I got an $18 dose for a $42 Charlotte Tilbury blush – it lasted all day without budging, a little goes a long way

I’m a big believer that less is more when it comes to beauty and that applies from my budget to my application.

The makeup products I look for are always affordable and good at what they do.

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While I occasionally splurge on luxe favorites that, to me, are irreplaceable, like my award-winning Haus Labs foundation, other beauty staples like blush aren’t worth the heavy splurge.

Oftentimes, with more than ten steps in a full makeup routine, it simply isn’t worth spending a lot of money on cosmetics that aren’t the cream of the crop. Burberry? More like robbery!

When it comes to blush, besides an affordable price, I look for three things: pigmentation, ease of application, and easy blending.

MCoBeauty’s $18 Smooth Matte Beauty Wand I ticked all the boxes for myself.

As a skincare and makeup addict, I use a lot of products on a daily basis.

I found myself reaching for MCoBeauty’s blush in Peach Bellini daily and it’s been my go-to for weeks.

A dot of light on each cheek and I have the perfect, sheer, soft glow that blends beautifully onto bare skin or over makeup.

If I’m looking for a particularly rosy glow that day, I’ll go super heavy (two dots).

Needless to say, the wand applicator makes the process seamless and mess-free.

When I first started wearing makeup, blush was one of those things I always had to be really careful with.

Too heavy a dip in a compact? Did you squeeze the tube too hard? Didn’t dust your brush enough?

Congratulations! His total brilliance officially qualifies him for the Clown Academy.

Not only is it really hard to mess up the blush thanks to the wand function, but the blush is also super easy to blend.

I definitely messed up a few times on days when I tried a deeper blush and a few swipes of my Beautyblender blended the blush perfectly.

What made MCoBeauty really stand out, though, was its longevity.

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As someone with exceptionally oily skin (oh, how lucky!), I take extra precautions to ensure my makeup doesn’t shift throughout the day.

I’m guilty of carrying setting powder, setting spray, and a puff with me to touch up every few hours.

However, nothing, not even my trusty Milani Make It Last, can stand the test of time on 16-hour days.

These are the times when I run home, often exhausted, to look in the mirror and see an oily face, smudged eyeliner and cracked skin.

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On many of these occasions, however, I was repeatedly shocked at how well my blush held up, even when the foundation around it had all but disappeared.

A similar product I tried, Charlotte Tilbury’s cult-favorite $42 Light Wand Blush, impressed me much less.

While I understand why many like it, I personally don’t think it’s worth the money.

In the past, I’ve had to layer Charlotte over and over again to get the glow I wanted, and found that the flush would fade dramatically by the end of the day.

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For the cost of half a week’s worth of groceries, I thought it left a lot to be desired.

Peach Bellini also pairs perfectly with Peachgasm in the Blush Light Wand.

Now, with the extra $24 I saved, I think I’ll go see Zendaya’s Challengers movie (three, anyone?) and even get some ice cream afterward. This will really make me blush.