Beauty products in all forms are some of my favorite things in this world, but truthfully, I’ve always had beef with blush. As classic a makeup staple as this one item is, I’ve always found it tricky to blend and a little scary to put on for fear of it looking like a bright, artificial smear across my face. But as I’ve aged, I’ve noticed the natural flush I’ve always had in my cheeks has faded, and I turned to the much-hyped Merit Flush Balm to bring it back in a way that other blushes I’ve tried could not. From the first application, I was pretty in love with how seamlessly and easily it blended out, with absolutely no patchiness or clown-like result. With just a few swipes on the desired points of my face, and a very low-effort buff using a large blush brush, the Flush Balm left an obvious pop of color that was also sheer enough to look like my skin, only better and more alive. Another huge plus was the dewy and very hydrated finish — a very welcome departure from formulas that are chalky, putty-like, or unnaturally matte and impossible to diffuse.HuffPost editorial director Kristen Aiken shared my sentiments exactly when describing her experience with Merit’s treasured blush.“I have dry skin, so sometimes even ‘cream blushes’ are chalky on me, or clump on little bits of dead skin (not confidence-boosting!),” Aiken said. “But this little guy goes on so smoothly and blends in so naturally that I never have to worry about having a blush disaster (and I love that you can swipe it on your lips for some natural color, too). This is because, as the name suggests, this product is formulated like a balm containing micro-fine pigment powders that allow for a lightweight and never-cakey feel on the skin, and a buildable color – so if you’re blush-shy like me, you can gradually and easily make the blush look as obvious (or not) as you want. I’m a huge fan of makeup that’s also infused with skin care ingredients, and this creamy skin tint happens to contain skin conditioning vitamin E and is non-comedogenic, making it safe for acne-prone complexions. Merit Flush Balm comes in 13 shades, which include both cool and warm-toned options, ranging from bright pinks to deep berries to classic reds and soft peaches and more neutral taupes or browns to complement any skin tone. Aiken said she owns the shade Beverly Hills (a soft peachy pink), and Persimmon, a soft orange-red that she calls “a little bolder but not as scary as it looks.” I have the newly launched Lusitano shade, which is advertised as a soft peach, but has a more coral hue and looks absolutely stunning on. As Aiken mentioned, the Flush Balm can double as a lip color, and because of how beautifully the product melts into the skin, you can apply it to fresh skin or on top of foundation, like I do. Even when layered over other cream or liquid products, it doesn’t disturb anything underneath. And if you do need to reapply throughout the day, the blush is packaged in a very travel-friendly container that’s easy to throw in your bag. Aside from Aiken and me, there are many fans of Merit’s Flush Balm for its foolproof application and beautiful performance. You can see just a few of them below.Promising Merit reviews:“I love how easy this blush cream balm is. Sheer, light and creamy, with a buildable colour, gives me a beautiful healthy glow, and fuss free gorgeous natural colour to my lips. Definitely the only non-negotiable make-up item in my hand bag.” — Catalina H.“These flush balm blushes are very moisturizing. I prefer to use this on days when I do no makeup looks or extreme minimal makeup when I want a really skin-like finish. This did dry down to a satiny powder feel with a radiant look but more satin matte feel. Stunning color too. I love this warm taupy color rich and perfect for this time of year. I have similar formulas that I just don’t reach for as much. I’m sure some of my esthetic is changing over time but regardless this has been my top cream blush used since purchased.” — Susanne A.“These are absolutely my new favorite additions to my everyday makeup routine! I personally have acne-prone sensitive skin and these blushes work perfectly for me. It’s so easy to apply and blend. It feels so good and lightweight leaving you with the most beautiful glow! It’s literally perfect for the makeup no makeup days.” — Kiara L.