Next in the Makeup Basics series, we are discussing blush!

In my opinion, blush is extremely underrated. A little blush can bring so much color and life to your face, help you seem awake and alert, and just looks so pretty!

What is Blush?

Blush, also called blusher or rouge, is a cosmetic product applied to the cheeks.

Typically blush is found in shades of pink and red, but also can be found in oranges, browns, and non-traditional colors such as purples and blues.

The name “blush” comes from the term blushing, referring to the sudden redness of the cheeks when there is increased blood flow to the area – like when someone is embarrassed.

Fun Fact: “rouge” is French for red!

Why is blush used?

Blush gives a rosy appearance to the face, making the wearer look naturally glowing and healthy.

Where is blush applied?

Blush is applied to the cheek & cheekbones, where a person’s face would naturally flush.

There are some different application recommendations based on face shape. Check out an infographic like this for some basic info on blush for different face shapes.

What types of blush are there?

Blush comes in two main forms: cream and powder.

Cream Blush:

Like the name suggests, cream blush is a cream product.

Cream blush comes in several types, such as sticks, tubes, or pans. You can buy cream blushes in a blush palette, or as individual shades.  

It is best applied with a sponge, fingers, or stippling type of makeup brush.

Because it is a cream product, it will dry down. Some formulas dry fast, meaning you need to blend it into your skin quickly.

Powder Blush:

The most popular blushes are pressed powder blushes, though loose powder blushes are available too.

Powder blushes should be applied with a makeup brush, preferably a fluffy round or angled brush. This makes it easy and quick to disperse the color over your entire cheek.

Available in both blush palettes and as single blush shades.

Cream vs. Powder Blush: Which one should you wear?

You should wear cream blush if you:

• Have dry or mature skin
• Prefer a dewy or natural blush
• Prefer applying products with your fingers or stippling brushes
• Use a lot of other cream products – it will look cohesive on your face!
• Have the time to blend out the product nicely

You should wear powder blush if you:

• Have oily skin
• Use lots of powder to set your face
• Want to quickly swipe on color with a fluffy brush
• Prefer a shimmery blush
• Want the color to last throughout the day

Matte vs. Shimmer

Similar to the finishes we talked about in the Eyeshadow part of the Makeup Basics series, blushes come in matte and shimmer styles.

Matte blushes have no shimmer, glitter, or shine to them. They are a flat color that is added to the face.

Shimmer blushes range from having a slight sheen to a full glitter, making your cheeks look shiny and sparkly.

Typically, I recommend matte blushes. They work for everyone, and if you want a little something shimmery on top, you can always add a little bit of highlighter.

Shimmer blushes can look pretty – on some people, when used the right way. Unfortunately, when a blush has too much shimmer in it, your face will look oily and slippery – not the look that most people are going for!

To be safe, I recommend that you stick to a matte blush or a blush with only a slight sheen to it.

Picking a blush shade

As a standard rule, your blush shade should be slightly darker than your skin tone, leaning towards warmer shades.

Fair/Light skin tone:

Light pink, bubblegum pink, or peachy tones.

These shades are light, helping them look like a natural flush instead of a deep red clown look (unless that’s what you’re going for, no judgement!)

Kailey recommends:

Medium skin tone:

Deeper peachy/mauve, raspberry, soft brown, or orange/apricot.

The lighter pink tones are likely to show up poorly on your skin, or make you look ashy! Instead, try rich pink and orange tones that are a bit darker than your own skin.

Kailey recommends:

Deep skin tone:

Berries, reds, warm browns, and bright oranges.

Light shimmery pink blushes would look like a highlighter on a person with a deep complexion, and could look very pretty – but for a standard blush, bright shades of orange, red, and berry shades are STUNNING on deep skin.

Kailey recommends:

If you truly don’t know what shade you should get, I recommend getting an inexpensive blush palette. This will allow you to test a bunch of different shades, and once you find what looks best with your skin tone, you can branch out into other blushes in that color family!

Best Method for Applying Blush

Whether you are using a cream or a powder blush, there are a few things you can do to ensure the best application.

First, start off with a SMALL amount of blush on whatever tool you are using – sponge, brush, or your fingers! You can always add more blush, but it is very hard to remove blush after you add too much.

Second, touch your tool to your face in the spot you want the most pigment first, then blend outwards. For most people, this spot is the apples of their cheeks, and then they blend out and up, towards the temple.

Third, remember that less is more! It’s easy to go overboard with blush, and end up looking clown-ish. While this look is great sometimes, it’s not usually what people want to look like. Apply a little blush at a time and look at yourself in different lighting – inside, with vanity lights, a camera flash, and natural sunlight! Sometimes I apply too much blush indoors, and go outside looking a little crazy.

Kailey’s side note:

I’ve known many people that refuse to wear blush because it’s a product that “old people” use or because it “looks silly” and honestly… you’re just wrong! Blush is used by all sorts of people, and looks amazing when you figure out how to apply it on your own features. I support everyone using blush, and YES, that includes you!

Alright beauties, I think that covers most things about blush.

Tell me what YOUR favorite blush is in a comment below!