ILIA Multi Stick Blush: For Healthy Color On the Go

ILIA Multi-Stick is a 2-in-1 for natural color on the go. 

Who else is always searching for easy, on the go products that can be used on multiple areas of the face? I know I am! It keeps my makeup bag less cluttered and makes traveling a breeze. ILIA Multi-Stick is a two-in-one product that doubles as blush and lip color. Recently, this product won Byrdie’s Eco Beauty Award for Best Multi-Use, along with the Allure Readers’ Choice Award for Best Blush. But do I think this is the best cream blush? I agree it’s good, but it isn’t the best.

Promises vs. Performance: Creamy, soft wash of color.

Natural, no-makeup makeup looks are increasingly popular, as are easy to use products. ILIA’s stick blush is just that: an easy, on the go stick for a soft wash of color on cheeks and lips. ILIA says Multi-Stick has a buttery texture that blends into the skin effortlessly, melting upon contact. It can be easily applied with fingertips or a brush. Multi-stick contains ingredients such as shea butter and avocado oil to help condition and nourish skin.

I picked up the shades All of Me, I Put A Spell On You, and Tenderly. And wow! These colors are gorgeous! The formula is creamy and applies really nicely to the skin. I applied these sticks with my fingers, as ILIA suggested, and really let the warmth of my fingers melt the product into my skin. The Multi-Sticks blended out easily and evenly. They definitely provided a more subtle wash of color, perfect for those light makeup days. I could definitely see myself using these on those days where I want just a soft wash of color and not an intense blush look. I’m excited to keep playing with these and try them out on my lips for a monochromatic look!

Quick Rating Rundown

This Product

(4.2)

:ILIA Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Lip Tint

Price: $34.00

0.15 oz

Value

(3.5)

Application

(4.6)

Finish (Cream)

(4.3)

Longevity

(3.8)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

Industry Standard

(4.6)

:ROSE INC Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip

Price: $30.00

0.15 oz

Value

(4.4)

Application

(4.8)

Finish (cream)

(4.5)

Longevity

(4.2)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)

:The Best Cream Blushes You Need

Price: $7 – $42

various sizes

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Finish (cream)

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

How It Compares: It’s convenient, but is it the best cream blush?

I think ILIA Multi-Stick is a good product for convenience. Easy to apply, it can be used on both cheeks and lips. The formula is a beautiful cream texture that easily gives a nice flush to the cheeks (perfect for those new to cream blushes!). But, it is not the most pigmented cream blush on the market, nor is it the most long wearing. I will say, it’s a great intro to cream blush if a clean stick formula is what you’re after.

What is my favorite cream blush, you might ask? ROSE INC Blush Divine is easily one of the best formulas I have ever tried and is one of my holy grails. The creamy formula easily blends into cheeks with fingers or a brush, providing a the most healthy, radiant flush of color. It never accentuates any imperfections, from dryness to texture and never settles into lines or pores. Blush Divine applies beautifully over any base, whether cream or powder, without disrupting the makeup underneath.

Milabu Beauty Method: Natural, lifted cheeks.

Apply ILIA’s Multi-Stick before any powder product.

1. Begin your makeup look, applying foundation and concealer as desired. (If using a cream bronzer/contour, I also like to apply this before the blush.)
2. Draw the blush directly on your cheekbones. I like to apply more towards the outer portion instead of right on the apples of my cheeks. This gives me more of a lifted effect.
3. Using either your fingers or a dense brush, like the Expert Face Brush ($9.99) from Real Techniques, and blend out the blush. Make sure to blend upwards for more of the lifted effect.
4. Layer blush as needed to deepen the shade.

Tip: These cream blushes layer beautifully under powder blushes! For a more dramatic pop, layer with a powder blush of similar color.