While Urban Decay is one of my favorite brands, until recently I hadn’t tried any of their blushes yet. This summer, I bit the bullet and bought two of their Afterglow blushes. I already reviewed the nude color I got, called Video. Today, it’s the other blush’ turn and it is a bright purple blush called Bittersweet.
Urban Decay Afterglow blush in Bittersweet
From what I can figure out, I am thinking this blush range is currently being discontinued. I have found these blushes on sale in many different places. So if you are lucky you can find this shade and some of the others at 50% off. I have heard that Urban Decay will be reformulating their blushes, so it may very well be that, as when they revamped their lipsticks and came out with the Vice lipstick line, that the shades will stay, but that the packaging will change and the range is extended. The full retail price of this blush is €31.
The Packaging
I think the packaging of these blushes isn’t necessarily super pretty, but it sure is practical. These blushes are small and compact and all of the packaging is devoted to the product. No space is wasted and that makes for some handy, slim packaging that is easy to store. There is no mirror in the lid, rather the lid has a mesh detail that allows you to see the color of the blush inside.
The Blush
Yes, that is a purple blush. Bittersweet is definitely a shade that will not appeal to most people, but I found out that purple blush and look really natural on my fair skin. That is why I decided to splurge and get a more expensive version. What I usually do, is that I try out something like this with a more affordable version, before seeing if it would work and commit to buying a more expensive version. I like having both version in my makeup collection so I always have a good point of reference for reviews and makeup videos.
The Shade
Bittersweet is a purple blush that looks quite intimidating in the pan. However, don’t be scared, because as I will show you blow, this looks very different on the skin. I was drawn into this shade from the start, but was afraid it wouldn’t look good. Purple is a very cool toned color, so it will definitely not work for everyone. However, on my fair, neutral to cool toned skin, it works wonders.
The Swatch
I truly believe that the Urban Decay Afterglow blushes need more hype. Even though they are about to disappear, I still think that these blushes are at the top of their game. They are pigmented as you can see in the swatch, but not to the point where they become unworkable. Rather, these blushes blend like a dream and give a very natural color to the cheek. What’s more, I experience little to no fading with these throughout the day.
The Application
How pretty is that? At the top, you can see my cheek without any blush on. At the bottom, that is my cheek with the blush applied. It looks fresh, youthful and very pretty indeed. As I mentioned, I think this type of blush shade might work best on cooler undertones, but this kind of look is also perfect for all fair skinned people. I think that on my pale winter skin, this gives a very pretty look without going overboard.
The Conclusion
Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet is a gem that I hope returns to Urban Decay’s new blush line. It is a unique shade that not many brands do and that may not appeal to many people. However, as I’ve hopefully shown you here. A purple blush can look absolutely natural and pretty on the skin. Especially when it has a superior texture and formula, like this one has, you have a blush that is not only unique, but also works very well in your daily makeup routine.