Black Radiance Plum Sorbet Sheer Blush Review

I started getting into make up a few years ago and I've always bought products for my lips and eyes, but I rarely bought blush. I think I was afraid of how to apply it and I was even more afraid of choosing the wrong shade of blush.

I bought a make up book that helped me to understand what colors would look best against my golden brown skin. One of the colors that was suggested for my skin happened to be berry toned blush.

I was at a Walgreen's about a year ago and looked at the Black Radiance make up section. Black Radiance is an inexpensive make up line geared toward women of color because they offer darker and more vibrant shades that show up against our skin, than traditional make up companies.

I looked at the blushes Black Radiance offered and noticed a shade called Plum Sorbet. The Plum Sorbet looks more like a berry shade than a plum shade to me. There are tones of warm dark pinks and purples in it, so it's basically a deep (not bright) warm berry shade in the package.

Normally I would have ran away from such a dark shade of blush especially one that color, but the book I read gave me the courage to go home with the Black Radiance Sheer Blush in Plum Sorbet. The blush comes in a black and gold square compact. Inside is a large square of blush and a small blush brush that I found to be cheap and not great for applying the blush.

I tried on the blush as soon as I got home with a full brush that I already own. I swirled my brush on the Black Radiance Sheer Blush until it was dusted with a light amount, and then I applied it to my cheeks.

Even though I had a small amount on, the color looked really bright and intense. The Plum Sorbet shade is really concentrated so my cheeks looked clownish, like two berry colored circles. Even though the blush is supposed to be sheer the Plum Sorbet color was very loud and no matter how much I buffed the blush wouldn't fade or tone down.

I tried the Plum Sorbet Blush a couple of more times trying less and less blush, but my results were still clownish no matter what. So intimidated, I allowed this Black Radiance product to sit in a drawer for about a year.
One day I tried it again when I had on nude lipstick and neutral eye shadow and I needed a bright blush to give some color to my face. This time I dipped the tip of my brush very lightly into the blush and added another fine layer when I needed more color.

This time the Plum Sorbet color worked for me. The first layer made my cheeks look bronze, and the next layer made them look slightly brighter and more pink. I use this blush way more often now and it can look natural or really bright depending on how much I use, but I always use very light layers instead of one heavy one now.

Unlike other blushes the Black Radiance Sheer Blush is really concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Black Radiance blushes in general are really hard to blend in evenly, so wherever you place it is where it's going to stay. Unlike other brands I've tried, this can look streaky if you don't use a light hand and buff it into the skin, but it does last all day.

Overall, I do like this blush even though it's a little high maintenance and I would buy it again, because of the cool color and the affordable price. I'd recommend the Plum Sorbet to other women of color especially if you have darker skin because the color wouldn't overpower it. 4 out 5 stars.