I'm the Queen of Blush—Strangers Compliment Me Every Time I Wear This One

Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market's most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.

The majority of our Deep Reviews will feature our editors' honest, ultra-hot takes on entire product categories or multiple products from a particular beauty brand, but every so often, we'll sprinkle in a special single-product format called Honestly, I Love It. As the name suggests, these reviews will hone in on one standout beauty formula our editors can't shut up about. This time around, I'm highlighting Ami Colé’s Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick ($22).

I'm not me when I'm not wearing blush. I know it sounds hyperbolic, but blush is a key part of my signature look. It's how people who haven't met me IRL identify me and think, that's definitely Aniyah. People have even nicknamed me "the queen of blush," a title I proudly accept. All this is to say that there are very few blushes that I haven't tested. As a Black woman with a deeper skin tone, I gravitate toward highly pigmented formulas with inclusive shade ranges (aka shades that can actually be seen on darker complexions), and Ami Colé's Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick is one of my favorites.

I hate to admit it, but of all the beauty products I receive from brands, I use only about 20% of them in their entirety. I'm proud to say that this multistick is part of that 20%. I not only hit pan on the shade Spice, but I completely ran out of product—a testament to how often I use it compared to the other blushes in my collection. Desert Date is available in five shades, with Pink Sel—a gorgeous hot-pink color that is quickly becoming my favorite—being the latest addition to the lineup. I typically go for bright, hot-pink shades because they almost always show up on my skin tone, but I know some people have concerns about applying too much or their blush looking unnatural. Luckily, this product is super buildable, so I recommend starting with minimal product and working your way up. As you can see in my before-and-after photos above, Pink Sel added so much warmth and radiance to my face. I'm going on the record to say that Spice has some serious competition.

If we're talking about formulas, I'm partial to cream and liquid blushes. (Shh, don't tell my powder blushes.) This product's cream formula adds a soft and natural glow to every single shade, removing the need for highlighter. You can apply the stick directly to your face or warm up the product on the back of your hand and apply it with a brush or sponge. I often blend my blush a bit higher, up to my temples, then add any leftover pigment to my lids for that editorial monochromatic look. When I want to have fun with my lip combo, I'll even dab Dune or Flame to the center of my lips and add a gloss on top. That's the beauty of a multistick—the use cases are endless.

Come for the pigment—stay for the ingredients. It's nice to know that while I'm creating makeup looks and taking selfies to add to my camera roll, my cheeks and lips are being hydrated, nourished, and protected against environmental damage. The list of green flags for this product starts with it containing 90% naturally derived ingredients, and ends with how gorgeous everyone looks when wearing it. It's such a confidence booster—when I wear the shades Spice and Flame, strangers and friends always say how amazing my makeup looks, followed by, "OMG! What blush are you wearing?" If that's not a good enough reason to grab a shade or two, I don't know what is.

This cream formula is elite. What were some nonnegotiables for you when creating this product?

Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye: When I sat down with our Product Development lead and began the process of creating the Desert Date Cream Multistick, I knew I wanted the formulation to not only be creamy and easy to blend, I wanted it to be multifaceted and flattering on all skin tones and types. I didn't want it to feel heavy or disappear midday, which tends to be the case with a lot of cream-based, clean formulas. I also wanted the formula to take care of your skin, instantly and effortlessly warm up the lips and cheeks, and provide skin benefits, all while enhancing your natural glow.

So many brands have tapped into the blush category this year and in years past. What makes this multistick different from other hybrid products or blushes on the market?

What makes the Desert Date Cream Multistick different from others on the market is the formulation and versatility of the shades. Our formula is lightweight and creamy, with the right amount of emollients to make for an easy blend. The creamy formula never drags over skin, but glides so effortlessly and leaves behind the perfect amount of hue. It's also quite buildable so it can fit into any makeup routine. Our shades flatter all skin tones and contain [skin]care ingredients such as Desert Date Oil, which helps to hydrate and soften dry skin; Baobab Seed Extract, which helps to visibly improve hydration levels and nourish skin; and Hibiscus Flower Extract, which helps to revitalize the skin's appearance. With Desert Date Cream Multistick, we added care to the color and made sure [it] lasts with you as you live your best life.

There are five gorgeous shades—what inspired this shade range? Do you plan on expanding?

Aren't they just beautiful? When we were developing the initial shade range, we wanted to pick colors that complement and bring out the warmth in all skin tones. We also wanted to pick colors that our girl could wear every day for a subtle flushed look or, if she wanted to, she could build on top of the shade for a more vibrant look. Our newest shade, Pink Sel, is inspired by Senegalese summer and the beauty, ease, and joy that comes with it. It is this beautiful, universally flattering hot-pink shade. Essentially, we thought of a starting range that could fit into every mood and every season.

Do you have any application tips for us?

Yes, of course! I recommend applying the Desert Date Cream Multistick directly onto cheeks and lips with your fingers to effortlessly blend and create a flattering look. For the cheeks, if you want a more diffused look, use a brush like our Complexion Brush to blend out for a more airbrushed look. If you are looking for a more exaggerated look, or for the lips and cheeks to be the main focus, add additional layers of the product. The formula makes it so easy to apply, blend, and build as desired!

What can our readers expect from Ami Colé in the future?

We have so much coming up that we can't wait to share, including complete newness [and] additions to some of our favorite collections. Gotta stay tuned in!

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