I first tried the O-Glow when my bridesmaid, Chin, brought it back with her to Malaysia. She’s a big fan of Smashbox, and recommended this blush to me. As it wasn’t available in Malaysia, or, until quite recently, Melbourne, I jumped at the chance of getting this in the US. This came as a part of the Best of Smashbox Beauty Kit.

The O-Glow is a gel blush. Just in case you’re wondering 🙂

Description:

An intuitive cheek colour with Goji Berry C-Complex(TM).
Experience instant chemistry as you watch your complexion go from so-so to oh-so-glowing! This intuitive cheek color reacts with your personal skin chemistry to transform from a silky clear gel into the shade you blush naturally.
O-GLOW is packed with our exclusive Goji Berry-C Complex™, ginkgo biloba, pomegranate seed for antioxidant protection, and revitalizing marine botanicals for added healthy-skin benefits.

Ingredients:
Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Polysilicone-11, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Plankton Extract, Red 27 (CI 45410)

When the gel is squeezed out of the tube, it’s clear. But when you spread it on your skin with your fingers, the gel reacts with the heat from the fingers, oxidizes with the air, and turns it into a lovely shade of pink. Ah the joy of science in makeup :p

Is it just me, or are most of Smashbox’s products full of silicone? The texture of this gel is exactly like the one of the Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Very silicone-y, if that’s even an actual word.

It’s easily spreadable on the cheeks. It’s quite sheer, which makes the colour very buildable. In comparison with Benefit’s Posietint, the Posietint is a tad darker and gives better colour pay-off. This might not be good news though, because if you’re not careful with the Posietint, it could give you bright pink cheeks. With the O-Glow, you get a sheer pink flush, which I think is more natural to your natural blush. Just add more and spread it on the apples of the cheeks for a brighter glow.

The staying power is not as long as the Posietint (the latter could last all day and night even if you swipe at it hard), but it does last for at least half a day. This can be worn underneath or over face powder.

Just like the liquid blushes, this one stains too, so be careful when using them. Also, when you’re not using the blush, keep it tightly capped, or else the air will oxidize the gel and turn it pink. Plus the texture will turn rubbery.

I really like this gel blush because it gives me a very natural flush. Plus it’s portable too. It can be easily slipped into my makeup bag or my purse for that matter.

Smashbox O-Glow is available at Sephora at USD26 for 15ml, which, quite frankly, is quite pricey compared to the Benetint or Posietint. Even though the latter is sold at only 12.5ml at USD28, you’d end up using the O-Glow more as it’s quite sheer. This is also available here in Melbourne, at Zuza, and Perfume Connection at Docklands Harbour Town. I can’t recall the exact price of the blush, but I reckon it’s around AUD50-60. I’ll check it out when I’m in the city and update this post when I find out the correct price.

What I like about it: Gives a very natural glow to the cheeks, and lasts quite long.

What I do not like about it: Silicone-y texture which I’m still not very used to.