Blush: A Complete Guide to Shades, Types, and Application

Blush is one of those makeup products that can totally transform your face in just a few easy sweeps. Foundation and concealer can even out your skin, but blush is what adds that perfect flush of color back into the skin, giving you a healthy glow and that added dimension to your face.
Deciding on the right blush: so many options, so little time. There’s a traditional powder formula, newer cream and liquid blushes … and the list goes on. The key is not just selecting a pretty color, but instead, considering your skin tone and undertone, as well as your face shape, skin type, and desired finish.

What Is Blush?

Blush is makeup you wear on your cheeks for some color and life. Blushes can be pink, peach, coral, rose, mauve, berry, and even red shades. Do you have a little blush on your cheeks after walking for a few minutes or even after doing a quick workout?

That‘s what blush will do in a more charming,  refined way.

It can also add dimension to a makeup look. Foundation can sometimes make the face appear a little flat – that is, to lack contrast in skin tone – because it covers the various shades that your skin naturally displays. Blush can help restore that vibrance.

Types

Blush formulas today are a huge surprise.  All formula types deliver different effects when applied to the skin, and with the right texture, application can become far easier.

Type of Blush	Texture	Suitable For	Typical Finish
Powder blush	Dry, silky powder	Oily and combination skin	Matte to luminous
Cream blush	Soft and creamy	Normal and dry skin	Dewy, natural
Liquid blush	Lightweight fluid	Most skin types	Fresh, skin-like
Gel blush	Light gel texture	Oily or combination skin	Sheer, fresh
Stick blush	Solid cream	Most skin types	Natural to dewy
Baked blush	Smooth baked powder	Most skin types	Soft, often luminous

Powder blush is probably the best known. It is very easy to blend with a brush and especially effective when applying to powder-set makeup.

Cream blush blends more into the skin than sitting really obvious on the surface and thus can be particularly desirable for dry or aging skin.

Liquid blush is usually highly blendable but can also be strongly pigmented. Starting with a tiny dot is often enough.

Stick blush is ideal if you want your makeup to be compact and easy to put on. If you want it to apply easily to the skin, then apply it with your fingers, a sponge, or a brush.

How to Choose a Blush Shade?

Selecting the appropriate blush color.  Considering one‘s skin tone and undertone are the two most important things to look at when selecting the perfect shade of blush.  Your skin tone is the normal shade (color)of your skin. It can be extremely light or extremely dark.  Your undertones are the hues beneath your skin.

To keep the deepest skin tone punchy and fresh,  continue the Lip Flattering colors from Light Peach,  Peach Pink & Rose.

Coral, peach, apricot, and warm pink-based shades for medium-coloured skin, and darker, tanned, or more coloured skin shades of berry, plum, brick, and terracotta for darker skin.

Skin Tone	Blush Shades to Explore
Fair	Soft pink, peach, light rose
Light	Pink, peach, warm rose
Medium	Coral, apricot, mauve, rose.
Tan	Terracotta, deep coral, warm berry
Deep	Berry, plum, brick red, rich coral

Warm undertones might go for peach, coral, apricot, and warm terracotta hues. Pink, rose, mauve, and berry are best suited for cool undertones. Neutral undertones have the most freedom of options and can go for either side of the family.
Remember, these are simply guidelines for where to start, but not rules. An especially interesting blush shade might not always be under an exact color family.

How to Apply?

Blusher should be applied softly and blended out. Keep it simple for now, as natural and simple is the best look. If using a powder, load your powder blush brush with color and tap off.

Layer 1:  Apply one very fine and transparent coat; return to the 8A for extra coats if needed.

How To Use Cream Blush:  As with the powders, dab it onto your skin using your fingers, a dense blush brush, or your wet sponge.  Tap a small dot of the blusher gently onto your cheekbones and blend at your will using your fingers or sponge.

Liquid blushes are quite the handful to manage, so use in mild dabs.

Blend all the edges carefully so that blush gradually disappears away from the edges; never create a mask-like line.

Remember: if in doubt, wear less, blend it better,  examine your face in daylight, and add more if necessary.

Blush Placement by Face Shape

Blush placement can subtly influence how facial proportions appear. There is no compulsory placement for any face shape, but a few techniques can help create different visual effects.

Face Shape	Suggested Placement	Visual Effect
Round	Upper cheeks toward temples	Creates a lifted appearance
Oval	Apples of cheeks toward temples	Maintains natural balance
Square	Softly across the cheek area	Softens angular appearance
Heart	Cheeks blended gently outward	Balances the upper face
Long/Oblong	More horizontally across cheeks	Adds visual width

Looking for a lifted makeup contour? Sweep blush a touch higher on the cheeks and blend the color out toward the temples. For a fresh, youthful glow, keep a small wash of color swept through the apples of the cheeks.

Avoiding categorizing your face shape as much as possible by understanding your own bone structure is more important.

Cream Blush vs Powder Blush

The two main formulations are cream and powder blush, and the appearance is very different. A cream blush has a smooth, satin finish, and you still see the same skin softness. It might be more minimal because the effect is going to blend in, so you will perceive it as though the color is actually emanating from your skin, not on top of it. Powder blush is much more easily blended and perhaps more appropriate if you have oily skin or you are in a warm climate.

Feature	Cream Blush	Powder Blush
Texture	Creamy	Dry powder
Finish	Natural to dewy	Matte to luminous
Application	Fingers, sponge or brush	Makeup brush
Best suited to	Normal and dry skin	Combination and oily skin
Buildability	Easy	Very easy
Beginner friendly	Yes	Yes

Both formulas aren’t necessarily better on its own.

Use Cream blush for a fresher-faced, glowy finish, or if powder blush exacerbates dryness, or if you want a more delicate application. Use Powder blush if you want a more traditional finish, a smidgen of oil control, or easier blending! (Or why not both! Apply a sheer layer of cream blush and layer on a coordinating powder blush for extra impact and longevity.)

Final Thoughts

Blush can actually be a surprisingly big step in your makeup routine. Blush has to bring the warmth back to your skin, add shape and dimension to your face and – most importantly – make your face look fresh and alive. The best blusher is the one that suits your skin, your makeup, your style and personality!  Experiment with powder, cream, liquid,  and stick blushes,  practice applying it in different areas of your face, and as soon as you discover a color and texture that complements your skin tone,  using blush will be one of the quickest and most instantaneously addictive things you can do.