Katie Jane Hughes’ New Sticks Give You a Watercolor Flush

What do Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Ashley Graham have in common? Actually, probably a lot. But when it comes to makeup, they all flock to MUA Katie Jane Hughes for her signature glowy skin and inventive eyeshadow looks. Last year, Hughes took a major step and launched her namesake brand, KJH, with customizable cream and liquid highlighters that bottled her trademark glow.

And while she’s been busy cooking up stunning looks for Lipa on her current world tour, Hughes has also been cooking up her second product launch, dropping on October 15. The latest in her lineup? The Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek Stick, a multi-use chubby stick with an elegant blurred finish that couldn’t be easier to use. Ahead, Hughes fills us in on the new launch, plus my honest review.

The Inspiration

If you know anything about Hughes, you may be surprised that her sophomore launch is a matter formula, but that’s kind of the point. “I was really excited by a formula I had seen during this one lab visit,” she tells Byrdie. “I hadn’t seen a powdery lip and cheek formula like this and I really wanted to teach people how to use this product. Ultimately that’s always been my goal: to teach people how to use their makeup.”

She also wanted to make sure the product was as versatile as possible. “I went with a matte finish because you can always add shine to things that are matte vs. dulling things that are shiny,” she adds. “As you saw with my first launch, The Hyper Shine High Lite Kit, customizability is really important to me. I really like how complimentary this product is when used with the Hyper Shine Serum to add shine or how you can use it by itself for a velvety blur.”

The Formula

The blushes might look simple, but there’s a lot happening inside their cute little tubes. Soft Smudge has a waterless, cream-to-powder formula that delivers a matte yet sheer flush. The brand wanted the blushes to have the “longevity of a powder with the effortless application of a cream product” and leave a “buildable watercolor effect” on the cheeks.

The formula has that blurred, airbrushed matte look, instead of a traditional super-dry matte. The formula is enriched with vitamin E and salicornia plant extract to protect and moisturize the skin and help keep color vibrant all day long. Speaking of color, Soft Smudge comes in five shades that Hughes says are a “spin on some traditional blush colors.” There’s Soft Tomato, a warm red; Soft Berry, a pink-y plum, Soft Coral, a retro coral, Soft Raisin, a brown-y mauve, and Soft Pink, a true hot pink.

For application, Huges instructs to apply directly onto your skin from the stick if you want the most intense payoff. “I also recommend warming it in with your fingertips before applying to the lips and/or cheeks,” she says. “If you want a delicate wash of color use the No 1 brush to pick up the pigment.” On the lips, you can use them with a liner or on their own for a pretty flush of matte color.

My Review

I’m a huge fan of blush and of Katie, so I was super excited to put these to the test, even if I usually prefer a dewy cream formula. Soft Smudge has a really unique texture that almost feels weightless on the skin—it has a slippery yet powdery glide and an airbrushed matte effect that’s so pretty. But despite their natural finish, these sticks pack a punch in the pigment department, and Soft Pink gave me the perfect “cold girl” flush that stayed put all day. I also paired it with a brown liner on my lips for a pretty popsicle effect.