Review: New Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer

I first spotted the display for the new Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzers a while back at Walgreens. Here's the pic of that display in case you missed that post:

So anyway, I've kind of had my eye on them ever since. What attracted me was not the bronzer side of the duo, but the blushes. They're all so pretty and wearable. So finally, when Rite Aid was having a recent 40% off on all Neutrogena products, I snagged one for myself for about 7 bucks.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer in Berry Glow 

(retail: $12.99 at Rite Aid)

Even though the lid is clear, there is a mirror inside, which is nice:

As far as brushes go, while this one wouldn't be my preferred tool for application, it totally works and isn't too scratchy. If you were travelling and didn't have another brush (or wanted to re-apply this product on the go) you could get by with using this--which is more than I can say for most brushes that come in drugstore compacts.

Enough about the packaging, let's get to the product! And oh what a lovely product it is. First, the blush. It's GORGEOUS. It's got just the teeeeeniest amount of shimmer to it, which actually just gives it a sheen, rather than a full-blown shimmer. If you are a diehard matte cheek color person, I think you might be surprised at what the subtle sheen in this blush can do for you. On me, it makes me feel like my skin is just naturally glowing. And the color, which is a pinkish-berry, has just enough pink in it to give my cheeks that rosey glow that I'm on eternal quest to find in a drugstore blush.

Also, since I'm a very devoted powder blush girl, I can confirm that this is exactly the type of formula that I think my fellow powder blush girls will love. It's smooth and it blends so easily--you'll think it's a $30 blush, I swear. No chalky, crumbly powder here. And the staying power? It ROCKS. I hate--let me repeat--I HATE blushes that are gone in a few hours. What's the point of wearing blush unless it's going to stay put all day? Blush is the last thing I want to worry about having to reapply when I've got lipstick and an oily T-zone to contend with all darn day. And this blush delivers for me. I put it on in the morning and I can still see it at 5PM. That is something I don't come across too often in drugstore blushes--believe me. I've got oily skin and a lot of drugstore powder blushes either turn orange on me before end of day, or they just simply disappear from my cheeks altogether. Neither one of those things happens when I use this, and I've been using it for about two weeks straight now.

Let's take a look at some swatches:

Now please note that I really put a heavy dose of both the blush and bronzer on my hand so that you could see the colors in these swatches. You can totally control the level of pigment with both of these shades and go from super subtle glow to intense pop of color just by layering. So don't get scared by these pics--these shades do NOT go on this pigmented on the first swipe! They're sheer but buildable and they've got excellent, controllable pigmentation.

Now, let's talk about this lovely bronzer! Do you see how, in the above pics, this bronzer looks like it's almost glowing with a golden hue? That's because, blended into this very wearable light bronze shade, there is the most baby-fine golden micro-glitter running through it. Think of this bronzer as a matter bronze powder mixed with super fine golden faerie dust. That's just the best way I can describe it.

One of the things I loved about Wet n Wild Acapulco Glow was that you could never, no matter how hard you tried, apply too much. It was just one of those shades that you could build and build and not scare yourself when you caught a glimpse of your face in full sunlight. Well, I am very happy to report that this Neutrogena bronzer is exactly like Acapulco Glow, in that I can swipe it on my cheekbones, forehead, wherever, and if I'm not satisfied with the color, I can calmly go back over the color again, and even a third time to intensify it and it will still look natural, beautiful, and glowy (I know "glowy" is not a word but I'm using it anyway!).

I tried a zillion time to capture the look of this blush and bronzer on my face, but because it's so natural-looking, my camera simply could not pick it up as well as in the above swatches. So I'm afraid you'll have to trust me when I say that the bronzer is worth the full $12.99 in my opinion (which is steep, I know), because it gives my skin one of the most natural, glowy looks that I've been able to achieve in a long time. I'd say the only skintone that wouldn't work with this is those of you who cannot pull off any shade of gold at all. Because this bronzer definitely has a golden hue, so if you just can't wear gold period, I'm going to say skip this one (or just buy it for the blush, which is also well worth the price tag alone--especially if you spot a good BOGO sale).

But if you CAN wear golds, then seriously, I am begging you to try this (but be sure to buy it at a store that has a good return policy for opened products, just in case). I don't want you to be out the money if, for reasons unimaginable to me, this doesn't work for you. Not to sound like a broken record but honestly, this duo is amazing and I really hope you love it as much as I do.

So...what are your thoughts? Have you tried one of the new Custom Glow Blush & Bronzers duos yet? Are you tempted?