A blush can add that flush of color to your face and make it naturally radiant and attractive. You can use it on a daily basis and yet look natural and of course spruce up the look on special events and occasions. The secret to it all is knowing which product to use and how to blush naturally! This ultimate blush guide will take away the chances of going wrong with blush. Right from making the right choice to the correct application techniques, we have it all for you. Also, learn the step to dewy makeup look here!
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Blush is a game-changing makeup product that gives your look a natural flush and radiance. It is applied over a fully prepared face that is moisturized, primed, and followed by the foundation cover. While the concealer helps cover the unsightly spots and blemishes, the blush changes any washed-out look with a natural flush color adding life and dimension to your look. Checkout the Experts advice on How to apply concealer for beginner. You can go all light and natural or add an extra dose of color for a bolder and brighter look! Blush comes in different forms that we have elaborated in the blush guide section on types of blush.
Knowing about makeup products is one of the best ways to wear makeup whether you’re a pro or a beginner. Get to know about types of blush application with our blush guide!
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Blush sticks are all cream-based and applied with the help of a brush or sponge. They have a thick consistency that usually contains formulas to nourish the skin. De’Lanci Multi-Functional Double-Headed Blush Stick is one such high-quality product that blends seamlessly into the skin irrespective of your skin type. The product comes with a built-in brush on the other side of the blush that lets you blend in the product for a natural-like effect. The other advantage of using cream blush is that they have higher color retention abilities than other forms. Also, with 5 popular color options, you have just the right product for your skin tone!
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Moving on with our blush guide, liquid blushes are comparatively new on the market and usually have a serum-like texture. This gives them a soft and sheer quality that is also blendable. But their thick texture may end up with an opaque finish. The best way of applying a liquid blush is to use a stippling brush that can carry and buff the product on the skin evenly. This is a product type that is best left for professionals and experienced makeup enthusiasts to handle.
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We must assert in our blush guide that powder blush is by far the most popular variant among the different categories. It usually comes in pressed powder form although loose powder forms are also available on the market. These are classic products that can have matte or shimmer finish formulas, and are easy to apply with a Multifunction blush brush.
From pinching your cheek to check on the natural flush of color to finding a shade darker than your nude lipstick, there are plenty of suggestions floating around on the topic. Go by our expert blush guide to choosing the right blush shade by getting answers to the right questions!
The best way to choose a blush is to look for one that gives a natural-looking flush. The color of the product should blend into your skin in a way that your skin looks healthy and glowing with color. The objective of applying blush is to give you a naturally beautiful colored look and De’Lanci Multi-Functional Double-Headed Blush Stick does just that!
As discussed earlier in our blush guide, cream blushes have the maximum color payoff when it comes to giving the natural color for long hours. It’s best to pick a blush that will not require you to retouch through the day. This will also prevent the possibility of unnatural color build-up on your face!
We cannot stress enough in our blush guide that the product should stand the test of sweat and oil! Whether you’re going about your normal office work or on the move from one party to another, ensure to buy a high-quality product whose color pigment polymers are sweat and oil-resistant.
Blending makeup products is the key to attaining incredible and natural looks with the right dose of depth and warmth. De’Lanci Multi-Functional Double-Headed Blush Stick is among the best blendable cream blush giving an amazingly smooth and uniform finish that is just right for a faultless natural look.
Start with less and build the intensity of the color as and when needed. This will help you keep your makeup colors as natural as possible. Your blush should be both blendable and buildable letting you get just the color intensity as per subtle or bolder looks needs. So long as you pick the right shade of the blush, you can go light and natural, building a deeper tone as needed.
: Go in for light and dusty shades of pink and sheer peach to add that natural flush; use a bright pink to make a bold statement.
: Stick to bright pink, coral, or orange bring depending on the undertone of your skin going from light to dark.
: Opt for a blush color that has gold shimmer in it to bring out the warmth of your skin. Stick to shades of light plums and cool pinks.
: The best blush colors for dark skin are berry tones, coral, and brick red that will help bring out the natural skin color vibrancy.
One of the most popular advice on applying blush to your face is smiling and setting the color on the apple of your cheeks. But remember, everyone does not have the same face shape and applying blush right should be done accordingly. Another basic to remember in your blush guide is that “less is more”! You’d rather build up on the color to give your face that natural flush of color than have 2 blobs that mimic a clown!
Roughly equal lengths of forehead, cheeks, and jaws indicate a square, round, or oval face.
If the forehead is the widest part of your face, it indicates a heart-shaped face.
The cheekbone is the widest point towards a diamond-shaped face.
A wide jawline is indicative of a pear-shaped or triangular face.
Your jawline is the final indicator of finding the precise shape of your face.
Round jaw line leads to oval-shaped faces.
Square jaws line is indicative of square or diamond-shaped faces.
A pointed jawline belongs to those having a heart-shaped face.
For a heart-shaped face, draw a C-shape: Start applying blush from the top of the temple down to the cheekbone making a C-shape that follows the natural line of your cheekbone. Take care to apply blush near the cheekbones fading it out as you move up to the temples.
For a diamond or oval-shaped face, apply blush on the top of your cheekbones: For these face shapes, you need to define the face by drawing attention to the bottom half of the face. Apply blush along the top of your cheekbone, and blend it upwards ending it near your ears.
For a square-shaped or long face, blush the apples of the cheeks: This is where smiling can help you apply blush on the apple of your cheek. Blushing the apples works for a square-shaped face so long as you make small circles on the apples of the cheeks. In case you have a long face, make small circles on the apples, and blend them out towards the temples.
Slim a round face with angular strokes: For those of you with round faces, you can slim them by applying blush to the apples and blending them seamlessly towards the temples.
Tools are critical to any blush guide; use a small or medium-sized brush with not too dense bristles. De’Lanci Multifunction Blush Brush is the perfect choice as the bristles help carry and blend the products softly without color build-up. Take care to carry the product on the brush, tap off the excess and then apply it to the cheeks. Come back for more to add color intensity and blend for a seamless finish. Learn how to use oval makeup brush set like a pro with the De’Lanci makeup specialist!
: Take care never to apply blush below the cheekbones whatever the shape of your face. The area below the cheek is meant for contouring; read our
contour makeup guide for beginners
as per expert advice!
: Use a separate brush to blend the brush so that it gets absorbed in the surrounding skin giving it a natural look without harsh lines.
: Take care to limit the blush away from the nose blending it towards the temple to avoid making round faces look rounder!
Our beauty expert has addressed the full range of questions in the detailed
blush guidefor you. Go versatile with your looks using the best blush product on the market that will give you the au natural color payoff all day long or all through the evenings!
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blush guide
If you watched Madison Beer’s beauty routine video as much as our beauty editor has, then you’re likely on the same page when we say this: Gone are the days when anything but light, natural cheeks were acceptable because blush is finally having its revival.
Whether you’ve been blushing up your cheeks for years or you’re ready to dip your toes into TikTok’s famous blush trends (there are quite a few at this point), there’s a lot to know about where to place it, what tools to apply it with, what formula to try, what colors work with your skin tone, and more—and we got to the bottom of it, thanks to a few makeup artists.
Meet the expert
Neil Scibelli
CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST
Neil is a makeup artist and beauty expert in New York City.
Meet the expert
Robert Sesnek
CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST
Robert has worked with celebrities like Indya Moore and others.
What is Blush?
Blush was created as a way to make yourself look naturally flushed—like when the kid next to you in kindergarten calls you pretty or when your mom tries to have the sex talk with you as a teenager. When we apply a full face of foundation, concealer, and powder, our skin can look washed out and flat, as our natural skin changes color and has dimension. Blush brings a little extra life to your face. It can be natural and light for an added bit of color or go bold and bright to enhance your look.
How to Choose the Right Blush Shade
Celebrity makeup artists Robert Sesnek and Neil Scibelli both said the best blush color is the one that works well with your undertone (warm, cool, or neutral). As long as you find a shade within your undertone, you can go as deep, light, natural, and bright as you want to fit your look. Use this as a guide to help you find a shade that makes you feel good:
Fair Skin
Light, dusty pinks and sheer peaches add a natural flush, while bright pinks of all undertones are perfect for a bold statement.
Medium Skin
Bright pink looks great on a cool undertone, while coral and orange bring out warm tones.
Olive Skin
Anything with a golden undertone (or a gold shimmer running through it) will bring out the rich, warm tones in your skin. If you’re a cool olive, you can opt for light plums and cool pinks.
Deep/Dark Skin
Coral, brick red, and berry tones tend to have the depth and dimension for your complexion.
Creams vs. Liquids vs. Powder Blushes
There is much more on the scene than your traditional powder blush these days. Not sure where to start? Here’s the difference between each formula, our favorite blushes in each, and why there’s room for all three in your collection:
Cream
A cream blush usually comes in a stick or pot and is applied with a brush or beauty sponge. It’s much thicker than a liquid blush, but it’s easier to apply with a light hand because you can control how much product you pick up on your brush. Cream blushes blend seamlessly into the skin, whether you have dry or oily skin. If you’re worried about your makeup fading away after a few hours, creams might be the way to go. “Cream blushes tend to bind to the skin a bit better, which also stay in place longer,” Scibelli said.
Liquid
A liquid blush is a bit newer to the market, but it took the world by storm, thanks to Glossier’s famed Cloud Paint. Some liquid blushes have a serum texture that make them sheer, blendable, and soft; however, others are thicker in texture, leading to an opaque formula that can be both dewy and matte. This product is best applied with a stippling brush that can buff the product into your cheeks lightly.
Powder
You likely already know a bit about powder blush because it was probably the first blush formulation you ever tried. It’s classic, easy to apply, and basically foolproof when using a lightly pigmented product. It comes in matte and shimmer formulas that glide on easily and is usually applied with a brush.
NARS
BlushIt's the most popular blush in the world—and for good reason. Celebrities like Meghan Markle love the natural flush that "Orgasm" adds to your cheeks, while makeup artists swear by the bright shades in NARS's arsenal for editorial looks.
Shop nowClinique
Cheek PopThis is the most beginner-friendly blush on the market because it's sheer, buildable, and comes in tons of gorgeous shades.
Shop nowCatrice Cosmetics
Blush BoxSesnek swears by these $6 blushes. "I find myself reaching for these because of the silky texture as well as the color selection."
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Matte or Shimmer?
A matte blush adds a wash of color across your face without adding any glitter or shimmer. They both come in liquid, cream, and powder options, but creams and liquids usually have a dewy, shiny finish that powder matte blushes won’t have. This type is for you if you are afraid of adding extra texture or shine to the face.
On the other hand, a shimmery blush has shimmer and shine running through the formula. It adds an extra bit of glimmer to the cheeks and blends seamlessly with any highlighter or illuminator you might have on. This type is great for beginners because shimmery blushes are usually softer in texture, so they’re easier to blend. However, they can emphasize texture if you’re using a product that’s too gritty or has chunky shimmers.
How to Apply Blush
Blush is primarily applied with a brush, but the size and shape vary depending on the look you’re going for. You can also apply cream and liquid blushes with a beauty sponge for a sheer, blended-out look. And for a messy, editorial look, smudging it on your cheeks with your fingertips is the way to go.
Where to Apply Blush?
The ever-popular question of where to apply your blush has a different answer depending on who you ask, especially depending on what the trends are.
In 2021, blush is bold, and it isn’t just for your cheeks anymore. Thanks to TikTok, we’ve seen a rise in the “E-girl” blush, where you apply a little blush to the tip of your nose (making your nose appear button-like), the wave blush, where you apply it in a wave across your nose and under your eyes (to appear sun-kissed), and Madison Beer’s blush, where she basically adds blush to her whole face.
But is that the right placement for you? If you’re going for a natural look, Scibelli recommended following the “natural structure of your cheekbones.” He suggested smiling and applying your blush just above the apples of your cheeks and then blending out toward your temples. This will lift the cheekbones and add a little extra color to your face without going overboard. But you can also use blush to enhance your natural face shape, add balance, and achieve a specific look. Follow these guidelines depending on the look you’re hoping to achieve:
Regardless of your face shape, celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek said blending is key. “Blending and diffusing the color in a buffing motion will soften all lines and edges.”
How to Get Blush to Last All Day Long
You can use a makeup primer underneath your complexion products to help makeup stay in place all day (we love one with a tacky finish, like Milk Makeup Hydro Grip). For all-day wear, Scibelli recommended using a cream blush and setting it with a powder blush in a similar shade or your translucent setting powder. Your blush seriously won’t budge.
Laura Mercier
Translucent Setting PowderThis is the end all, be all setting powder every makeup artist keeps in their kit—it also works well to set your cream blushes in place when you use a fluffy brush.
Shop now
How to Avoid “Clown” Blush
We all know the dreaded moment when you realize you went a little too heavy-handed and you look like you just stepped away from your circus audition. To avoid this altogether, Sesnek recommended adding your blush sparingly and with a light hand. “It’s always easier to add then subtract when it comes to blush.” But fear not: If you’ve overdone it, there is a way to come back. Sesnek suggested buffing a translucent powder on top of your blush to sheer the intensity and soften the look. You can also take your foundation brush or sponge with no new product and blend out the edges to help it blend seamlessly into your skin.
I Have Rosacea—Can I Still Wear Blush?
Just because you have rosacea, acne, or just a natural flush to your skin doesn’t mean you have to forgo blush altogether. Instead of adding more pinky, red tones to your skin, opt for a neutral-toned brown shade. The neutral tones work with every undertone, and the brown color counteracts any natural redness you have in your skin. But who says redness has to be covered anyway? You can always rock your favorite color blush regardless—there are no rules.