Alison Raffaele • Inner Glow Gel Blush- Witty • Blush

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mary_ln on 5/12/2012 3:47:00 PM more reviews by mary_ln

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I have 3 of these in the colors Playful, Witty and Charming. I would repurchase, but that might be hard to do as I believe they may have been discontinued. All three of these colors are beautiful - very sheer and very believable. I have found the best way to apply them is by rubbing a cotton swab very firmly over the product until I have enough to dot several spots of color on each check. The gel stick itself is very solid making it too difficult to apply with fingertips and I find when I try to rub it over my cheeks it's too hard to do without dislodging my foundation. A slight dusting of loose powder and you're good to go the entire day.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 2ksmom on 6/28/2011 9:51:00 AM more reviews by 2ksmom

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I am a sucker for gel-stick blushes, so when I saw this on hautelook.com for $5.50 I had to snatch it up (I also got it in the ‘Playful’ shade). I’ve been using these almost exclusively since I got them, I love them thaaat much. ‘Witty’ is a sheer red (I don’t get any peach or orange from this, but that’s just me). This comes in a purple & white tube with a screw-on lid. The product pushes up from the bottom. A minor complaint is it is kind of hard to push up and adjust how much product is exposed. This is a sheer, solid gel blush stick. It is somewhat firm for a gel blush, and its not wet or sticky at all. It goes on sheer but is definitely buildable. In fact,I tend to get a little overzealous with blush, and this had my husband asking, ‘Why are your cheeks so red?’ So now I usually apply a swipe to each cheek on bare skin, then apply my usual foundation, then apply another swipe to each cheek. Layering with my foundation helps it last all day on me. I think this is best for normal to oily skin types. My skin is pretty normal, but my cheeks are on the drier side, and sometimes this tends to ‘drag’ esp on bare skin, however it blends out pretty easily. The effect is really pretty and natural. I usually lean towards berry or plum blush shades, but this is nice for a ‘warmer’ effect. It also makes a really pretty, coordinating lip tint. It doesn’t last too long, maybe 2 hours, and it’s a touch drying on the lips so I always apply balm or gloss overtop. Its low maintenance because I can just swipe it on straight from the tube and blend. I also like that it smells like raspberry Jello. It has kind of a bitter taste, but its not marketed for the lips, anyways. I actually like the pinker tone of the ‘Playful’ shade, but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this up again, or try one of the other shades, if I find them again at such a great price (even though you get nearly an ounce of product, I doubt I’ll ever actually ‘run’ out of it). One downside though is that these may be discontinued, or otherwise just very hard to find.


BTW, many thanks to the reviewer who posted the above color swatches, I found them to be an exceptionally accurate representation of the actual colors!

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mee2u2 on 12/9/2010 2:11:00 PM more reviews by mee2u2

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this on either hautelook or beautystory, one of those discount exclusives so the price was good. Later I found them on other sites for half off too. the product is AWESOME. i'm just getting into blushes and realizing how wonderful stick/creme-like blushes are. this is soo easy to apply and looks so natural. at first glance Witty looks scary but actually goes on a natural flush. lasts a good half day or so, i don't need it to last much more than that anyways~ would definitely buy again, have in fact already ordered 2 other shades! i actually like the packaging, but that's because i'm a sucker for pretty purples~

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oliviachloe on 8/12/2010 5:26:00 PM more reviews by oliviachloe

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this gel blush stick! It's a coral-ish red, and goes on very sheerly, and looks very natural on my skin. It really does give me a glowing look. The texture is good, it absorbs well and doesn't leave a residue on my skin. It's definitely comparable to Tarte cheekstains in quality.

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*TOP REVIEWER* kaxel on 6/4/2010 7:26:00 PM more reviews by kaxel

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I bought this in Witty after reading reviews here. I am glad I did because I was about to go spend $20-something on a Bobbi Brown cream blush. I got the Allison Raffaele blush for $10 (including shipping & tax) at Amerimark. Such a deal!

This is what I had hoped Tarte and many other gels/stains would be but are not. It is like a giant lip balm that is not sticky, glides on smoothly and looks incredibly natural. Usually, I struggle with blending gel blush and it never looks natural. With this, I don't even have to blend it; the tube is so big, I just dab it on and go. It also has good staying power on my dry skin.

This looks red in the tube but is a nice bright natural pink on the face (I am fair/yellow toned). The photo on this site was v. helpful in choosing a shade - thanks to the poster who added it!

When it comes to makeup, I like to travel light and this product fits the bill. No need for a brush, so it's great for travel.

The two negatives to this product are 1) cheezy white-and-lavender packaging that looks like a J.C. Penney cosmetic product from 1972 and 3) large size. I wish it was smaller so it fit better in my makeup bin and bag. On the other hand, it will probably last forever. I also appreciate that the cap screws on securely to keep it from drying out. Overall, a real find!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Hothead on 4/26/2010 8:33:00 PM more reviews by Hothead

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

very pretty gel blush -- I found it works best on younger skins or those who have a drier complexion.

on me it washed out in a few hours -- the only way to set this is to use your chosen powder blush on top.

otherwise, this does not hold up. if you live in hot/humid weather, this will melt off your face.

good product but not great.

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laure1 on 4/25/2010 8:35:00 PM more reviews by laure1

Age: Unknown   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Alison Raffaele Inner Glow is the best cosmetic blush made today. It is a water-based translucent gel, which, when applied in layers, will achieve any level of color intensity desired and look completely natural. I wear it everyday, often with no make-up other than Anthelios sun block, and people always compliment my skin --they say it looks radiant. When my husband sees me without it, he says, "you need to get a little sun."

Alison Raffaele Stick Gel blush (in any shade that suits your coloring) is the best blush for any age or skin type, because:
1 Effect: This product executes and flawlessly achieves the goal, the raison etre, of any blush product: it creates an utterly natural, beautiful glow- from-within;
2. Application: easy and mistake-proof. It does not streak, flake, or do anything weird, ever; it blends perfectly with moisturizer;
3. Feel: nice, not waxy or greasy; glides on straight from the tube or from fingers to cheek.
4. Fragrance: faintly berry;
5. Long-lasting: not only lasts on skin throughout the day (unless skin is oily--then just reapply), but also the tube offers a huge supply. The product does not break-down over time, and although cold and/or heat may affect the gel's texture, it will not affect performance. I am currently using Inner Glow that is more than a year old;
6. Packaging: minimalist, does not deteriorate or ever look scratched, chipped, old or icky. Just wipe the top and threads with a tissue before closing;
7. Price: In absolute terms, medium-- in value--an extraordinary buy. It's $5 less than Tarte but much better IMO.
8. Corporate citizenship: Green. In honor of Earth Day, Alison Raffaele donates 10% of all sales to the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the pre-eminent environmental protection organizations in the U.S.
9. How to buy: online.

I wish everyone knew stick gel offers the most natural, come-from- within blushing glow for any age. This is how I found stick gel blush and Alison Raffaele: I discovered the properties of stick gel blush during a make-up session at Rancho de la Puerta. After the spa's private line became unavailable, I looked for stick gel blush and found 3 brands at Sephora: Stila (stick blush no longer made), Tarte, and Alison Raffaele. Alison Raffaele was and is superior, but Inner Glow is no longer available at Sephora. There is an Alison Raffaele site online store, which also lists addresses of stores that carry the line, and there are some other online providers.

Obviously, it's not a mass market product--eg., there are so few reviews on this site ; there is no advertising. But Alison Raffaele Inner Glow deserves to be better known.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* missnat on 4/20/2010 3:31:00 PM more reviews by missnat

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Thanks to the above poster who put a great, very accurate swatch sample up. I used this swatch to choose and buy online, and got exactly what I needed. I love this product. It gives my skin a radiant glow and looks great over TM or bare skin. It's the first gel product I've ever used that doesn't streak,unless I have a very flaky dry patch. This color is gorgeous, a red/pink with a hint of apricot, just peach enough without being orangey. Gorgeous & a big HG for me!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

jennifer42 on 11/16/2009 4:14:00 AM more reviews by jennifer42

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

First of all, thanks to whomever posted the side-by-side swatches on white. That photo shows a very accurate representation of Witty, much better than on mfr/retailer websites. Witty is a sheer dark berry pink/red. Not much orange or peach happening here. The applicator is easy to use and you get a lot of product for the $. I like the scent, it's apple-ish and subtle. Texture is not perfect, however, as it leaves a tacky feel on the skin...for this reason I am returning this and the search continues.

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gracey1021 on 1/20/2009 11:11:00 PM more reviews by gracey1021

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

this may be one of the best i've ever tried. witty really go well with my complexion & skin type. i wear it with my favorite t leclerc loose powder (banane) and the body collection nourishing lip balm (berries). my normal day look!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Caramellane on 8/16/2008 2:31:00 PM more reviews by Caramellane

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I have finally found a gel blush that has just the perfect amount of warmth to it. This is not peach, in fact I think that this is more of a warm red. It is translucent, so you can layer for a more dramatic color. This isn't messy or too sticky, this would probably work well for people that don't wear makeup too often since it is hard to over do.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

pordanil on 11/26/2007 3:25:00 PM more reviews by pordanil

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I really wanted to like this blush, but I felt the color was way too orange and unnatural on my skin... Apart from that, the texture, staying power, and overall finish were pretty good.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sharis on 5/8/2007 6:14:00 PM more reviews by sharis

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I have all the shades but this is my absolute favorite . I use one of these every single day. I also thought this would be my least favorite shade but I was wrong. I agree that the description is all wrong. It's described as 'sheer peach' and looks orange on the website, but its sort of blood red in the tube, and a slightly warm red on my skin. I just love it. These are so much less sticky than the Tarte product. These don't last all day on my skin but nothing does. Just gorgeous though and I'm so happy with this product.

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Echo7 on 1/4/2007 10:12:00 PM more reviews by Echo7

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I'm a little disappointed with this product because the colour is repeatedly described as peach and it's not - it's far too red and looks red on. The actual quality is good, easy to apply and blend, long lasting. In the right colour this would be great but peach it aint. Although that being said I have found more than a few uses for it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* SaraLee2 on 9/8/2006 5:13:00 PM more reviews by SaraLee2

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Just got this shade, so now I have them all. My absolute favorite blushes. I reach for one of these daily and rarely for any of the other hundreds of blushes I have. I saved this one for last because I thought it would be my least favorite since I usually can't do peachy warm shades. I was wrong. I love this one and it's my new fav! It's described as 'sheer peach' and looks almost orange on the website, but in reality its clear, blood red in the tube, and a clear, natural, slightly warm red on my MMM cheeks. I thought maybe they had mislabeled it, but I compared all of them and this is definitely different than the rest, so I'm assuming it's Witty. I love it no matter what it is! As with all of the IG's, this goes on very sheer, blends easily with no stickyness, totally buildable, incredibly natural looking and lasts all day. Awesome product!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* syeung2 on 7/23/2006 11:02:00 AM more reviews by syeung2

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Wonderful product - gel blush in wide push-up tube with screw-on lid. All of the Inner Glow shades I swatched on my hand at Sephora looked the same - very sheer reddish hues - and in the tube they all look like transparent raspberry red. So I held onto my $$ and got this in a swap. Surprisingly, this wears on my AAB/NC25 skin as a warm peach shade. The pigmentation is pretty sheer and not bold; you can layer more on (you'll get plenty of color well before your cheeks get sticky). I would recommend this to gals who want a sheer, natural tint of color. Texture is smooth and firm, easy to apply directly to the cheeks. Feels dewy but not sticky, and sinks into the skin nicely, and it feels like I'm not wearing anything at all... on my cheeks anyway! Smells like sweet fruit, but faint. I was curious about what another reviewer said about the taste - and she was right, it smells nice but tastes awful :) but a coat of lip gloss over it does the trick just fine. Not sure if I would repurchase, since the color is so sheer, but it will last a long time for the price and is perfect for the weekends when I need a little color but no fuss.

UPDATE: Definitely would repurchase, and bumped from 4 to 5 lippies. Truly makes me look like I'm glowing from within... Looks so natural. I've gotten several more of these, but Witty remains my favorite shade.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Onyxopi on 10/23/2005 1:55:00 AM more reviews by Onyxopi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is a water-based gel blush with buildable coverage. IMO the color is more pink than peach. Because of the formula, the finish is a healthy "glow" and not glittery/shimmery. For me, this is the only blush that doesn't fade throughout the day. I purchased this on sale for $5 so I don't know if I would repurchase at the regular price. *FYI, I thought that because of the sweet smell and color that this could be used as a lip stain and I was wrong--the taste is horrible.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

eggtarts on 8/25/2005 2:14:00 AM more reviews by eggtarts

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

been waiting for the stocks to arrive here for quite some time, so when i found out that new stocks are finally available, i got myself the inner glow in witty. i was also looking at playful and charming, but i chose this as i'm currently into peaches. i really love it! it has a sweet, delicate candy scent that allows me a lovely whiff while i'm dabbing it on my cheeks. i like that the chubby stick applies the right amount on my cheeks, so i just dab a bit, blend, and i'm set! the color surprisingly stays on really well even on my overtly oily skin, and i like that it's never sticky. it imparts just the right level of dewy glow to my skin. hurrah!




EDIT: i'm taking off 1 lippie. i take back what i said about the sweet candy scent -- it's actually the smell i don't seem to like now. it reminds me of sticky/starchy rice! i use blushes to feel good, but there's something with the smell of this that makes me wrinkle up my nose.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ECMac25 on 10/9/2004 12:48:00 AM more reviews by ECMac25

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Fans of Tarte's gel blush sticks should give these a try. Similar look and feel without the stickiness and a little less pigment - much more sheer and easier to control on application. "Witty" is a sheer peach - goes very well with warm skintones. Gives me a nice natural flush. Leaves skin feeling a little dewy - lasts through the day.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No