We put the Dear Dahlia Petal Drop Liquid Blush to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

Flushed cheeks are always in season, yet finding the right blush finish can sometimes take some work. From powder to liquid formulas, there are so many options, and we all want whichever one will provide effortless color without looking streaky or too saturated. In my opinion, liquid blush can be one of the best additions to your makeup routine—that is, when you find the right one. I have fair skin year-round, and I never skip blush when I want a color boost. Being a makeup artist for nearly 23 years, I’ve tried hundreds of options, yet finding one I personally love has been trickier than I thought.

Ahead, I tested Korean makeup brand Dear Dahlia’s Petal Drop liquid blush to see if it could fulfill my liquid blush dreams, analyzing everything from the application process to the finish. Keep scrolling for my thorough review—spoiler alert: I just saved you hours of time and research.

About My Skin: I love a healthy flush

I wear makeup every single day, and I never go without blush. My skin tone is fair, so I prefer to have the color and the warmth that blush and bronzer bring. Overall, I prefer a natural makeup look that feels fresh but not overdone. Products I use daily include foundation or skin tint, concealer, bronzer, mascara, blush, and a lipstick or gloss.

I tend to gravitate towards cream blush formulas the most, as they apply easily and last throughout the day. I’ve tried liquid blushes before, but they’re often far too pigmented for my liking, and I find them to be more difficult to blend and apply because of their heavy saturation and tendency to stain. I was excited to see if Dear Dahlia’s formula would change the game for me in this category.

How to Apply: Swipe on and blend

I’ve over-applied liquid blush in the past, and the color was far too bright and stained my skin. This time, I tested the product on my hand to check the saturation and how it would blend once on my face. After practicing and seeing it was a buildable formula that didn’t stain, I applied the Dear Dahlia blush in shade Sienna to the apples of my cheeks straight from the doe-foot applicator, then blended it out with a blush brush in an upward motion along my cheekbone. This technique can create a lifting effect: Just follow the natural lift of your face.

You’ll want to apply the blush overtop of your foundation, skin tint, and/or concealer, or you can also opt to use it on bare skin. Feel free to choose between a brush and clean fingers to blend it out, as well. The formula is so silky and buildable to the level of color you’re after. It blends so well and doesn’t streak: You really can’t mess it up.

Once the color has set, you can follow up with any highlighter you’d like on top, lightly tapping it into your cheeks with the same brush. To intensify the color, you can add a powder blush on top, but that’s absolutely not mandatory: This formula is also stunning on its own.

The Results: Gorgeous color, effortless finish

When I tell you that this is the silkiest, most beautiful liquid blush formula I’ve ever tried, I’m not lying. Dear Dahlia’s Petal Drop far exceeded my expectations, from the ease of applying it to the finish. It’s beyond comfortable to wear, and you can’t mess up the application process even if you try. There’s zero streaking or staining, and building up the pigment is easy enough for anyone to do it.

Whether you’re a makeup novice or have logged years of practice, you don’t need to overthink blending this blush out, as the product does all the heavy lifting itself. My skin looked flushed and radiant, and the color lasted throughout the day without needing a touch-up. The consistency is more like a lightweight gel that blurs into the skin once blended. As a bonus, the Dahlia variabilis flower extract offers skin-conditioning benefits. I’ve never tried a liquid blush quite like this, and I don’t think anything else could compare.

The Value: Worth every penny

This liquid blush is on the pricier end, but when you look at all the benefits and the ease of application, it’s honestly worth the money. The tube has a generous amount of product, as well, which means the cost per use is fairly low. You don’t need to spend hours searching for the right liquid blush or spending your hard-earned cash on formulas that will only leave you disappointed: This one checks all the boxes and then some.

The Final Verdict: My new favorite liquid blush

My search is over for my ideal liquid blush. I’ll be wearing this every day for the foreseeable future—that’s how much I love it—and I think you will, too. With a cushiony gel-like texture and buildable color that’s as easy as ever, Dear Dahlia’s Petal Drop liquid blush is one of the better products I’ve tested in the past year. I can’t wait to continue wearing it and add more shades to my pro makeup kit.