"I’ll admit, I joined the blush game pretty late. It wasn’t until I got a sunburn on my face (wear SPF, y’all), that I realized how cute a little red cheek and nose looked. And when the temperatures dropped and my face started to look lifeless, I turned to blushes to bring some of that color back to my skin. I’m almost (key word: almost!) ashamed to admit that I now own about 20 different shades of blushes. But in my defense, more than half of those came from Merit Beauty’s cheeky new Les BonBons Set. With their full range of Flush Balms at my disposal, I instantly got to playing around and discovering which rouge color matched my olive skin tone the best.
To my surprise, almost every shade blended in beautifully—the question of which I chose was more about what mood I was in on any given day. When I fancied a flirty little drink, Le Bonbon became my gal; when I sought to be that mysterious girl at a coffee shop, Postmodern added an air of sophistication. To prove that every shade magically did, in fact, work on my skin tone, I reviewed every single Merit Beauty Flush Balm shade—photos included—so you can be the judge yourself.
Le Bonbon
At first glance, I feared this extremely poppy hue would be way too vibrant for me. But once it’s blended in, it looks more like a winter-kissed cheek. (You know what I’m talking about: that rosy flush you get from standing out in the cold for too long.) I recommend dabbing on a little bit at a time, as a small amount goes a long way.
Lusitano
If Le Bonbon is for your “I’m cold” look, then Lusitano is your “I just went to Italy” blush. It’s reminiscent of walking around in flip flops in a little sundress while overlooking a vineyard. While it looks very orange at first glance, it doesn’t look quite as orange on the skin. Its peachy hue pairs perfectly with my olive complexion.
Stockholm
This baby pink is capital-c Cute. Compared to the other shades, it takes a few extra swipes to properly deposit the color onto the cheek. But once it’s on, you’re met with a bright, soft pink that makes you instantly appear more awake.
Rouge
Rouge is your classic red—flirty, confident, and strong. It’s the shade I gravitate toward when I’m heading out on the town in a black dress. It is pretty pigmented, however, so apply it with a gentle hand.
Fox
The image on Merit’s website made me believe Fox would be a little more pink than it is in person. Still, the muted tone looks lovely on my cheeks, with a brown undertone that pairs oh-so-lovely on my skin tone.
Postmodern
This shade is simply gorgeous. The dark rouge (almost purple) is perfect for fall and winter when I swap my makeup to more earthy tones. It has a very sophisticated look to it, and I like to dab a little on my lips to match as well.
Bespoke
If you don’t typically like blushes, then this one’s for you. It has a very faint, natural finish to it that’s easy to wear on a daily basis—no matter the occasion. I do think it’s a color better suited for fair skin tones, though, as it didn’t contrast very much against my medium skin tone.
Persimmon
I’m going to be honest: Persimmon looks much more orange on the website than it does in real life. In my hand, the little bulb looks to be a hybrid of dark orange, red, and a hint of purple. Still, I consider it the perfect summer blush—but instead of daytime trips to town, it offers more of a “sipping sangria at sunset” vibe.
Beverly Hills
This shade is very natural. I get the feeling that it’s slightly more “wet” than the other formulas, and therefore doesn’t grip onto the skin quite as easily. It was a little difficult to transfer the color on my cheek, but after a few swipes, I started to adore the soft mauve-pink that appeared on my cheeks.
Cheeky
Cheeky is a few shades darker than Beverly Hills, and also leaves a more noticeable wash of color. Something about it screams “young and bold” to me. It’s for someone who feels great pride in their feminine energy and is fearless in taking up space in any room.
Archival
The sweet and mature mauve shade found in Archival is absolutely lovely. Similar to Beverly Hills, it has a more balmy feel and appearance to it, so I recommend it for people with dry skin, as oily skin types may feel the subtle pigmentation disappears a little too fast.
Après
Last but far from least, there is Après. This shade took me by surprise, because the color you see on the web, in the packaging, and on my skin are all slightly different from one another. By just looking at the product, Après looks like a very dark purple with a touch of red; on my face, though, it instantly transformed into a bright, punchy pink with only a hint of purple. Perhaps this is the sisterhood of the traveling blush—it adapts and looks uniquely different on every single person.
Bianca Kratky, Contributing Writer
Bianca Kratky is a NYC-based fashion and beauty writer with over five years of industry experience. She has written for notable publications like Cosmopolitan, Oprah Daily, Coveteur, and Travel & Leisure. Most recently, she was InStyle’s dedicated fashion writer, before parting ways to resume her freelancing career. She also founded her own publication, Florré, where she covers more fashion, beauty, travel, and lifestyle trends.