Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush is probably one of the first items that caught my attention when I first seen promo images from the revamp. Looking at it I had warm, fuzzy thoughts about MAC Mineralized Skinfinish. Someone cure a screeching record because NO way is this like an MSF. Naaaa, nope, no way, no how.
Jump for the review.
First off allow me to moan a bit. Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush is sooooo misleading. It’s gorgeous, stunning really. It’s a baked marbelized blush that’s quite soft on the eyes. To see is to love. I instantly fell into lust with the shade Living Doll which is this beautiful bright pink with swirls of gold. Truly I was drooling plus the added benefit of a cheap price tag ($7) and you seriously had to scrap my jaw up off the floor.
Problem though.
Here’s the thing…..
It has zero pigmentation unless you really work for it. Brush a finger over it and you’ll have a sheer layer of color. Try getting out your big old blush brush and swirling it around in there and again you’ll see absolutely no color payoff on the brush. For some reason the blush is packed extra hard making it impossible to get even the smallest amount of color from it even with extra hard pressure.
The good news?
Your kabuki brush will be your best friend if you use it to apply this blush. After failing hard with several different brushes I just went ahead and dove in with a small kabuki brush and finally, success, color! After that I was a lover once again. With a little pressure and a quick swirl you’ll pick up plenty of color to blend onto cheeks. The formula isn’t the best in the world but it does give cheeks a soft, cool pink that’s quite pretty.
Overall, the quality doesn’t quite meet up with the beautiful presentation of the blush however it does apply ok with some extra care. I loved Living Doll but probably won’t indulge in further shades due to the difficult time I had with application. Nice but it needs work to be perfect but hey it’s $7 bucks so I’m not going to complain too much. It’s rather ideal for me considering I’m so heavy handed with blush so this makes it easy to keep it sheer.
Likey well enough but in no way a love.
Anyone try?
Loves it?
Leaves it?
Tell the Muse!
Disclosure: The following item was purchased by me for review purposes (and because I like flinging my money at makeup products of any kind) on Musings of a Muse. For further information please see my FTC Guidelines or my Disclosure/Disclaimer posts.
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- Hard Candy Sweet Cheeks Liquid Blush Review and Swatches
- Lorac Summer Collection 2009: Lorac Baked Matte Satin Eye Shadow and Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush
- STEAL IT: Sugar Cosmetics Sweet Cheeks Baked Blush
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I tried this blush after your last post and had the same problem. I think I tried 5 applications before I saw any noticeable color on my cheeks. On the bright side, it’s pretty hard to go overboard if you’re someone who tends to be heavy handed.
same prob Kristina! Try a kabuki, it works the best :_D I’m really heavy handed with blush so this works a treat thanks to that
!
I like it
Then again, I’m scared of overdoing the blush! I use the Studio Tools skunk brush.
oh I know how you feel marilyn! I’m awful! Very heavy handed:)
hi muse, have you tried Wet ‘n” Wild’s satin blush in berry shimmer? Its super pigmented and so cheap! I can’t recommend it enough. It gives me that “just come in from the cold” look I love!
nope haven’t gotten that tohnia
will keep my eyes peeled for it 
!!!!!!!
I hit up the Hard Candy display last night.
I bought Honeymoon blush, and for my pale self, it is quite nice. Its just a very subtle hint of a light peachy color with gold sheen and I like it.
I also thought about the color you reviewed here but passed on it. Too bright for my likings.
aweome jackie! I think I need to get HM as everyone says it’s gorg
It is rather bright 
What brushes did you try that didn’t work, and which one worked?
hi lisa
did you read the review hun? I put in there what brush I used that worked and what brushes weren’t working
Hope this helps!
Oh, sorry, what I meant was which specific, particular brushes? As in, which kabuki do you use, what brand? And which blush brush? And did you try a skunk brush, like the MAC one, or a skunk brush dupe? Sorry if I worded that badly…I did read it! I promise I did!
haha Lisa. I wasn’t sure what your question was I had def said that a regular blush brush wouldn’t work and a kabuki would. Ok, now I understand
Skunk brush def won’t work 
And I tried it with a large mac powder brush, a mac blush brush, and a bobbi brown blush brush oh and also my new sonia kashuk blush brush from the Twist and Shout Collection. I ended up using my mini kabuki from mac and that worked perfect.
Hope this helps hun!
It is very helpful! Thank you!
this would probably be like my cheap blush i keep in my bag for touch ups cause i wouldnt want an expensive one to crack (has happened
) and it would be perfect as i keep a samll kabuki in my bag
hard candy available in the uk does muse know?
it would be perfect for that robyn
It’s nice for travel too when you aren’t wanting to bring costly cosmetics through customs and such!
not as of yet that I know of hun
but ebay perhaps?
Won’t be picking that up then, thanks for the heads up! I DID pick up the volumizing mascara in Mudslide and was pleased with the volumizing aspect, but not the color payoff…maybe it was just the shade I chose…I also got the shadows in Temptation and was amazed. So pigmented and blendable! I’ll definitely be buying some more ASAP along with the liner in Soy (it was the only one that was sold out!). Lastly, I bought the Mr. Wrong polish. To die for!
my pleasure marina
I liked it just a little work getting it going! I like the mascara too, quite nice stuff, got the black! I wish was as into polish as everyone else b/c I swear I’d be so hyped about these 
I still want to try it!! I normally use a kabuki for pressed blushes anyways, but I’m not sure this color would be good for me…I’m a redhead freckle face! Sucks cause I loooove cool toned colors so much, but they don’t look good on me
Boo!
aww darn Lisa. Well for the price it’s worthy of a haul as even if it stinks you won’t cry over the price too much
Maybe try one of the other shades though as there are a few 
Can you get this at Wal-Mart? Or did you get it online? Because I’m actually really intrigued. =)
walmart or walmart.com has them Mollie hope this helps
Hey you!
it looks really really pretty n natural on you, like you just had a brisk walk on a cold day:-)
it kinda reminds me of Physicians Formula Baked Blushes [I know, you're not so much into ds mu, lol, but I yam, lol!]. oh, and NYC has/had shimmer powders that look similar, but theirs is much more swirly.
BTW, where’d you say you found it? Sephora?
hey charmaine!
What’s up?
That’s the exact look it gives. I love PH actually 
it’s one of my fav DS brands 
!!!!!!! I haven’t seen those NYC shimmery ones, interesting.
No walmart. Sephora doesn’t carry Hard Candy anymore, been relaunched at walmart
i found the complete opposite to be true! i have the same shade, living doll, and i have a hard time NOT over doing it with this blush! im in love! i was so shocked to see you had such a tough time with it! ( i use a small blusher brush to apply it!)
fantastic alex
Glad it works so well for you. I needed to use a kabuki brush to get any color from it but I really did like the shade when I did get it on my cheeks 
LOVE this blush it’s my HG! The Studio Tools Skunk Brush worked amazingly for me! Also, my kabuki. I never thought of it being too “hard” or “packed tightly.” This just works for me and I think I’d buy it again.
hi vickie awesome you’re loving it so much! It’s quite nice but I’m def leaning towards very hard and a bit difficult to get color pay off unless I use my kabuki!
Glad you’re loving it though!
I’m actually quite in love with this blush! I only bought this shade last night, but I’ve been using the same in Pinup for a while now… it’s a lighter, peachy-bronze color, a great color for first-time use (: which is why I bought it… I have always been curious about blush but scared to use it. Anyway, I’m really anxious to see how this shade turns out for me! It looks lovely on you. I’m surprised that you had a hard time getting it to work with so many brushes… mine worked fine with a regular blush brush.
hi kayla awesome!
naaa sadly I def needed a kabuki to pick up good color with it
but after that it was very nice on my cheeks! A good deal for sure just drama getting the color to work!
great lisa
I’m glad!