Beauty Care: Phytosurgence Smolder Blush Balm Review & Swatches

Smolder

Phytosurgence Smolder Skin Spark Blush Balm ($17.07 for 0.14 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy brown with strong, warm orange undertones and a natural finish. The consistency was smooth, creamy, and moderately emollient, which helped the cream blush glide and blend out easily over bare skin and on top of foundation (without lifting up base products).

It was intensely pigmented, as marketed, and one definitely needs to use a lighter hand when working with it initially. It was somewhat forgiving as it was quite blendable, but it was THAT pigmented that using significantly less was still the most foolproof to apply it. There was somewhat of a dry down, so while it had more noticeable slip initially, it was more powder-like after a minute or so. It wasn’t transfer-proof, but it wasn’t tacky, dewy, and was harder to diffuse/blend once it dried down. This shade lasted well for eight hours before fading noticeably.

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

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View Swatches

Formula Overview

$17.07/0.14 oz. - $121.93 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have a "somewhat powder like finish" without being "sticky or greasy" paired with a "moussey cream" consistency. The brand advises to use very little as it is an "incredibly pigmented product" that is designed to be "sheered out" and used "onto bare skin or on top of other base makeup."

It is imperative to use the smallest amount; it may be even better to pick up product with a stippling brush gently and swirl once on the back of one's hand to ensure there's not too much on the brush--the formula is THAT pigmented! With fingertips, just one gentle tap of of my index finger on the surface was enough for each cheek; there's no need to swirl.

The consistency felt creamy, dense but not overly firm in the pot, and it was easy to apply and blend out on bare skin or on top of foundation. I liked to apply with fingertips as I felt like it extended my working time and gave me the ability to have the product on one fingertip and then use a clean fingertip to diffuse and blend.

The formula dries down to a satin finish, not quite matte but not dewy. It looked very "skin-like" as the product sat seamlessly on my skin, let my skin's natural finish come through, and was more transfer-resistant as a result of the more noticeable dry down. I preferred working one cheek at a time because it does become harder to blend once it dries down, but I had enough working time without feeling rushed (per cheek).

The shades wore between seven and eight hours on me before fading a bit, but they had an even fade and didn't slide/migrate as they wore down.

One thing I noticed was that a few shades seemed to have a warmer base when I did the sheerer/more blended out swatch, but they seemed less apt to turn warmer when I applied to my cheeks (see Fervor swatched vs. applied).

Browse all of our Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balm swatches.

Ingredients

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Copernicia Prunifera (Carnauba) Wax, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Butter, Magnesium Stearate, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Boron Nitride, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol. May Contain: Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 40 (CI 16035). Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, 77491), Manganese Violet (CI 77742)

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.