I tried the colour-changing blush oil that’s all over Instagram

When I first saw the Youthforia BYO Blush on Instagram, I knew I needed to try it and review it STAT. A blush that swipes on clear to then blend into a shade of rouge that best suits your skin tone? Genius! Revolutionary! Fun!

But also… scary. Over my eight years as a beauty editor, I’ve tried many Internet-hyped products only to be left disappointed. 

I can’t tell you how much I wanted this product to be amazing. I’m often asked “what’s the latest ‘cool’ product in beauty?” or “what’s the most amazing thing you’ve tried lately?” and I knew this blush had the makings of a game-changer. And that terrified me.

After having it in my hot little hands for weeks, I finally plucked up the courage to give it a full try-out over the summer holidays. And honestly, it was (thankfully) as impressive as I’d hoped.

The product details

The Youthforia BYO Blush ($36 USD at youthforia.co) is unique in so many ways. First, it’s an oil formula. It appears as a watery, lime-green colour in the packaging (which is a tube with a doe-foot applicator).

When applied to the skin, it reacts to the skin’s natural pH to produce the most flattering and natural-looking flush for the person wearing it. Pretty. Damn. Incredible.

It’s also made up of some seriously skin-loving ingredients, including avocado oil, rosehip oil, and sunflower oil. 

A fact I didn’t find out until, well, now, was that the founder actually slept in the BYO Blush to test just how good it was for the skin. She did so for two months, and let me tell you, her skin looks great.

Youthforia BYO Blush review

Before trying the BYO Blush for the first time, I had already watched a bunch of videos of other people applying it. So luckily, I knew to be restrained.

Even though it swipes on essentially clear, it does pack a pigment punch once it warms to the skin and changes colour. I only apply two small dots to the tops of each cheek and it’s enough.

For me, it produces a beautiful cool-toned pink that suits my complexion perfectly. I actually couldn’t believe it the first few times. 

Now, I am someone who usually changes blush shades frequently. I like different colours for different seasons/looks and whether I’m tanned/not tanned. And while the BYO Blush isn’t suddenly going to transform from a pink to a peach at my sheer will, I did try it out in both scenarios (tanned and not tanned) and believe it adjusted the shade slightly to suit. It really does just do its most flattering job according to the skin it's applied to.

I’m traditionally a cream and liquid blush user, so I wasn’t overly worried about using an oil. But if you are, take it from me that you can safely leave those texture troubles at the door. Whether I’m layering it over full coverage foundation, tinted moisturiser, or bare skin, it works and builds beautifully. It doesn’t feel greasy, just hydrating and smooth. I do love a facial oil though, so I may be biased.

Oh, and the colour lasts. I wore it all day in blistering heat on Christmas day and it was still there come nightfall.

The final verdict

This blush ticked all the boxes I wanted it to. It actually lived up to its colour-changing claims, suited my skin wonderfully, and lasted and layered well. It even added and completed another check box: it was good for my skin. 

You see, my cheeks had been slightly congested for weeks before using this product. Nothing that had me majorly worried, but there was uneven texture and tone in the area. 

Since using the BYO Blush it’s slightly cleared and improved. Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m all in with this blush. And now I finally have something to say when people ask me what the greatest and latest beauty invention is.

Main image credit: Supplied

Love wearing a flush of colour on your cheeks as much as we do? Here are eight expert-recommended blushes to try.