Blush (Liquid)
Description
Note: This page contains affiliate links, which means that Living Clean in a Dirty World may receive a commission if readers click on these links and then purchase products. Living Clean in a Dirty World also may accept product review samples but receives no other compensation from companies mentioned on this website.
October 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
The products on this page are designed to provide a sheer glow to the face, using a light amount of color suspended in a nourishing balm, gel or oil.
These products tend to not be as strongly pigmented as typical cream blushes and are designed with the idea of their being usable more widely on the face.
I tend not to do very well with bright colors and have gradually been realizing that liquid blush seems to work especially well in terms of giving me a soft muted blush look without any effort.
I’d like to try some more of these products, therefore.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars:
Ilia Color Haze ($32)
Saie Dew Blush ($24)
♦ Additional Possibilities:
Glossier Cloud Paint ($20)
Milk Bionic Liquid Blush ($22)
♥ Lisa’s Personal Choice:
√ Saie Dew Blush ($24)
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
Glossier Cloud Paint – $20
Living Clean Rating: 8 out of 10
Performance Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: High
Problematic Colorings: Ultramarines, Red #6, Red #7, Red #30, Red #33, Yellow #6, Blue #1, Carmine
The description of this product reads, “A seamless, buildable gel-cream blush that’s enjoyable to apply and easy to wear. Just sheer enough upon initial application to make it easy to work with and layer without going overboard—simply dab it on cheeks and tap into skin for a natural, flushed-from-within glow. Special Blurring Pigments give a soft-focus effect that doesn’t accentuate texture or pores—as if you just happen to be in golden hour lighting all the time. The lightweight gel-cream formula has a pillowy, bouncy feel that blends seamlessly and leaves cheeks dewy, not streaky or chalky.”
This product was released several years ago and contains a number of different silicones, including some of the cyclic and PEG silicones that are on Credo’s “dirty list.”
This seems to be one of Glossier’s most popular products, with eight shades available.
I have tried samples of several shades and think that all of them worked very nicely for me.
They seem to go on super-easily and create a flattering look.
I have not found that any silicones irritate my skin and have not reacted negatively to this product.
However, I do try to avoid using silicones on my skin most of the time, because I feel that it is not very good for the skin to have a layer of product on it that serves as an impediment to natural sweating.
Personally, while I still enjoy using this product on occasion, I would not want to use it on a regular basis for that reason.
Size: 0.33 oz.
Glossier Rating: 4.6 Stars (3870 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Cyclic Silicone, PEG, Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), PEG-10 dimethicone (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3), Ultramarines (3), Red #6 (6), Red #7 (6), Red #30 (5), Red #33 (4), Yellow #6 (7), Blue #1 (7). (Also contains Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, and Carmine.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methyl Trimethicone, Mica, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Soluble Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Tin Oxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Ultramarines, Manganese Violet, Red 6, Red 7, Red 30, Red 33, Yellow 6, Blue 1.
(All information for Storm shade.)
Ilia Color Haze – $32
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Mild (Taste)
Processed Fragrance: Vanillin
Silicone Level: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #6, Red #7, Blue #1
The description of this product, “A game-changing cream blush and lip color in one—stays dewy on cheeks and transforms to a modern-matte finish on lips. A little color goes a long way. Made with jojoba and coconut oil, this two-in-one lip and cheek cream nourishes skin and blends out to a soft wash of color. With a precise metal applicator for fuss-free application on-the-go.”
This product has been on the market for a few years and is available in five shades.
I tried the shade Waking Up (“warm nude with neutral undertones that shows best on fair to light skin tones”).
I realized after trying it that it basically seems to me to be a liquid version of Ilia’s popular Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balms.
Like the lip balms, the Color Haze product has a creamy opaque base and a strong vanillin (artificial vanilla) scent and flavor.
When used on the lips, both products create a pretty soft matte look but also are a bit messy to apply.
In addition, I feel that this product is more drying than nourishing to my lips.
I feel that I am tasting some kind of unpleasant chemical underneath the vanillin, and that this is significant enough that I am feeling very disinclined to use it on my lips again.
On the other hand, I find the appearance of the product on my cheeks to be soft and a little romantic looking, and I feel like it is clean enough to use for that purpose.
It seems to me that this product is quite a bit different in terms of the effect it gives from (say) the Saie or Glossier liquid blush products, in that the opaque base makes it look less like it is part of the skin and more like makeup is being worn.
It’s definitely pretty though.
Size: 0.23 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.1 Stars (168 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors, Non-Organic Cottonseed Oil)
Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Red #6 (6), Red #7 (6), Blue #1 (7). (Also contains Coconut Oil, Vanillin, Cottonseed Oil.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Vanillin, Bidens Pilosa Extract
All Ingredients: Undecane, Tridecane, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Mica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Silica, Kaolin, Coconut Oil*, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil*, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Vanillin, Hectorite, Candelilla Wax, Palm Oil, Cotton Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Tocopherol, Linseed Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Magnesium Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 6, Red 7, Blue 1.
Milk Bionic Liquid Blush – $22
Living Clean Rating: 8 out of 10
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Very Mild (Itching)
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #6, Blue #5
The description of this product reads, “An award-winning liquid blush that can be blended sheer or built up for a soft flush of color. Infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, mushroom extracts, and vegan collagen to help improve the look of skin texture, elasticity, and firmness. This product is 90% natural, vegan, clean, cruelty-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, fragrance-free, and gluten-free.”
I found this product to be thinner than other liquid blush products that I have tried, to the point that it seems pretty watery.
It also seems to need to be shaken up to keep it from separating.
Because the online photos of the blush made all the shades look quite pigmented, I ordered the Infinity (“dusty rose”) shade since it looked the lightest in color.
I found it to be quite light in pigment, which is saying something important since I am actively trying for a muted effect.
While maybe one of the other colors would work better for me, I also feel that working with a product that is this watery is a little more tedious than I would prefer.
I also feel like the product was very slightly irritating to my skin.
Size: 0.28 oz.
Awards: Essence Best In Black Beauty 2022
Sephora Rating: 4.4 Stars (984 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Glyceryl Rosinate, Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Glyceryl rosinate (5), Titanium dioxide (3), Red #6 (6), Yellow #5 (6). (Also contains Citric Acid.)
EWG Problem Ingredients: None
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Kaolin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, C9-12 Alkane, Tribehenin, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Glyceryl Rosinate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Mushroom Stem Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Candelilla Wax, Castor Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Water, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Titanium Dioxide, Red 6, Yellow 5.
Saie Dew Blush – $24
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
Problematic Colorings: Yellow #6, Red #22
The description of this product reads, “Blush, but better. Dew Blush is a creamy water-based gel blush that gives a natural flush of just-pinched color. Our chubby doe foot applicator and lightweight formula let you create a natural tint (or build it up for a deeper wash of color!) Never streaky or patchy, Dew Blush melts right into skin for a seamless, lit-from-within flush. Try Rosy or Peachy for a barely-there soft wash of color. Try Dreamy or Poppy for brighter pigment.”
I have a sample version of the Rosy version of this product, and even though I wouldn’t have thought that this would be the ideal color for me, I really like it and have gotten some good use out of it.
The version that I have has a pump instead of a doe-foot applicator, but the product still goes on very easily.
It is a little thicker than some of the other liquid blush products that I have tried but blends very easily for a natural look.
The product is now available in six shades. I’d especially like to try Peachy (which I think would give me an even more natural look), but some of the other colors look like they would work for me too.
The ingredient list for this product looks pretty good to me, and I have not felt like it has irritated my skin at all.
Size: 0.40 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.5 Stars (288 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Licorice root extract (4), Comfrey leaf extract (4), Titanium dioxide (3), Yellow #6 (7), Red #22 (5)
Fragrance Ingredients: Elderberry fruit extract, Licorice root extract, White mulberry root extract
All Ingredients: Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glycerin, Tribehenin, Elderberry Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Licorice Root Extract, Silica, White Mulberry Root Extract, Comfrey Leaf Extract, Evening Primrose Root Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Yellow 6, Red 22, Mica.
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Cherry Lip & Cheek Stain – $26
Chantecaille Cheek Gelee – $46
Daniel Sandler Watercolor Liquid Blush – $21
Ere Perez Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint – $29
Youthforia BYO Blush Color Changing Blush Oil – $36
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: 100% Pure, Chantecaille, Credo, Ere Perez, Glossier, Goop, Haus Labs, Ilia, Milani, Milk Makeup, Saie, Sephora, and Youthforia.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean shopping site!
Links on this page are in orange (no underlining).
