I’m a makeup artist. I love the viral $23 Rare Beauty blush, but prefer this drugstore dupe for one-third of the price.
October 22, 20240
I like the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blush in the shade Love.
Morewa Osawaru
Rare Beauty launched in 2020 and released its popular Soft Pinch liquid blushes a few years later, in 2022. This product was wildly popular with customers, generating $70 million in revenue that same year.
The brand, which is valued at about $2 billion, also carries an inclusive shade range — a big deal for me as a woman of color.
Just a small dot of the brand’s richly pigmented $23 blush delivers bold color and leaves either a beautiful glow or a gorgeous matte finish, depending on the product.
I love wearing orange blush, so I’ve been using the Rare Beauty product in the shade Love, a matte terracotta.
ELF is a drugstore beauty brand known for offering affordable, high-performing products.
The Rare Beauty blush (left) wasn’t as buildable as the ELF one (right).
Morewa Osawaru
When comparing swatches of the blushes side-by-side, Rare Beauty’s blush looked very pigmented, but the ELF one was much brighter.
However, when blended out, the ELF blush allowed me to build its intensity, which is great for when I want a softer look.
Notably, Rare Beauty offers two blush formulas (dewy and matte), while ELF’s product only comes in a dewy finish.
ELF also offers only nine blush shades, but Rare Beauty carries 13 options — which means this brand’s blushes can cater to a wider variety of clients. However, for my personal use, I actually preferred the hues ELF carries.
The ELF Camo liquid blush provided the perfect flush for my skin tone.
The ELF blush (right) blended more easily on my skin than the Rare Beauty one (left).
Morewa Osawaru
Comparing the blushes side-by-side, the ELF product in Gorg Orange was incredibly flattering on my skin tone. This warm, burnt-orange tone beautifully complemented my deeper complexion and gave my cheeks a natural-looking, sun-kissed flush.
Rare Beauty’s blush in the shade Love also looked pretty, but it didn’t give my cheeks the same level of warmth or suit my skin tone as well.
Ultimately, I think the ELF blush is worth buying.
I love the flush of color the ELF Camo liquid blush (on right) gave me.
Morewa Osawaru
Though the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blush in Love offered beautiful pigmentation and a luminous finish, ELF’s Camo product was my winner.
Its buildable formula, dewy finish, and affordable price point make it a versatile choice for so many looks, from natural to full-glam makeup and everything in between.
But most importantly, ELF’s Gorg Orange shade gave me a warm flush similar to what I’d look like after spending time in the sun. I’ve never seen this natural-looking finish with other blushes I’ve used.
From a price standpoint, ELF’s blush is more affordable — at just $7, it’s much cheaper than the one from Rare Beauty. Needless to say, the ELF Camo liquid blush is definitely a product I’m going to keep reaching for.
