Drop Zone: Hourglass, Clinique, Hera, ABH new blush innovations mimic healthy skin

As healthy skin becomes the hallmark of beauty, achieving glowing skin and rosy cheeks have become a must.

If you search ‘natural blush’ on TikTok, you will find users pinching their cheeks and noses to get an all-natural flush.

For those looking for a more lasting and painless method, techniques like the 'boyfriend blush’ are the way to go.

It refers to the application of colour on the lower cheek to mimic the natural flush you would get from post-workout skin.

As blush becomes an integral makeup product, we are seeing blush innovations to help consumers achieve the no-makeup makeup look.

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush​

The latest addition to Hourglass’s blush line-up is the Unreal Liquid Blush, which was described by the brand as a “weightless silky texture” that “melts into the complexion for a natural finish.”

In addition, the product was developed as a skin care-makeup hybrid, with its exclusive Unreal Lifting Complex, a blend of hyaluronic acid and upcycled white lupin seed extract.

According to the brand, this “serum-like formula” can instantly smoothen skin and visibly plumps it for up to 12 hours.

For precision, the product is housed in a bottle that dispenses small amounts at a time so users can tailor the application to their liking.

The product launched with the new No.15 Blush Brush that was designed for this liquid formula.

“I wanted to create a liquid blush formula that provides buildable, natural-looking color that lasts all day. We intentionally developed this formula alongside our No. 15 Blush Brush to have effortless blendability for a seamless flush of colour,” said Carisa Janes, founder and president, Hourglass Cosmetics.

Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey​

We cannot talk about the no-makeup makeup look without Clinique’s Almost Lipstick and the iconic Black Honey shade.

Over five decades since its introduction, it is still relevant to consumers across demographics for its comfortable balmy finish and chameleon-like ability to complement a variety of skin tones.

The resurgence of Black Honey has motivated Clinique to introduce new iterations of the shade in a new collection.

Among them is the limited-edition Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in the iconic shade.

The two-in-one product aims to give the lips and cheek a “dewy pop” with sheer coverage that aims to give a natural barely-there makeup look.

It is a blend of Safflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, and Castor Oil to condition and nourish lips.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Blush

Another skin care-infused offering is the Blurring Serum Blush by Anastasia Beverly Hills which was developed to “enhance your natural beauty” with a gel texture that claims to have a blurring effect and a soft-matte texture.

At the same time, the formula claims to be hydrating and contains ingredients such as niacinamide and pomegranate peel extract.

The former enhances overall skin health by reducing inflammation and strengthening the skin barrier, while the latter is antioxidant-rich to combat environmental damage and brighten the skin.

Additionally, the brand claims the formula was dermatologist-tested formula and free from additions such as fragrance and mineral oil.

Like the Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, this product also has precision packaging with a needle-tip applicator to allow users to use just the right amount of blush.

Hera Blush

Amorepacific’s luxury beauty brand Hera launched a new baked blush in five shades that aim to give skin a transparent and dewy finish.

The brand said the blush sits on the skin naturally as if it was “dyed” by the pigments. The goal was to help consumers achieve “healthy skin with a three-dimensional effect and vivid complexion.”

In addition to using plant-derived ingredients, the product utilised advanced clay processing technology to ensure that the blush adheres seamlessly to the skin to provide long-lasting comfort and colour payoff without dryness.

According to the firm, it contains coconut-derived ingredients and is also a vegan-certified product with a natural origin index of 95%.