Beauty Care: Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream Cream Blushlight Review & Swatches

Cali Dream

Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream Cream Blushlight Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream Cream Blushlight ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium peach with moderate, warm undertones–leaned slightly orange–with a natural finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which could be diffused for more semi-sheer to medium coverage if desired. It was definitely a more pigmented formula, though, so you’ll want to use than you might with other cream-based formulas if sheer-to-medium coverage is preferred.

The texture was emollient, smooth, and creamy with moderate slip that had good adhesion and spreadability on my skin. I had no trouble applying it with fingertips or with a brush, though I found a brush ended up being my preference as it made it harder to over-apply. The formula dried down to a more transfer-resistant (but not -proof!) finish that had a natural finish; skin-like but not flat or matte. It applied as well over bare skin as it did over base products as it did not lift them up or create patchiness. It stayed on well for eight hours before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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NARS Now or Never (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
ColourPop Mercy Me (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
ILIA I Put a Spell on You (P, $34.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Kosas Velvet Melon (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
Flower Beauty Pinched (P, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar).
Cover FX Soft Peach (Left) (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Glossier Dusk (P, $18.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Tarte Slay Bells (LE, $29.00) is darker (90% similar).
ColourPop Golden Hour (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Love Story (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$22.00/0.14 oz. - $157.14 Per Ounce

The product is primarily marketed as a cream blush, but the brand also stated that they can be applied to lips as well with some shades working as cream eyeshadow for a monochromatic look. There was nothing about coverage that I could find, though the brand's swatches--both live and in promotional images--were opaque.

The formula was lightweight, moderately emollient, and slightly gel-like, which helped it spread better over bare skin and over base products. Most shades were not prone to lifting up base products and worked well with both fingertips and brushes for application.

As the formula was more pigmented with most shades ranging from semi-opaque to fully opaque, I found brushes were particularly good at getting a sheerer, more diffused application, especially around the edges. If you want a sheerer effect, I'd recommend using less product and building up more as they were more pigmented than most cream-based blushes.

They dried down to a more transfer-resistant finish, so they did not remain emollient, which helped them last longer on my skin. They could still be blended out once dry, and if I rubbed with a fingertip, product would transfer, but the color didn't lift away if I had to brush a stray eyelash or hair from my face (as examples). They still had a natural sheen on my skin, less than dewy but definitely not matte either!

On average, they lasted eight hours on me with a couple of shades lasting a touch longer. I found the shimmer-less shades to last slightly longer in comparison to the shimmery shades, which were more emollient in the pan as well.

Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight swatches.

Ingredients

ISOAMYL LAURATE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, TALC, OCTYLDODECANOL, SILICA, BEHENYL DIMETHICONE, TRIBEHENIN, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, BHT, BENZYL BENZOATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, IRON OXIDES CI 77491, IRON OXIDES CI 77492, IRON OXIDES CI 77499, RED 6 CI 15850.

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.