June 18, 2013

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Review & Swatches

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Blush

I wasn’t completely sold on Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Blush when I was testing it. But the more I tested this little gel blush the more I started to love it.

These are an interesting formula that’s one part gel, one part stain, and all glowing color. I thought they might be a product similar to Korres Cheek Butter which I disliked due to the dewy finish but actually they turned into something FAR, far bettter.

Take a peek!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Swatches

Coral Oasis, Poppy Paradise, Pink Escape

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee ($22) are available in six shade selections and possibly one of the best Summer blush purchases I’ve made lately. Each blush comes in a tiny 0.18 oz pot and really they do indeed look like jelly!

Don’t let the appearance deceive you as they do not have a jelly texture and they are quite firm to the touch. In my photos below they did bleed a little as they were delivered on a rather hot day but no worries they didn’t melt or go soft.

They market these as fourteen hours of color and hydration as the blush is made up of 50% coconut water and Vitamin E rich argan oil. I gotta say for something that contains so much moisture I didn’t feel like they were dewy or watery or really hydrating at all. This doesn’t mean they didn’t apply and blend easily but the entire “moisture packed” formula just wasn’t exactly doing it for me. They do not smell like coconut if you were wondering. They are actually fragrance-free and do not have any flavor as I did indeed try them on lips as well but I dislike them on lips so stick to cheek application imho!

Outside of that the product is simply amazing. They apply very easily by merely dipping a finger in and blending out on cheeks. Color is so natural you’d swear you were blushing or that this was your natural glow. They look more like a stain once you apply and the finish is smooth and perfect. The color doesn’t adhere to drier areas or accentuate pores. It feels like I’m applying cheek stain really. You can’t over do these in the least as the color is natural no matter how much you apply. They feel very refreshing and cool as well.

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Coral Oasis

Josie Maran Coral Oasis Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

Coral Oasis

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Pink Escape

Josie Maran Pink Escape Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

Pink Escape

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Poppy Paradise

Josie Maran Poppy Paradise Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

Poppy Paradise

Now the color is incredible as it lasts as long as a stain would. You can get a solid twelve hours wear from these in cooler or warmer more humid weather. I even took a swim and the color remained completely strong without fading or wearing away.

Needless to say these get a big Muse Approval from me.

Natural color with a solid, firm gel texture which applies and wears like a cheek stain is a plus for me! I will say I disliked that they stained my fingers during application but aside from that it’s all goodness!

Love these.

They are available now at Sephora and Sephora.com

Try one, try them all, I know you’re going to love ’em!

musings_approved

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Libby

    Ooooooh, I saw these at Sephora and wanted them so bad! But the Sephora rep was telling me that since I have combination/oily skin, I should stay away. NOT LISTENING. Definitely going back now to get it as I have to return something anyway. (That something being the Guerlain BB cream. Did you end of liking that, Muse? I love/loved it but it’s just not holding up well on my skin T___T)

    Thanks for the review and swatches!!

    • the Muse

      that’s completely wrong these aren’t so moisturizing that you’d have an issue with combo/oily skin. wow talk about misinformed. I’m still testing it 😀 I haven’t really formed an opinion yet, so far pretty good! 😀

      My pleasure!!!!!!!

  • Stacy

    Love these!! I have Pink Escape, but now your making me want the other colors too!!
    Can you share what lipcolor you have on in the first picture, your wearing green. Whatever it is it looks stunning on you and I have to have it!!

    • the Muse

      I got three so far and I think I’ll haul the other three hehe ;-D it’s a laura geller gloss…can’t recall name at the moment will get back to you ;-D thank YOU!

  • Robin

    Love how they look on you! I’m very pale and I think this would be perfect for me. Sadly, I just bought IT Cosmetics set of three blush stains. They are in the loose powder formula. I poke only three holes thru the paper seal over the seal. A ver tiny amount comes out and the colors look great in me. It will last me a 100 years so I don’t need any more blush, but JM blushes are very tempting.

    Just stocked up on OPI at Sephoras site. 4.50 per bottle! Discontinuing OPI at Sephora. Bummer. Only nail product that lasts on my nails.

    • the Muse

      oh robin I have those too they are fab and def will last ages! 😀 oh I didn’t know they axed that line 🙁 but hey yay for sales!

  • Lori

    Hi Muse! I LOVE these, too. 🙂 I have four of the colors now, and I’m going back for the other two soon, lol. I completely agree with your review ~ great color, natural looking, and fragrance free. I didn’t feel any cooling, either or notice that they were especially moisturizing, but they did seem to leave an ever so subtle glow on my cheeks. The only downside is the finger stain (which sounds funny to say), but I can live with that. 🙂 They are my new favorite blush.

  • Phyrra

    So pretty, but I don’t like the idea of stained fingers either.

  • pockykami

    How pretty and natural! Do you think applying with a stippling brush would work to avoid stained fingers?

    • the Muse

      sure pocky…it’s just a bit of a smaller pot so getting the brush in might be challenging but def will avoid the stained fingers ;D

  • Fernando

    Don’t take this as offensive, but almost all of your pics on this site make every single product look the same with that flash :/ Your reviews are so lovely and detailed, but it doesn’t really translate onto pics. All of the blushes look the same shade of pink, and most all of the lipsticks do, as well. Your face shots would benefit from some natural light!

    • the Muse

      sorry fernando I’m def not a great photographer. I also leave in an older Victorian house so natural light is always darn limited. I do my best and I am quite sorry they photos aren’t great.

    • Kathy

      I don’t agree with Fernando on this. I can see a diff in each of the blushes after being applied above. The color looks different and I can also see a different lip color in each pic. Maybe it’s Fernando’s monitor?

      • the Muse

        thanks kathy..! def, monitors display colors differently for sure! but my pics aren’t so fab either :-/ I try though! brownie points for trying!? ;-D

  • Joan

    Loving blush as I do, I really really wanted to love these, but I didn’t. I thought the Coral Oasis was too orange and was the first to be returned. I also bought Poppy Paradise and Pink Escape. I found they went on blotchy and stained my fingers. I think from reading the reviews on these, I’m the only one who gave them one star. I had such high hopes for these, but was really disappointed. Oh well, not like I needed more blush! LOL

    • the Muse

      I agree on the coral oasis, bit too orange! really? I didn’t get blotchy thankfully but they did stain my fingers ugh!

  • Caroline

    Thanks for the review; I was curious about these! Looks like an interesting product. Also, I disagree with Fernando; I think your photos do a great job of showing the contrasts between different products!

    • the Muse

      aw thanks caroline, I’m surely no photographer 😀 wish I could do better! if I even go into blogging full time I’ll def be taking a class or two on good photo taking 😀 but thanks girl! It really is, the blush is gorgeous!

  • KatieLuvsKolor

    I have been wanting to try these, Muse. The Poppy Paradise looks great on you and I think I will give that one a go. Fernando, I see three different color blushes on Muse’s cheeks. 🙂 Thanks for the info lady!!

    • the Muse

      hey katie! thanks chica! 😀 def def def try! they are fab! I really liked these! and so long wearing too ;-D

      • KatieLuvsKolor

        Got the Poppy Paradise a few weeks ago and am in love!!!! So pretty.

  • diane

    awesome review my friend! glad you love them. i have poppy paradise and pink escape and have been reaching for them every single day which is weird for me. i read in a magazine (i wanna say it was instyle but i would’t swear) josie got influenced by the texture of gak for the feel of these..remember nickelodeon gak from the 90s?? i used to love that stuff. lol

    • the Muse

      HA yes! really?! that’s funky! ;-D I’ve been wearing mine on the weekends for the past two weeks as they are perfect for minimal makeup looks ;D

  • Jessi Glass

    I love, love, love this blush!! I’ve read other comments about it staining your finger when applying, I’ve been using my e.l.f. Studio small stipple brush. It fits right in the jar perfectly to pick a little bit of product up and applies wonderfully!

  • Cj

    Ugh Poppy is my love <3 I've been wearing it non stop since I got it lol, I haven't even tried out the others I got 😛 tempted to buy like 30 in case they ever discontinue it lol!

  • Deb

    Hi Muse. I have this in Poppy and have been using it constantly. I live in Phoenix and I just got back from 5 days in Vegas and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt they hold up very well in the heat. I found that if I wash my fingers with soap immediately after applying I don’t get stained fingers. It’s a small hassle to stop with your makeup application and wash fingers right after applying these but it does work.

  • Kaitlyn

    Wow! I wasn’t really considering these, but I think you changed my mind!

  • Brandy

    Girl…you got me wanting these little guys! What is the lip gloss in the last picture where you’re wearing the poppy blush? It looks like the most amazing coral on your lips. BTW, I think you do an amazing job with your blog; I look foward to your posts when I’ve had a tough day at work!

    • the Muse

      gosh I can’t remember brandy lol! I’m sorry! I did the looks two weeks ago and can’t recall exact products used ;-D really need to write this stuff down as you are the second person to ask! they are really lovely blushes def check them at your next trip to sephora. aw thank YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I try. I’m not the best blogger on the planet but def put heart into it 🙂

  • karen

    So pretty – I see *another* blush purchase in my near future! Btw, what are the lip colors in the pics of Coral Oasis and Poppy Paradise? Very fresh ans summery 🙂

    • the Muse

      god I wish I can remember karen 🙂 it was two weeks ago I did the looks lol! I’m sorry :-/ I need to start writing this stuff down as I get the question a lot 😉

  • Courtney

    I LOVE mine!! I bought Pink, poppy, and berry, and they are just amazing. So glad you fell in love with them! 😉

  • jenny

    Hi Muse, thank you for the review. I really want to try this, recently I’m very concern about organics and natural ingredients. But when I chexkes the ingredients this blush, I’m quite dissapoinyed because they use ‘BUTYLENE GLYCOL’, as I know this is 1 of dangerous ingredients.
    Do you have any opinions about it? Thank you.