Organic Blush Perfection: Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Abundance

Hi, everyone! There are some makeup brands out there that I access regularly and there are others that are reserved for a very special treat. Tom Ford, Chantecaille, By Terry, and Chanel are just such examples. If you would have asked 5 years ago if any all-natural brands would ever achieve that "special luxurious treat" status, I would have been doubtful. But the green beauty world has come a loong way since then and such natural makeup products have totally stolen my heart. The jewel among them in terms of quality and luxury (and, accordingly, price- eek!) is Kjaer Weis. Created by Danish-born, Big Apple-dwelling makeup artist Kristen Kjaer Weis, the line is completely dedicated to using natural, top-quality organic ingredients that soothe the skin, rather than irritate it. The brand aimed to fill the gap between ineffective health store products and high-end conventional makeup (i.e., all-natural makeup that actually performs well), while maintaining a luxe aesthetic and sustainable ethos. I greatly admire the brand for all of these reasons, so I decided that I would finally pick up one of their gorgeous Cream Blushes as a birthday treat to myself this year. So glad that I did! 

Kjaer Weis touts that their Cream Blushes offer a healthy flush with excellent blendability and a dewy finish. They also include skin-loving ingredients like castor seed oil (to fortify skin), beeswax and jojoba seed oil (to hydrate), and rose rubiginosa seed oil to fight signs of aging. Including no artificial preservatives, this blush is kept naturally fresh with the antioxidants found in gardenia fruit extract. 

As with all Kjaer Weis products, the Cream Blushes come in rich, red textured boxes with white and silver detailing. The blushes are made in Italy and contain 3.5g of product (MAC cream blushes contain 5.6g).

The packaging includes a full ingredient listing, which reveals key ingredients of sweet almond oil, castor seed oil, carnauba wax, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E. 

While the outer packaging is lovely, it's the compact itself where the true luxury lies. The Cream Blushes come in ultra-weighty (seriously, probably the heaviest makeup item I own), reflective silver metal compacts with Kjaer Weis engraved and an artistic KW logo in white. These luxe, substantial compacts are not only beautiful, but also eco-friendly and meant to last as they're re-fillable! The initial purchase is quite the investment ($76 CAD), but the refills, though still pricey, are more reasonable ($44 CAD). 

The blush itself is revealed by sliding aside the cover of the compact; a sleek mechanism! The product is nestled into a square-shaped pan that is large enough to accommodate almost any brush you'd like to use. 

The brand offers 10 beautiful shades in their Cream Blush range, including some amazing bright corals like Joyful and cheery pinks like Happy that I would typically reach for. While those hues most definitely tempted me, it was the unique shade of Abundance that stole my heart. I absolutely have nothing else like it in my stash- and that's saying a lot when we're dealing with 75+ blushes! 

Abundance is a complex mix of brown, mauve, and pink that creates a neutral wash of colour. It also contains subtle silver shimmer, which adds a cooler tint. Kjaer Weis describes it as "a plummy taupe with an iridescent finish. A rich colour that gives cheeks a modern glow" (from kjaerweis.com). Upon first swatches, I knew that the brownish-silvery tones could make it perfect as a bronzer and contour shade, while the pinky mauve elements would prevent it from washing me out. Boy, was I right!

Here are swatches of Abundance (first lightly, then heavily) on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Abundance

With no bit of exaggeration, this blush was total love at first swipe! Given my sense that it would work amazingly as a contour/bronzer/blush hybrid, I used my Real Techniques Stippling Brush (a serious holy grail for cream blush) to apply Abundance underneath my cheekbones, up my temples, then lightly on the apples of my cheeks. It blended out wonderfully, ending up in a finish that was neither too bold, nor too sheer.

Here it is applied over foundation (paired with RMS Living Luminizer) before any other makeup products:

And here it is in the context of a completed makeup look:

I am fully smitten with this blush, but let's look at a breakdown of pros and cons to outline why:

Pros:

• The texture is creamy and comfortable; it gives a beautiful dewy finish without being at all greasy on my oily complexion!
• Impressive pigmentation! A little goes a long way and this can easily be built up for bold colour. By the same token...
• This blends out beautifully! Despite the pigmentation, this can also be sheered out very nicely
• This is perhaps the longest-wearing cream blush I've ever used! This gets me through an 8-hour work day while looking every bit as fresh as the moment I applied it
• Abundance is such a versatile shade! On my NC20 complexion, this works wonderfully as a contour, bronzer, and blush all in one! It is neutral enough to contour, while having enough pink to still look fresh on the apples of cheeks
• Chic, substantial, sleek, eco-friendly packaging
• Certified organic and cruelty-free! 

Cons:

• The price. Despite this being a top-notch cream blush in every aspect, the price tag will alienate most. Even the $44 re-fill cost may be above the blush budget of many.
• The smell. I find the scent to be a bit plastic-y, despite the natural ingredients. On the plus side, the scent doesn't linger and I'm happy that no artificial scents are used. 

Is this blush pricey? Very much so. Are the quality, ingredients, and performance top-notch? Absolutely! This truly is the best cream blush I've used- everything from texture, blendability, wear time, and, yes, packaging, put it at the top of the pack for me. If you're at all inclined towards luxurious, green beauty or are looking for a high-end alternative to more conventional beauty brands, I cannot recommend Kjaer Weis Cream Blushes any more!

If you're in Canada, you can find Kjaer Weis at Jacob and Sebastian, The Detox Market, or on the brand's own website, here! 

Have you tried any natural or organic makeup? Any favourite brands/products? What's the best cream blush you've tried?

Have a fantastic week! xo

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