NYX Sweet Cheeks Review: Does This Blush Meet My High Standards?

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Jamie Tugayeva

Jamie has always loved makeup and is here helping the Glamour n Glow team test, and try new products! There's nothing more exciting to Jamie than trying out new products and letting you know all the exciting details here! With a growing collection of makeup, Jamie has tried many products, but is partial to a great drugstore find that rivals the high-end brands because everybody should feel fabulous!

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I have heard plenty of good things about the NYX Sweet Cheeks line, specifically about the matte shade So Taupe. NYX blushes are always pigmented and colorful, so it did not feel like something otherworldly for them to have a great new product on their hands. But what attracted me to this shade was that everyone claimed it as the new cool contouring blush for light skin tones.

The Reddit forums and suggestions were all blowing up with the information that this blush was IT. Using blush as a contour is not something new. We are in an age where people got over contour palettes yet remained using blushes for that instead.

Makeup suddenly feels multipurpose, with TikTok trends showing people using even lipsticks as blush!

Bottom Line Up Front

The NYX Sweet Cheeks So Taupe is one of the most reliable blushes in the market. I use this product almost daily due to its versatility and wearability. This taupe shade is nearly impossible to replicate identically, which is a testament to the creative design by NYX.

Why Use Blush as Contour?

The idea of applying blush as contouring might be a bit older than contouring itself in the mainstream. Blush has been around for far longer in makeup circles, especially outside the drag community. Drag queen makeup has introduced many popular trends today and in the past.

Makeup is a form of art we have adapted into our daily lives. Getting your face looking beautiful is something we do to gain confidence, enhance our features, or just feel like we can take on the world.

Blush has been around for ages to add a bit of a flushed look to the wearer. Contouring was more to frame the face in theatrical settings, and then entered the mainstream and boomed with the Kardashian’s usage. Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic’s skills are the reason why contour became relevant.

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The NYX Sweet Cheeks Line

No two blushes are the same, so to cater to different tastes, NYX introduced the Sweet Cheeks blush line in three types.

Creamy Powder Blush Matte

This blush is easy to apply and delivers a soft matte finish. As you can see from my review, So Taupe is undoubtedly the star of the shade range.

Creamy Powder Blush Glow

The glow version of Sweet Cheeks has a metallic finish. It also offers a taupe shade, among others. This is a welcome addition to this line but a bit too out there due to its dual nature.

Soft Cheek Tint

This cheek tint complements the Sweet Cheeks powders well. It is also very buildable and easy to apply. The standout shade here is orange, as good orange blushes are perfect for gorgeous avant-garde looks.

The NYX So Taupe’s Hype

Pros

• Beautiful cool toned contour shade or blush
• Durable
• Affordable

Cons

• Very cheap and uncreative packaging
• A bit flimsy plastic cover

I feel like this is the most talked about shade, as people turned to bronzers for contouring or blushes. Suitable contouring colors are rather hard to find besides bronzers or warm tones.

Makeup lovers with cool-toned skin or neutral, like mine, have to scramble to decide whether we want the tone to work for our contouring or blush needs. When NYX released the So Taupe shade for Sweet Cheeks, people used different eye shadows in similar colors as blushes.

Once So Taupe was finally out in the world, many people grabbed it and did not let it go, which was another reason for me to try and fall in love with it. NYX also sells a shimmer version of the color, but the matte one is the one people love and go after.

What I Do With So Taupe

I enjoy doing different trends to my face, even if they might not be on the front of TikTok or Instagram. Now that we are free from the chokehold of influencers doing the same makeup, we have the freedom to explore and even use all the techniques we have learned along the way.

I mostly use So Taupe as a mix between a contour shade and a blush. If I feel like I want more color than just a contour shade, I will go for another blush instead. I place it as if it were more of a contour than a blush. I like to apply So Taupe in areas I would contour while letting it a bit more on the apple of the cheeks.

I actually talked about my disappointment with my friends before writing this article. NYX packaging has gone down and is not as creative. Their quality and product ideas stay very well onboard and competitive with their other tier makeup brands, whether the cheaper or high-end. Compared to the products, NYX’s packaging is very lackluster.

The minimalistic aspect is not an issue here. The Sweet Cheeks package is just plain and a bit cheap looking compared to the quality of the product. It comes in a simple black unicarton with the shade on the top, the finish, and information all around the box, making it a bit of information clutter. The package does not contain fold-in instructions or anything of the sort.

The compact itself is flimsy plastic and does not really attract any praise. It is annoying to open without chipping nails, but the pan is large enough to cover the contour or blush brushes.

Application

I got a new bronzer/blush brush just now, as I tend to hoard brushes like a drag queen and keep them for easy access. I dedicated one to this Sweet Cheeks shade, as I have only one cool-toned blush and contour shade. Also, I tend to use it very often, and right now, it is my most used contour and blush.

The application is simple. I use it like any other contour or blush, sweeping it by sucking in my cheeks to give a bit of a cheekbone illusion. I also apply it on the sides of my forehead, my nose, and a bit on my chin. As the name implies, the main focus is on the cheeks. Just in case, sometimes I tap my brush to deal away with the excess, but it does not apply in patches.

Packaging

I actually talked about my disappointment with my friends before writing this article. NYX packaging has gone down and is not as creative. Their quality and product ideas stay very well onboard and competitive with their other tier makeup brands, whether the cheaper or high-end. Compared to the products, NYX’s packaging is very lackluster.

The minimalistic aspect is not an issue here. The Sweet Cheeks package is just plain and a bit cheap looking compared to the quality of the product. It comes in a simple black unicarton with the shade on the top, the finish, and information all around the box, making it a bit of information clutter. The package does not contain fold-in instructions or anything of the sort.

The compact itself is flimsy plastic and does not really attract any praise. It is annoying to open without chipping nails, but the pan is large enough to cover the contour or blush brushes.

Durability

It does last the whole day with no needing for retouching. The formula does not have a lot of fallout and stays on the brush and my cheeks. After frequent usage, I have yet to cause a dent or hit the pan. The product is not stiff or too soft, with the perfect consistency to get on the brush.

Where to Buy

This blush was tricky to track as I wanted this specific shade and finish. I could not find it in the stores near me, so I ordered it from one of my favorite online retailers in the Iberian peninsula, Maquibeauty. ASOS only had the shimmer version in stock.

I imagine that, in the United States, the So Taupe is easier to find thanks to giants such as ULTA and the NYX website. If you are looking for any other shade, I recommend this blush either way. They all follow the consistency of So Taupe Matte. This is an undisputed five out of five product!

NYX Sweet Cheeks Dupes

During my search, I discovered that this is the product everyone found out about after lacking cool-toned contouring shades. So Taupe is a unique shade that is hard to find in the warm-toned world of bronzers.

These products are what I would recommend if you want something somewhat similar because sometimes we crave that little extra. A taupe shade is not something as new to contour with since the contour craze started.

1. Sephora Collection Colourful Contour in Second Chance

This Sephora shade started its life out as Tranquil. Despite its popularity, the company revamped the packaging, but the quality stayed the same. This is also called a mostly blush line, despite being a contour shade in the past. But then, in the set of cool-toned blushes and how we place them, maybe it makes more sense to advertise them in the blush line rather than in the contour section.

Contours are going out of fashion, bronzers and blushes are getting more popular or staying the same, despite the colors. We are also more attracted to ditching the makeup labels and using the product any way we want, so there is no downside.

The Sephora store brand is not loved by many. I feel it is overlooked, as the lines have high-quality stuff, but we tend to gravitate to more expensive products in Sephora (or at least I do). I have bought many quality products from Sephora’s own brand, and this is one of them.

Pros

• A little goes a long way
• Pigmented
• Perfect cool tone

Cons

• Flimsy packaging
• Could be cheaper

2. Sephora Collection Soft Matte Perfection Blush Duos in English Rose

This product comes in two shades, but it remains a great alternative. These blush duos are also by Sephora Collection, which often has things that the more high-end brands in the store might not have due to a more niche stretch.

These shades are not exact dupes to the NYX So Taupe Blush, but the product remains a good alternative if you do not mind a bit of peeking out of the box. It contains two shades, which are more worth the coin, and the product is buildable, making it harder to overdo. The downside is the blush will take time to build up. You can vary or mix the two colors for more variety than just one taupe shade.

Pros

• It gives a natural look, which is in fashion
• Works with medium-toned skin too
• Great for beginners

Cons

• Some consider the texture to be a bit chalky
• The rose shade leans a bit tangerine

3. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer in Amber

I applaud Rihanna for her shade inclusions, but most of her products fall flat and feel like a cash grab. If to single out her popular bronzers, I have to give credit where it is due. They are thoroughly pigmented, popular, and do their job.

The Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Bronzer is on the pricier side, and I feel like there are enough dupes to change this for, but when you are looking for a cream bronzer, Fenty is hard to beat.

Pros

• Highly pigmented
• Versatile for many skin tones
• Easy to find at US retailers

Cons

• Can cause breakouts if acne-prone or oily
• Costly

4. KVD Beauty Shade Light Powder Palette Refill Pan in Taupe

I have been a fan of KVD Beauty for a long while now. The company has lasting formulas, great ideas, and matching execution. Even with the brand undergoing a massive transformation, I doubt they will discontinue such a prized and well-loved contouring palette and refill shades. Taupe is often bought by itself to fill in the magnetic pans that the website has to offer.

Pros

• Environmental friendly
• A single shade refill so you do not have to buy the entire palette
• Not patchy

Cons

• For one shade, it is a bit pricey
• Only available online on their website rather than resellers

5. MAC Powder Blush in Harmony

The last dupe to the So Taupe was hard to find and match. This felt much like looking for a needle in a haystack. It validates my experience that taupe blushes or ones that you can use as contour are incredibly hard to find, even by makeup experts. They may be sought after, but it is not always that the market listens to what people need and what people would buy if able to try out everything.

This MAC blush is not an exact dupe but comes close to matching the So Taupe. Harmony is rather popular and has been talked about and compared in and out of MAC lover circles. The shade is a bit closer to a pink-toned one, but it is gorgeous, and MAC has one of the best blush formulas.

Pros

• Smooth, natural finish
• Lasts all-day
• Easy to blend

Cons

• Costly
• Not the best dupe color-wise

6. Benefit Dallas Blush

This is a tricky product as it is only available in palettes and different promotions in the United States. However, in Europe, you can find it easily in almost any Sephora. Regardless of where you buy it, Dallas is a fantastic Benefit blush.

Many makeup enthusiasts have complained about Benefit being boring or playing strategically with their main products. These are brows, blushes, and tints. You can never go wrong with what Benefit is most talented at, so they rarely expand their range.

All the Benefit blushes I have seem to last forever, and their eyebrow pens are to die for. They may not be the trendiest products since people are falling out of love, but some brands just get too close to my heart, and I refuse to let go. Benefit is one of them.

Dallas blush is an excellent addition to any makeup collection. It is a bit difficult to find, but it will last forever and ever, like my love for Benefit.

Pros

• A little goes a long way
• Blendable
• Great formula and texture

Cons

• Very hard to find for US buyers
• Pan is a bit bulky

FAQs

NYX Sweet Cheeks Review: Final Thoughts

It was pretty hard to think of other taupe blushes which can work as well with cool tones as the NYX So Taupe Sweet Cheeks blush! This product is pretty much one of a kind, and it deservedly gets all the praise.

The NYX Sweet Cheeks So Taup is a product I highly suggest, as I wear it nearly every day regardless if I am heading out or going for a formal event. It gives me an amped look that looks more polished than I would without makeup. It can pair great with the no-makeup trend if your skin has neutral or cool tones.

I am simply a fan of this product. I am happy that I got my hands on it, and even with all the dupes available, I would still choose the NYX one without a doubt!