After using the blurring balm powder, each reviewer I came across appeared to be left with an even, glowing complexion that still looked like their natural skin—but better. So, below, I tried it for myself to see if it’s really worth the hype. (Spoiler alert: It is.) Read on for my five main takeaways.
Be Sure to Prime Beforehand
Like any makeup product, you’ll want to prime your face before using the balm. Given the formula is a balm-to-powder finish, this means skin will be left with a more matte finish than a dewy one. If you want to counteract that, I suggest using a hydrating serum and moisturizer beforehand; I used Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Dew Drops and Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream prior to application.
It’s All in the Fingertips
The product has the consistency of a balm, so it’s best to warm it up in your fingertips and then glide it on, which will help melt it into the skin. (Other creators have also used sponges and brushes with successful end results.) With my skin prepped, I glided on the product—in color 2—and it was a perfect match, blending seamlessly into my own complexion. If you’re not sure which shade to get, fret not: They are flexible and will adapt to your skin tone if not an exact match (color 3, for instance, was a tad dark for me but could still work).
You Can Build Coverage
Compared to a foundation or concealer, the beauty balm is decidedly lighter in coverage; I would say it’s closer to a tinted moisturizer. With one layer applied, I easily built up coverage—swiping on a tad more in the areas that needed it (mainly around my cheek area, which experiences the most redness). Given it dries down to a powder finish, I was worried that building up the product could possibly make it cakey—but that wasn’t the case.
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Don’t Feel the Need to Set It
The beauty balm already has a powder-like finish, so avoid setting with even more powder. Given my skin is on the drier side, I’m typically not a huge fan of matte finishes—so to give the skin more luminosity, I applied a light press of face oil over my cheekbones, just to add some shine back into the skin (plus you could also apply a liquid highlighter). If you’re on the go, I do love that this product requires no setting (you can just swipe on and leave). Throughout the day, I found it controlled oil too—so this would work especially well for oily skin types.
Yes, You Can Layer Product Over It
To finish off the true test-drive, I then tried applying a powder bronzer (by Benefit Cosmetics) and cream blush (by Rare Beauty) over the blurring balm to see how it interacts with other formulations. Both products blended well with it. Sure, the balm powder is definitely not what you would use for a full face of glam—but what I was left with was a very natural face, and I barely looked like I was wearing anything at all. And isn’t that the ideal day-to-day goal?
