The New LYS Glow Blush Stick Just Made My Makeup Routine One Step Shorter — Review, Photos

Few things will make me audibly gasp in the middle of a crowded restaurant, but after swatching the new LYS Higher Standards Glow Blush Stick, I couldn’t help but loudly share my delighted surprise with my fellow Sant Ambroeus patrons. It was during the breakfast rush and I was meeting with LYS Beauty founder Tisha Thompson, who was excitedly giving me and a few other Allure editors a sneak peek at the new launch.

I swiped the shade Courage on the back of my hand and the dark orange, shimmery pigment took my breath away. “There’s something undeniably magical when you apply blush,” says Thompson. “It’s often the final touch in a complexion routine that brings a vibrant pop of color to the face.”

I certainly felt that magic and was more than eager to test out the blush stick on my face. I’m already a fan of LYS Beauty products, including the Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush and the viral No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick, so I was prepared to add a new favorite to my LYS collection.

Thompson set out to enhance the power of blush by combining it with another face-transforming product: highlighter. The Glow Blush Stick has particles of shimmer that add a shiny dew to flushed cheeks, and with seven shades to choose from (including bright fuchsia, deep purple, and burnt orange), there’s a shade to complement every skin tone and undertone.

As a self-appointed blush aficionado, I was especially interested to see how this highlighter–blush hybrid stacks up to beloved products already on the market.

I was most drawn to the shade Courageous for its fiery-orange hue and golden gleam. After applying my go-to foundation and concealer (Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer), I buffed a brush (I love the Crunchi No.3 Bronzer Brush) onto the Glow Blush Stick and began swiping the pigment onto my cheekbones, moving the brush from my temples to the apples of my cheeks in a downward motion, a tip I picked up from New York City-based makeup artist Maya René.

“It’s best to take a brush, sponge, or your fingers to tap into the product before applying it on the face,” says René. Since blush is typically applied after complexion products, René says that applying a stick blush directly to the face might smudge the foundation. “You also have more control of product placement when you dip into it with a tool first,” she adds.

The same vibrant tangerine hue that wowed me during my meeting looked even prettier on my cheeks, though the pigment wasn’t as saturated as when I first swatched it, probably because I used a brush. The texture of the blush is very emollient and feels buttery on the skin, but if your skin is oily like mine, the blush may make you shine brighter than you’d like.

To pack on a bit more color, I applied the shade Outgoing, a purply fuchsia, to the apples of my cheeks, and let me just say, if you’re still applying only one blush color, change that. The two shades blended harmoniously, giving my skin a pretty sunset effect. I even dabbed a bit of Outgoing onto my lips before applying a clear gloss to tie the whole look together. I sealed my face with a touch of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and a spritz of Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix 24HR Hydrating Setting Spray.

Six hours after applying the blush, the color had stayed on my cheeks and the shimmer didn’t fade — and I was already planning my next makeup look with this blush in mind.

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Bianca Richards, social media manager, in the shade Bubbly.

“I never thought I’d see the day when I was wooed by a non-orange blush, but this bright pink shade from LYS Beauty won me over and has become a new staple in my routine. This blush gives me a pretty pop of pink on my cheeks and seamlessly blends with the rest of my makeup for the natural, radiant finish that I love.”

Talia Gutierrez, associate manager of special projects, in the shade Focus.

“Like any creamy stick product, I applied this blush by dabbing an angled brush onto the product instead of directly onto my skin; it’s easier to blend this way. I used the shade Focus, a burnt mahogany, that complemented my olive-toned skin perfectly. So much so, that I applied some to my eyelids for a full-coverage flush. I also was pleasantly surprised by the dewy finish it gave my cheekbones; I had no need for highlighter.”

Hunter Lacey, associate director of special projects, in the shade Focus.

“My new, go-to blush has entered the chat. I adore how blendable and pearlescent this formula is; it really packs a pigmented punch. I prefer to swatch it on the back of my hand and then apply it to my cheeks with a fluffy blending brush, buffing it out for a seamless wash of color and the healthiest, lit-from-within glow. Preventing that color and sheen from fading throughout the day is an uphill battle because my skin tends to ‘eat makeup,’ but this blush lasts for hours.”

The LYS Beauty Higher Standards Glow Blush Stick retails for $20 and will be available on the brand’s site and at Sephora on February 22.

Discover more Allure reviews:

• Gucci’s Gloss à Lèvres Made Me a Lip Gloss Convert
• This Highlighter Makes Me Look Like I Just Got the Best Facial of My Life
• This Clé de Peau Beauté Serum Is the Most Expensive Product in My Skin-Care Routine

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