Overview

Rating: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
Price Tag: $3.00
Shades Available: 5 Shades
Where to Buy: eyeslipsface.com

I purchased two of the e.l.f. Studio HD Blushes during last year’s Black Friday sale.

Update 11/17/2015: Added info about the shade Showstopper.
Update 4/18/2014: A better—and more color accurate—product photo was added.

Packaging

The HD blushes are packaged in small plastic bottles with a matte black lid and pump dispenser. For some reason they appear much larger in photos than they are in person. They’re actually quite small, similar in size to the e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick. Don’t get me wrong. These guys are so concentrated that there’s still tons of product.

e.l.f. Studio HD Blush in Headliner and Superstar

I’ve included a photo from my Black Friday haul showing the HD Blushes next to the other products. As you can see, they aren’t that much larger in size than the e.l.f. Essential Shimmering Facial Whip or nail polish.

My Black Friday 2012 e.l.f. Haul

Despite being super concentrated, the pump dispenser produces more product than it should. It’s difficult to get only a little bit out.

Formulation

The blushes have a light, creamy texture. They are uber concentrated and consequently super lightweight. The blush contents have a habit of separating, so make sure to give the bottles a good shake before using. Since I don’t really film myself so I can’t comment on the HD aspect.

Honestly, it’s because of the messy application process that I don’t use the HD Blushes too often. Part of me feels it’s too much work and another part feels that it’s easy to end up looking like you’re off to an 80s photo shoot.

It has been confirmed by e.l.f. staff that these blushes are also lip safe, so you can have your blushes do double-duty as lip colors.

Shades

At this time there are a limited five shades available. I can only wear Headliner and Superstar as the rest are too dark and/or cool-toned for me. I believe all shades have a creme/matte finish.

Swatches of e.l.f. Studio HD Blush in Headliner and Superstar

Headliner

The lightest of the five shades. Headliner is a neutral leaning, true pink.

Superstar

This is salmon shade that is slightly darker than Headliner.

HD Blush in the shade Showstopper

Showstopper

A super deep grape shade. This color is way too dark for me as a blush—I look like a painted doll—but should work beautifully on those with darker skin tones. It turns a berry color when blended out.

Also try Showstopper as a lip color. I find it’s a bit spotty, but it’s a lovely vampy color. It’s still a much, much darker shade than I would normally wear, but again, those with darker skin tones will benefit from the color.

Just an FYI, Showstopper is very staining to the skin.

Application Tips

The main problem with the HD blushes is how the need to be applied. You can’t simply pump a bit onto your fingers and dab it on your face like you would foundation or moisturizer. That’s way too much product.

One way to use the blushes is to apply a couple of dots to your hand, dab a brush—like the e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush—in it, then apply to your cheeks. You can watch the video below to see how e.l.f. recommends doing it.

Images

Final Thoughts

Pros: Good pigmentation, flattering shades
Cons: Too pigmented, not enough shades, difficult to apply

The HD Blushes are a good product with an excellent price point. The two main drawbacks are a lack of shade selection and a bothersome application process.

At $3 a bottle, give them a try to see if they’re right for you.