Chanel Blusher Review: 5 People Test Chanel Water-Fresh Blush
TikTok has spoken and there seems to be a new Chanel blusher on the block that everyone is obsessing over. It is, of course, the Les Beige Water-Fresh Blush. However, the blusher looks a little different than what we’re used to. Not quite a powder, not quite a cream, almost a liquid, but more so like a serum, with pearls of colour pigment floating evenly throughout. Sounds strange? That gel-like texture comes from the water, which occupies 75% of the formula, plus the micro-droplet pigments which burst when blended into skin, combining the blush colour with the sheer serum, resulting in a delicate and oh-so-natural rosy glow.
The blush comes in six subtle shades to cover a wide range of skin tones. Plus it's packaged in a classic, compact (and very chic) Chanel bottle with a push pump that gives you a healthy dose of product in one click. Upon application, the concept feels unusual because it’s as if we’re doing our skincare routine when we should have already moved on to makeup. The water-blush itself is innovative, and weightless, with tamarind seed extract, which is an active used to regulate skin moisture and is supposed to give you your healthiest looking glow yet.
For £42 a pop, is this blush really worth the hype though… and the money? We asked five GLAMOUR staffers with different complexions to try five different shades and here are their truest and most honest thoughts.
The Product:
Chanel Les Beige Water-Fresh Blush, £42, John Lewis
The Verdict:
Shei Mamona, Beauty Writer
Shade: Deep Bronze
I’m a sucker for a blush, I’m even more head over heels for a liquid blush. Dewy skin is life and I think adding a splash of rose to the cheeks just transforms my face and makes me look more alert in an instant. TikTok told me that this is the best blusher out this summer, and although I’m not one to just jump on any trend, I love Chanel makeup so I was excited to give it a bash.
The pearly watery consistency was confusing, and it does feel strangely wet on application, almost like a serum. However, once you buff it in it all melts and blends into a very healthy glow. I went for the shade Deep Bronze, which I feared would be a bit too brown, and as the name suggests, bronzer-like. I was pleasantly surprised in that the hue complemented my complexion perfectly. It looked so natural, almost skin-like, which is unusual to find with blushes for dark skin and it gave a delicate pop of colour and dimension to my face instantly.
What I love about the blusher is that although the first layer may feel quite sheer, it’s buildable so you can get better colour pay-off by simply adding another drop or two. My only pointer is that, although the blush sets pretty well, pretty quickly, the buffing around means that any makeup underneath it will move. I’d say that this is the perfect summer glow blush, not appropriate for a full-beat. All in all, here is yet another Chanel product that has passed the vibe check. BRB, off to grab my wallet!
Rating: 9/10
Sally Hunter, Office Manager and PA to European Editorial Director
Shade: Warm Pink
I'm moving all other blushers to one side and giving the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh blush a giant pedestal. For me, this *is* the summer blush of the year. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. Pumping the product onto the back of my hand, I could clearly see the fuse of colour pigmentation inside the water-based solution. As I began to gently rub it all together, the pigments broke apart to create this dewy, super hydrating blush ready for application.
I would say fingers are best to transfer the product from your hand to your face. Tapping rather than rubbing (for me, rubbing caused streaky baselines) across my cheekbones and up onto the bridge of my nose, I was able to create a super healthy, fresh finish to my everyday makeup look. It is literally a sun-kissed, Mediterranean glow in a bottle, what’s not to love? The product is also incredibly lightweight and refreshing, so it's exactly what you need in a heat wave!
If I was being picky, I would say the colour pigmentation is quite subtle but definitely buildable. After a few more pumps and blends I was happy with the final look. Final thought… *perfect perfect perfect*.
Rating: 9/10
Elle Turner, GLAMOUR’s Beauty Editor
Shade: Light Pink
I'm a huge fan of Chanel's OG Water Fresh Tint (a super lightweight skin tint) for warming up my complexion with a mega sheer wash of colour on low-key days. I like to use it when my skin's already pretty good and I want a pretty, barely-there makeup vibe. This blush is an extension of that. It's super duper subtle and gives a your-cheeks-but-better splash of colour. I'd definitely be open to adding it to my makeup bag for summer days when I want something weightless but with a soft pigment pay-off.
The shade I chose – Light Pink – reads a bit too ‘flushed’ on me, but I've been eyeing up Intense Coral for a juicier colour pop, or Deep Apricot for a 2-in-1 bronzy-blush hybrid.
Rating: 8/10
Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Writer
Shade: Intense Coral
I wasn’t always a blush girl, but TikTok made me one, and now, I can’t consider my makeup routine complete without one. Since liquid blushes are having such a big moment, I was thrilled to try this viral Chanel blusher not only because of its unique formula but also because it’s priced at £42, which is probably twice as much as any other liquid blush on average (if not more).
It features a very liquid-y serum-like formula with little pigment particles, which I admit, sounds strange at first, but once applied, it feels super weightless and natural. The key is to first try and break down those particles by rubbing it either on the back of your hand or on a makeup palette and only then applying it on your face.
I opted for the brightest shade Chanel offers Intense Coral, which ended up giving me the most beautiful finish that is both pigmented and natural-looking. It genuinely feels like the perfect combo of skincare and makeup. And as someone who loves to go for a bolder look, I also found that the colour is easily buildable too. Just make sure you don’t apply it to your face straight out of the bottle without breaking down the particles first as that could result in a patchy application.
Rating: 7/10
Luca Wetherby-Matthews, GLAMOUR’s Social Media Manager
Shade: Deep Apricot
When I saw the Water Fresh blush going viral on TikTok, I was dying to get my hands on it — the product was blowing my little mind. I tried the shade ‘Deep Apricot’, an orange-toned peach colour which complemented my skin tone b-e-a-utifully. The consistency is very weird to get used to, there are specs of pigment within a clear, watery solution.
It’s only once you start blending the product out that the colour really starts to show — mixing into a sheer, glowy finish. I find that applying with your fingers is the easiest way to get a feel for the consistency and pigment, and helps blend into a super, natural glow.
Rating: 10/10
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
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