Blush Comparison: Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush Vs. Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

For most women, blush is an indispensible part of our morning makeup routine. Even on the busiest days, a quick touch of blush livens up your complexion. I am on the hunt for the perfect blush and frequently purchase blush that makes a fashion magazine's list of recommended products, thinking that the time has come to find a great blush I can count on for natural and longlasting results. Both Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush and Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush have been highly touted as great new additions to the world of blush . Here is what I found...

Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush: Ever since I was a young teen with my Bonny Belle Gel Blush, I have been on the lookout for another great gel blush. Back then, I found the results to be dewier and more natural than powder blushes, but I never found that product in the stores again! When I read about Revlon Pinch Me Sheer Gel Blush, I excitedly ran out and spent more than I usually spend on makeup. As a stay-at-home mom, my miserly budget for blush rarely exceeds the $4 mark and this blush cost closer to $10!

Had this product been a great gel blush, I would have gladly indulged and paid the $10 again, but I was disappointed in Revlon's Pinch Me Gel Blush for the following reasons:

The product does not dispense well. The squirt bottle does just that - it squirts a too-liquidy blush out, usually on the bathroom counter and mirror as well as on my finger. Too much waste and clean-up.

The consistency of the gel is too runny. I was expecting a thicker gel, but what I found was a very watery substance that was not a gel at all. It is so runny that it drips off your finger before you actually get the product to your face. I thought maybe by shaking it up before using, I would get the product to "gel" up a bit, but there was no improvement.

The blush does not spread well. Being so watery, the blush does not spread well. It is more of a stain and, unless you get the application just right on the first try, you end up looking splotchy instead of glowing.

The color disappears almost immediately. I have applied more, in layers, and so on, trying to figure out a way to keep a bit of color on my cheeks to no avail. You end up looking like you aren't wearing blush at all or, if you go to the extreme and apply too much, you just look like you have a problem with redness.

In short, Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush comes up short in many ways and I don't plan to purchase more.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush: This was another product that was highly recommended by several magazines. Sounded good - "dream mousse" - so I though I'd try it! The good news was that it was about 30% less expensive than Revlon PInch Me, costing approximately $7 at a popular department store.

Sadly, I was disappointed in Maybelline's Dream Blush as well and here's why:

The consistency approximated mousse, I suppose, but it was far too crumbly. It was more like a dried-out mousse that you left on the kitchen counter all day than the smooth, creamy mousse I was expecting to whip on my face!

Being a bit crumbly, it does not create the dewy appearance I was anticipating. The color was chalky and artificial-looking.

The product is difficult to get out of the tub neatly. You have to dig your finger into the crumbly mousse to get any out of the tub so when you have finished your makeup, you need to spend more time getting the pink gunk out of your fingernails! I expected a whipped cream that would go on smoothly, but this is hardly what I found.

So ladies, neither Revlon nor Maybelline wins this product comparison as both Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush and Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush were a big disappointment and didn't live up to the type of product their names suggest. I will continue my quest for a good, affordable blush that creates a dewy, natural look not a chalky artificial one, if there is such a thing!