Dandelion Dew Soft Baby-Pink Radiance for Cheeks is a spin-off of Benefit's cult favorite Dandelion powder blush. This version offers a liqu-cream texture that blends smoothly into skin and sets to stay-put color. The fragrance in the formula is a step in the wrong direction, but if you're after baby pink cheeks, this is a cute blush to consider.

Dandelion Dew Soft Baby-Pink Radiance for Cheeks goes on soft yet it's richly pigmented (a dab will do ya'). It can be sheered out with a damp sponge or intensified by building color using your fingertips.

This blush melds with skin rather than clinging to flaky patches or seeping into pores. What's more, it resists fading throughout the day whether you have dry or oily skin—no easy feat! We also found it wore well under powder blush for a pop of pink undertone.

Despite the "Dew" and "Radiance" portions of its name, the finish is semi-matte. The color creates somewhat of a lit-from-within flush, but just know that it's not luminous.



On the downside, the mix of fragrance chemicals are an indicator that the formula poses a risk of irritation (see More Info to find out what that means for skin). The scent is strong enough to smell for the first few minutes of wear before mellowing out—not a deal-breaker for everyone, but something to consider, especially if you have sensitive skin (or a sensitive nose).

In the end, Dandelion Dew Soft Baby-Pink Radiance for Cheeks earns accolades for the attractive flush it leaves, but takes two steps back with the fragrance, netting a middle of the road rating. See our Best Blushes list for top-rated alternatives that nix the perfume.

PROS:

• Liqu-cream texture blends easily and melds with skin.
• Color resists fading and wears well under powder blush.
• Pigmentation builds well (or you can sheer it out).
• Works for both dry and oily skin.

CONS:

• Contains potentially irritating fragrance ingredients.
• Not what we'd consider dewy or radiant, despite the name.

More Info:
Daily use of products that contain a high amount of fragrance, whether the fragrant ingredients are synthetic or natural, causes chronic irritation that can damage healthy collagen production, lead to or worsen dryness, and impair your skin's ability to heal. Fragrance-free is the best way for all skin types to go for all skin types (Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008 & American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003).

The sneaky part about irritation is that research has demonstrated that you don't always need to see it or feel it for your skin to suffer damage, and that damage may remain hidden for a long time (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008).

In fact, the effect of inflammation in the skin is cumulative, and repeated exposure to irritants contributes to a weakened skin barrier, slower healing (including of red marks from breakouts), and a dull, uneven complexion (Aging, 2012 & Chemical Immunology and Allergy, 2012).