe? There's no mirror, which makes application on the go tricksy.'
Pros
- Unique Memory Cloud texture
- Features skincare ingredients for comfortable wear
- Suits-all shade range
Cons
- Shades sell out fast
- No mirror
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).