Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave

MAC Ripe Peach blush has long been discontinued but the words "Ripe Peach" still sets many a hearts a flutter and it easily one of my favourite blushes of all time. I have only ever owned one compact of Ripe Peach and that was long disposed of due to age (I feared it would grow mould) and I have lusted after a suitable "dupe" ever since. Enter Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave the best £3.99 any MAC Ripe Peach fanatic can spend...

Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave
Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave

A super quick gloss over of the packaging - square, flimsy and yes a little cheap looking. It does have the appearance of a typical low budget brand thanks to the transparent plastic but don't let that put you off. Despite looking and feeling cheap the flimsy plastic has not shattered or cracked nor has the powder inside and at the end of the day that is really all I ask for from packaging. No frills but hey who needs a scratchy brush or poor quality mirror anyway?

Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave
Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave
Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave

In my opinion Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave is the closest dupe to my beloved and now defunct MAC Ripe Peach blush both in design and finial colour pay off .The coral, orange and pink gradient is almost identical to Ripe Peach - okay the real deal contained a little yellow in the blend but other than that it is eerily similar. The beauty of having a gradient blush is that you essentially have three shades in one: blended the blush creates a bright, matte orange coral, using only the left hand side you have a warm yet bright orange toned blush which is pretty similar to NARS Taj Mahal and using only the right you have a warm medium toned pink matte blush. 

Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave
Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave

There really is nothing to fault other than the packaging which is clutching at straws when it comes to the Essence Blush Up Blush in Heat Wave. The shade is beautiful not to mention it can be used in three ways (four if you dare to apply it as an eyeshadow), is well pigmented, matte so it is ideal for those like myself with enlarged pores yet brightening to the skin, blends well and fairly long wearing too. With a primer on my oily skin I typically achieve 6 hours of wear before it begins to fade which really is not bad at all. 

Perhaps the real downside is that Essence is still tricky to get within the UK, many Wilkinson's stores. You can find a list of stockists and more general information here - link.