Wonderskin’s pH blusher promises to give a shade-perfect rosy glow every time so we put it to the test

When it comes to makeup, a top-notch blusher is often at the top of our must-have list. It’s ideal for creating a warm, rosy glow, gives you that fresh-air flush, and can help soften your features.

However, I know from personal experience that choosing the right blusher shade can be a bit of a minefield; what appears to be a stunning colour can turn out to be too harsh or cool-toned for my skin, or the pigment might be too intense for my complexion. But there’s one product that claims to sidestep all these pitfalls – a pH blusher. It promises to match and adapt to your natural skin tone, providing you with a completely unique shade that’s just right with no shade matching needed.

One pH blusher that’s recently hit the market is Wonderskin’s pHLush Stick, £20, which utilises advanced pH-adjusting pigment technology to leave a sheer flush of colour on your skin with one swipe. The formula works by reacting to your skin’s natural chemistry, with the pigments adjusting to complement your skin’s natural colouring and undertones, giving you a flattering rosy glow.

A perfectly flattering shade with no swatching or shade matching needed?! It sounded too good to be true, so I decided to put it to the test to see if it really lived up to the hype.

The formula

The pHLush Stick has a smooth jelly-like formula
(Image: Faith Richardson)

Wonderskin’s pHLush Stick is a stick formula with a firm, jelly-like consistency. It’s packed with jojoba, sunflower seed and castor oils for ultra-hydration and smooth application. Plus, it contains niacinamide, shea butter, allantoin and aloe leaf juice to support your skin’s barrier health while nourishing and soothing.

I first tried it on the back of my hand and was pleasantly surprised by its hydrating properties. There was no pulling or patchiness, just a quick slick of colour that applied smoothly.

However, it’s tricky to determine how much you need to apply, especially as the full colour payoff isn’t visible until it’s settled into your skin. This can lead to over-application. The best approach is to layer – add a little, let the colour appear, then blend it out. Repeat this process until you achieve your desired look.

Blending with a brush wasn’t easy, so I used my fingers instead. The heat from my fingers made it easier to move and soak in the product. A couple of swipes yield a surprising amount of product, so a bit of trial and error is key to finding what works for you.

It boasts a sheer finish, perfect for achieving a natural-looking blush. If you’re after something more striking, it’s easy to build up layers or even pair it with another blusher for a deeper shade – just remember to apply this first to avoid colour distortion.

The colour payoff

(Image: Faith Richardson)

At first glance, the stick may seem a bit daunting – it appears incredibly dark and potentially overpowering in terms of colour. However, when I applied it, it was almost entirely transparent, and within a few moments, the pigment began to develop into a gentle rosy pink.

I trialled it on both bare skin and atop my foundation to truly understand how it adapts to my complexion. On bare skin, it resulted in a very subtle pink that was barely noticeable, drawing out some of my skin’s natural redness, which looked incredibly natural but didn’t make a significant difference.

However, when layered over my foundation, the pigment was far more prominent, and I genuinely felt like it was the ideal shade of pink for my skin. It matched my natural lip colour almost perfectly, warming up my face and skin tone without appearing too conspicuous. You can also dab the Wonderskin pHLush Stick onto your lips and eyelids for a unified look.

If you fancy a bit more control over the colour you’re getting, Sephora’s Color Twister Color Changing Cheek and Lip Tint is a brilliant alternative. At a budget-friendly £13.99, you can pick from three shades; yellow which morphs into juicy coral, fuchsia that transforms into fresh pink, and midnight blue that becomes soft berry.

Alternatively, Fenty’s Match Stix Colour Adaptive Cheek + Lip Stick, usually priced at £25 but currently on sale for £20, is similar to the Wonderskin version, with an adaptive formula that matches your skin tone. It also boasts a hydrating jelly formula that makes application a breeze.

However, the Wonderskin pHLush Stick ticked all the boxes for me in terms of affordability, formula and colour payoff, and it’s easy to apply on the move, making it ideal for travel. Its unique colour-matching pigments do make it a tricky product to master, but it’s worth sticking with it as the results are well worth it, reports the Mirror.