Ok, it wasn’t long ago that I only owned a few plum or berry blushes and honestly, I felt like my range was *really* lacking. I am a total blush fiend, so I happily went on the hunt for new blushes for the fall. I have spent spring-summer hauling so many oranges, peaches, corals and honestly, I am kind of over those colors for nails and cheeks right now. As we head into fall I will be relying more and more on plum, raspberry, pinks and nudes.
Here are a few good options, should you be in the market for a plum blush as well 
Feels like fall!
Same, different lighting
Plums/Berries Part 1
Swatches, L-R in all photos:
- theBalm Cabana Boy: A recent find at TJ Maxx. It’s a great way to add plum to your fall makeup routine without going crazy dark or crazy pigmented. I was so impressed with the quality of this blush. If you see it at TJ Maxx, definitely pick it up. I think I got it for around $9 so it’s great if you are on a budget too! This has a nice sheen to it as well.
- MAC Plum Foolery: This has a shot of pink to it making it more wearable as well. It has more sheen/shimmer than Cabana Boy, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s a soft blush, and the quality is nice, but not as nice as Cabana Boy. I picture this being very wearable across so man skin tones.
- Illamasqua Sin: When I first heard about this shade I got super excited. It looked SO pigmented and gorgeous (albeit a little scary in the pan) but *sadness* set in when I realized Sephora didn’t carry this color. Luckily I was doing a swap with the lovely DelytefulSpeaks and she was able to pick it up for me. I was actually quite surprised at how much raspberry is shot through this shade. In the pan it looks like a dark purple…but on the skin for me it came up much more berry. I love Illamasqua’s smoooooth buttery formula…it’s one of the best!
- MAC Dirty Plum: Something I found at CCO. I am sad to say that this has been discontinued. I was able to pick it up in the Liberty of London packaging and I refuse to depot it. It’s the darkest plum I own, and I was very happy when it turned out to be so different from Illamasqua Sin.
Plums/Berries Part 2
Swatches, L-R:
- MAC Dirty Plum (See above)
- Tarte Blushing Bride: The perfect combo of berry and plum, and a nice shot of shimmer throughout. It initially reminded me of NARS Sin, but when swatched next to each other you can clearly see the difference. Tarte’s is my favorite formula, followed closely by Illamasqua and NARS. This blends well and wears for ages on my skin.
- NARS Sin: I heard a lot about this blush before getting it I believe in July. I had swatched it a million times at Sephora and finally broke down. It’s a really, really nice shade and it’s pretty unique too. Unlike most of NARS blushes I have, this one isn’t “in your face” pigmented, so it’s easier to use. I like the golden sheen here as well.
- MAC On A Mission: A limited edition shade I found at CCO. Again, it’s a mix of berry and plum, but leans more plum than blushing bride. It’s a really nice shade and I wish MAC had made this a permanent color…or hopefully they will repromote it soon! It’s a beauty powder blush and so I enjoy the formula more than MAC’s normal blushes.
What are your favorite plum shades? Are you into a certain color right now? Do tell!
*Update: I did chat with MAC on 9/15/11 about Dirty Plum and it was confirmed that the shade has been discontinued.*
SkinCareRx has 
Love cabana boy! Exactly what you said – a great way to add plum but not go nuts with it.
Totally! Cabana Boy is great for everyone, I think. I don’t see a skin tone it wouldn’t work on!
Too bad Dirty Plum was discontinued, it’s so pretty! I also love your Blushing Bride swatch. Funny because I swatch it every time I’m at Ulta, I swatched it literally couple hours ago and it looked so blah. Other times it seems gorgeous. I have such a love/hate relationship with it ahhh! On a Mission also looks great! I will need to hit up CCO soon and try my luck! Thanks for amazing swatches girlie! <3
I know what you mean dear. Sometimes I think it’s the blush in the store, or the store lighting. So many hands touch those samplers and it ruins the blush…some of the tarte ones at my Sephora and Ulta I wouldn’t even touch they look so bad! But, at home it looks very nice. I wouldn’t call it a must have though, if that makes you feel better
I love the tarte formula more than I love this particular shade. Cabana Boy is great, as is Dirty Plum and Sin from Illamasqua.
Plum Foolery looks gorgeous! I’ve swatched it a few times without looking at the name too cuz it’s so pretty
And NARS Sin was my go-to blush in fall/winter last year! 
Yay, NARS Sin ftw! Plum Foolery is sooo pretty and ethereal!
omg! i own illamasqua sin and have NEVER used it, bc its so PURPLE in the case but its gorgeous on the skin this fal and winter for definite!!! must try this!!! i didnt know it looked that rasberry! and Blushing Bride and Exposed from Tarte are DEF on the Sephora FF list!! bc of u dear =)
I KNOW! I was SO shocked when I swatched it…like WHAAAA….where did that raspberry come from??? LOL. It’s more wearable than I thought just looking at it! Ohhh, girrrrllll….. Exposed and Blushing Bride are gonna be GREAT for the fall and winter!
It’s as though you read my mind! I’m thinking of purchasing Sin when I get home, but I wanted to see it swatched next to Dirty Plum to see if they were too similar. You’ve saved the day! I think they’re different enough that I can justify buying it!
♥ Jessica
Yay!!! NARS Sin is such an easy color to wear, it’s a fall staple for sure!
Of course one of the most unattainable ones (Dirty Plum) is one of my favourites of the bunch! I might have to settle for NARS Sin instead
Yeah, I am still waiting to hear because I received a comment indicating that it may still be available. I don’t see it on MAC’s website personally. I know it was a PRO color before, and I had read that it was discontinued. But, if I hear different, I will let you know!!
Sin is a great blush though, you can’t go wrong with it!
Plum Foolery looks really nice! I like that it seems to have peachy undertones?
I wonder how MAC dirty plum looks on the cheeks :s
Great post hun!
I will have to do a FOTD dear!
Coming soon!
Dirty Plum isn’t discontinued…it can be found on the mac site
I got excited when I saw your comment, but when I look on the regular U.S. MAC site it isn’t there…is it possible it’s a PRO color only now? I had heard that even for the PRO site it was discontinued, but if it’s still available I’d love to know!
Love your blush swatches!! I too am glad to own Dirty Plum blush and I have not yet used it on my cheeks yet and will one of these days.
Wonderful! I love plum blushes!!! I like dirty plum a lot in this comparison.. But first I´d have to figure out how to get my hands on nars sin.