Review: No7 Vital Brights Cream Blush

After seeing pictures of the No7 Spring Collection popping up all over the blogosphere, I could hardly resist this little cream blush, especially given my love for cream blush. I skipped the pink blush from this collection, instead opting for 'Blossoming Pink', a red-toned coral.

The packaging on this collection is fun and Spring-y, just what you need in your collection to make you look forward to the warmer days ahead. I kind of hate that it's a round pan in a square compact, though. I wish they'd just made it square...

This is what Boots No7 has to say about this blush:

Give cheeks a pop of colour with this soft and creamy blush. Beautifully light, the colour is easy to build and blend to delicately sculpt cheeks.

The blush is definitely lightweight, but not lacking in pigment. It's a cream-to-powder formula that dries down quickly to a matte finish. Nonetheless it's easy to sheer out and has enough slip to make blending a doddle. The formula feels very silicone-y and sure enough Dimethicone heads up the ingredients list. Worth being aware of: if your skin has issues with silicones, this will be one to steer clear of. The one little problem I had with this formula is that it can 'lift' foundation and concealer off of blemishes. Blending with patting rather than sweeping or mixing a bit of blush and concealer to conceal after blush would solve the problem.

The formula did remind me a lot of Topshop's cream blush formula, so if you're a fan of those this will be right up your street. Indeed, upon checking, the ingredients are practically the same.
With Topshop's blush coming in at £6 and No7's £10, it's worth checking that you really want these colours before purchasing. I don't think Topshop has a dupe for either of the Spring No7, but if you disagree, leave a comment.

This colour is a coral with a strong red base. The red tones help to make this a wonderfully natural-looking flush on the cheeks, but the overall coral colour avoids that 'just in from the cold' look that many look for in red-toned stains and blushes over the winter season.

Where: Boots
How much: £10
You'll like: if you're a fan of Topshop's cream blush, or lightweight cream-to-powder formulas.
You won't like: if you don't think either of No7's Spring colours is unique enough to pay the extra £4 over Topshop.
Bottom line: lovely, lightweight veils of colour. But buy from Topshop if you can get a dupe.

BONUS ROUND


Here is No7 Vital Brights Cream Blush in 'Blossoming Pink' worn:

I've got Collection 2000 Cream Puff in 'Fairy Cake' on the lips.