Festive Flush

Rimmel Santa Rose is a blush that I avoided buying for a very long time. After repeatedly seeing Tanya Burr call it her favourite drugstore blush in countless videos, I was pretty much set on buying it, but every time I picked it up at the shop, it just looked so dull and uninspiring that I put it right back. The colour appeared to be such a generic, slightly muted orangey-brown light pink, that I thought to myself, surely I have at least 10 comparable blushes at home? It wasn't until I stumbled across this video from Alix of I Covet Thee where she uses Santa Rose in a Keira Knightley makeup look that I was 100% sold. Never mind the piles of NARS and Benefit and Bourjois I have on standby, I needed Santa Rose and I needed it immediately.

I bought Santa Rose (010) from Boots in London while on my Europe trip. It was such a thrill to be in a Boots (after all, it's mentioned only in just about every second post on all the British beauty blogs I read), perusing all the UK-exclusive makeup brands and checking out items not released in Australia.

It looks like the Rimmel blushes have been repackaged recently, as I remember they used to be in a smaller, much slimmer trapezoidal pan. The product is now housed in a thicker, sturdier-looking square, though I'm guessing the formulation and colour remain unchanged. I'm not sure if the shade Santa Rose has been discontinued in Australia, but the "Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush" here is different to the blush of the same name in the UK. For one, my Australian-bought Genuine Plum (170) is 4.5g, but Santa Rose is 4g. Genuine Plum also has a rectangular plan and then a compartment for the enclosed mini brush, making the packaging much larger than Santa Rose.

Rimmel Santa Rose is a satiny, soft peachy-pinky-coral. Can't say much else about the colour — it's nothing remarkable. I don't find it particularly glowy or illuminating, but it's not exactly matte either. It looks like it would have almost a golden sheen, but the shimmer isn't that noticeable when swatched or applied to the cheeks. This wouldn't be my pick if I wanted a radiant, healthy-looking flush as the finish is relatively flat and it dangerously verges on ruddy if I apply a fraction too much. That's the main thing that surprised me — how red it is, as I always thought it was a more neutral/borderline 'nude' blush. Despite that, I think the primary appeal of Santa Rose is that it's fairly understated and unassuming, especially if used with a light hand. It's a good choice when you still want to wear a bit of colour on your cheeks, but nothing too tricky, bold or that could potentially compete with the rest of your makeup. The texture is very soft, smooth and easy to blend, though a touch powdery. Staying power is average.

l-r: Benefit Sugarbomb, Rimmel Santa Rose, NARS Luster, NARS Orgasm

Benefit Sugarbomb is probably the closest colour match, but lighter, not as red, with a refined and beautiful golden pearl absent from the Rimmel. Santa Rose in comparison is dustier, more brown-toned, nowhere near as luminous. NARS Luster is more of a sunburned orange with gold shimmer — darker, much more pigmented. NARS Orgasm is significantly pinker (not as orange/peach as the other three), sheerer, and with an inbuilt golden highlight. In my eyes, all three are superior to Santa Rose, not just in terms of the shade but also quality, ease of application and staying power. Did I need Santa Rose? Nope. But it's a safe, non-threatening everyday blush that's affordable and easy to wear. Rimmel 3 in 1 Powder Blush in Autumn Catwalk is still the best blush the brand has put out though.