Is PRADA BEAUTY Blush Worth It? My Honest Review

First, What Is a Cream-to-Powder Blush?

You’re likely familiar with cream and powder blushes, but not so much a cream-to-powder blush. The hybrid product has been popping up more and more, though is still somewhat new. It starts out as a cream, blending like one as well. Then it settles like a powder for extra longwear. It provides a natural, soft finish and is easy to apply with fingers or a blush brush.

Your Guide to PRADA BEAUTY’S Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush

Available in eight shades, the cream-to-powder blush boasts a buildable, blurred, soft-matte finish that lasts up to 12 hours. Less bold and more subtle, Prada Touch provides a natural flush of color to your cheeks. Of course, you can build on it to create a more daring look. The creamy balm dries down matte, so you don’t have to worry about setting the cream after.

The stackable, on-the-go packaging makes it easy to mix and match your favorite shades and take them with you wherever you venture.

The blush does highlight the key claims from a consumer test:

• 99% agree on instant flash of color

• 93% agree on healthy-looking complexion

• 92% agree on lightweight feel that doesn’t feel sticky or greasy

• 94% agree on buildable formula

• 88% agree skin appears softly mattified

Those are some big shoes to fill, and ones I absolutely put to the test. 

PRADA BEAUTY Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Blushes in Tulip (top) and Dahlia (bottom)

How I Applied the Blush

I bought the blush in shades Dahlia (nude pink) and Tulip (baby pink). The other six shades are Bow (soft mauve), Waterlilly (bright fuchsia), Peach (soft coral), Cherry (poppy red), Mauve (rich berry), and Caffe (deep terracotta). To be honest, most of the shades were sold out, which is why I opted for the two I got. They’re also $42 a pop, so collecting them all will cost you a pretty penny.

I started with Dahlia, then tried Tulip, and followed the steps below.

Step 1: Started With My Base

I started with sunscreen and the LYS BEAUTY Triple Fix Blurring Skin Tint Foundation Stick. It’s my favorite way to even out my skin tone and start with a nearly flawless base.

Step 2: Applied My Mascara

I know this is often one of the final steps for some people’s makeup routines, but for the purposes of this, I applied my mascara after the skin tint. I didn’t want to do much with my eyes because the blush was the focus, so I used the ARRE BEAUTY Tubing Mascara. 

Step 3: Used My Fingers

I washed my hands before swiping my finger onto the cream blush to deposit it onto my cheeks. I prefer to blend any cream product with my fingers because I find it easier to work with and it melts into my skin. If you prefer applying your blush with a brush, you are more than welcome to do so.

After applying Dahlia

Step 4: Blended the Blush

I went in with a few dabs, blending Dahlia into my cheeks until I achieved the payoff I wanted. Then I repeated the same steps using Tulip. Ultimately, I decided on a blend of the two colors as the final look.

Step 5: Put on a Lip

As much as I love blush, I also love a good lip. I paired my final blush look with a pink pout using the AORA BEAUTY Háblame Lip Liner Pencil in Rosa.05.

Step 6: Set the Look

I finished using the E.L.F. COSMETICS Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray to lock the look into place.

My Honest Review of the PRADA BEAUTY Blush

Let’s start with what I liked about the blush, because there were a lot of things.

• The Payoff: While I tend to apply more blush than I need, I appreciated that the payoff took only a few dabs of product. I didn’t have to keep adding more and more to get the pigment that I wanted, which is always nice because that means the blush will last me a long time.

• The Wear: I wore this for more than 12 hours, and it lasted pretty much the whole time. There was a little fading, but not too much. I even wore it through a walk in the 80-degree heat, and it still stayed put.

• The Blendability: The two shades I chose blended incredibly well. I crave customization, so I was pleasantly surprised they mixed this easily.

• The Finish: A hybrid formula is one of my favorites because they require less product. Because of the two-in-one technology, I don’t need to set the cream with a powder. I loved the finish, too. It went on creamy but ended up being more mattifying than I was anticipating, which is great for my oily skin.

• The Shade Range: Eight shades doesn’t sound like a lot, but they’re all strong hues. You have your classic pinks and nudes, then a few fun shades to throw into the mix. They also blend so well together, so you have more than enough to create a unique shade.

• The Packaging: In classic PRADA fashion, the blush comes in a triangle. What I appreciate is how compact it is. I could easily toss it in my bag for later. I also appreciate that the blushes are stackable, so you can keep them all together. It’s the little things.

Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush Swatches in Tulip (left) and Dahlia (right)

There really wasn’t a lot that I didn’t like about this blush, but there was one thing I didn't love (or should I say my wallet didn't love): the price. These blushes are not cheap, and with so many on the market, it feels tough to recommend them given their hefty price tag. 

My Final Thoughts on the PRADA BEAUTY Blush

As I mentioned, the biggest thing to be aware of is how expensive these blushes are. If price is of no matter to you, then these blushes are great. They offer incredible payoff, a unique formula that stays put, and are easy to customize. But if price is a factor in choosing your blush, these might not be worth spending all your gift cards on. Though a little splurge now and then never hurt anybody.