At first blush: I put the viral MCo Beauty blush ‘dupes’ to the test

I started my quest to find the perfect blush with this loose powder. It was unfamiliar territory to me so I made a bit of a mess at first. Once I got my head around the best way to approach though, it was a lot of fun.

It comes with a small powder puff inside the container. However, I found it tricky to use for getting enough pigment onto my skin and then blending properly. Instead, I gently dipped my usual blush brush into a small amount of the power, tapped off the excess and applied it that way. With the brush, I had much better control over how much pigment I applied and where it blended.

As the name suggests, this blush contains four different shades. However, they all mix together to create a light pastel pink finish which is very easily buildable if you’re looking for a brighter and stronger shade. With that in mind, the more you layer this blush, the chalkier it feels on your skin. So, I recommend starting slow and building it up until you’re happy with it.

I would recommend this loose powder to anyone looking to add a subtle glow to a light and natural everyday makeup look.

Next, I tried this slightly shimmery liquid blush which I had high hopes for, given its resemblance to my beloved Nars. I squirted a pump of it onto the back of my hand and then used a brush to apply it.

It initially looked very pigmented so I started to blend it slowly, but it ended up getting lost in my foundation. However, when I applied some more and kept blending, it built up easily and remained lightweight on the skin which was a great result.

Despite layering it up a couple of times, I kept the amount of product quite small. I loved the way it blended into a soft and luminous glow. Guess the name makes sense, doesn’t it?

This product would be great for anyone after a soft, beautifully dewy and hydrating finish.

I saved this jelly tint for last because I’d never tried a jelly makeup product before! I was excited, but also intimidated by the tint. What if the shade was way too bright, or I applied it weirdly and it stained my skin for the next 3-5 business days?

My first and most important tip with this one is to not approach it with the same mindset I did.

The jelly has a smooth and slightly cold texture, which was refreshing in our current humidity. You can certainly feel the hydrating properties of the aloe vera in there… plus the jelly is so much fun!

As for the application, this is where a bit of technique came into play. I initially tried to apply it directly to my cheekbone and then blend it as quickly as I could with my fingers… but found it too hard to blend. It left me with a small and highly concentrated patch of blush that wouldn’t budge.

I had a lot more success on my other cheek when I ran the jelly through the bristles of a fluffy brush and then quickly worked it into my skin. Yes, you do still have to be speedy with it, but this way it blended out to a softer and more sun-kissed finish.

While I had it out, I also swiped the jelly across my lips to test it as a lip tint. Though the shade was a bit bright for my preference, it did last all day and gave my lips a somewhat natural rosy finish. I would recommend layering a lip balm or a sheer gloss over top to wear it as a smudge-free lip shade on a night out.

Later that evening, I rechecked the blush to see how the tint was holding up. To be honest, I didn’t notice any difference between this and my usual NARS one. It stayed in place perfectly throughout the day and then removed easily with the rest of my makeup.

After testing all three MCo Beauty blushes, I can confirm that the Bouncy Jelly Tint Cheek & Lip blush is the one that I’ll be taking with me to wear throughout the summer – now that I have the technique sorted!