
Want to support independent women's media? Become a Mamamia subscriber and get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE.
Finding a genuinely good blush is harder than it should be.
I've gone through phases with powder blushes, cream blushes, tints, 'blonzing', blush draping and every glowy liquid formula TikTok has convinced me I need.
WATCH: Kelly McCarren reveals the secret to long-lasting makeup. Post continues below.
But out of everything I've tried, I truly fell in love with one product: the Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush.
It gave the glowiest flush, blended seamlessly and was perfectly buildable without being overwhelmingly pigmented (unlike the Rare Beauty blush I was once deeply committed to).
I genuinely thought it would be my forever blush.
But then I discovered an $11 Korean beauty blush that has completely replaced it.
My new favourite blush.
Please welcome the Dear.A BonBon Glow Cheek, a glowy liquid blush from Korean beauty brand Dear.A.
Here's what it looks like:

Now, Dear.A isn't hugely well-known in the Western beauty world yet, but it's actually the vegan-certified sister brand of the popular skincare label Dr. Althea (you know, the one famous for the 345 and 147 creams?).
When I first came across the blush, I didn't have particularly high expectations. The packaging is tiny and minimal (maybe a bit basic?), and the sponge-tip applicator made me think it would either apply patchily or disappear within 20 minutes.
Turns out, I completely underestimated it.

Why I'm obsessed with it.
The finish is what sold me immediately.
Unlike a lot of liquid blushes that either dry too matte, look overly sticky or apply patchily, this one gives what I can only describe as a translucent, glossy flush.
The brand describes it as creating a "transparent, melting candy glow" on the cheeks, which, to be honest, sounds slightly dramatic, but I swear it's very accurate.
It melts into the skin instead of sitting on top of it, making it look more like a natural flush than makeup.
It's lightweight, blends in seconds with your fingers, and manages to look both natural and luminous.
The formula also contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and rose water, which probably explains why it never clings to dry patches or goes crusty over makeup throughout the day. And even after a full day out or a sweaty workout, this blush genuinely doesn't budge.

The blush comparison.
Now, to be clear, I still think the Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush is beautiful.
But after using the Dear.A blush consistently, I realised I actually preferred the softer, glowier finish of the K-beauty formula for everyday wear.
The Haus Labs blush gives a more pigmented, satin-style finish, whereas the Dear.A blush feels a lot fresher. It gives that "your skin but healthier" effect that Korean makeup brands do incredibly well.
And considering the Dear.A blush costs around $11, while my old favourite sat closer to the $45 mark in Australia, the switch felt kind of inevitable.
There are 10 shades available, ranging from soft nudes to fresh pinks, peaches and muted mauves, so there's a pretty good mix for different skin tones and makeup preferences.
Final verdict.
I still love luxury beauty products. Unfortunately for my bank account, I probably always will.
But occasionally, an affordable product sneaks into my routine and makes me question why I was spending four times the price in the first place.
This little K-beauty blush did exactly that, and safe to say, my $45 blush hasn't been touched in weeks.
For more tried and tested beauty recommendations, subscribe to the weekly You Beauty newsletter , join our You Beauty Facebook group , listen to the You Beauty podcast or watch You Beauty on YouTube .
At Mamamia, we independently curate and write about products we rave about in our group chats and think you should know about, too. If you purchase a product we have recommended, we may earn a small commission.
Feature image: Supplied.
Win a $1000 voucher!
Do you love trying new skincare products? Complete our survey for a chance to win a voucher in our quarterly draw!
Take survey →Juna Xu
Author
No Comments
Be the first to leave a comment