The Best Blushers and How To Use Them
Blush aka the ultimate miracle worker. Whether I’ve had eight hours of sleep or two (with a full face of makeup or running out the door with just SPF and brows), a quick pop of colour on the cheeks genuinely changes everything. It brings life to the face, lifts the complexion and gives you that “I’ve just been to hot yoga and now I’m glowing” kind of vibe, just the sweep of a brush (or tap of a finger). Basically, blush is magic in a compact.
Now, when it comes to formulas, there’s a whole host to play with –powders, creams, tints, liquids… but the basic two are cream and powder. I switch between the two depending on what kind of look I’m going for. I probably lean more towards a cream. This is the basic difference between them.
Cream:
You can tap them in with fingers, blend with a sponge, or buff them with a brush. Great for drier skin types or anyone wanting that lit-from-within glow.
A cream blush is a type of blush that has a creamy, smooth, and often dewy texture, designed to mimic the natural flush of the cheeks. It's a popular choice for achieving a radiant, healthy-looking glow. You can tap them in with fingers, blend with a sponge, or buff them with a brush. Great for drier skin types.
Powder:
Good old powder blush. Reliable, buildable and beautiful. It's a traditional and popular choice for adding a flush of colour to the cheeks. It can have a matte or a shimmery finish. Powder blushers are known for their ability to blend seamlessly into the skin, creating a soft-focus, blurring effect.
They’re amazing for oily skin or when you want your makeup to last all day without touch-ups. Plus, powders give that soft-focus finish that almost acts like a real-life filter. Dreamy.
Top tip: if you want mega blush impact or staying power, try layering your cream with a powder over the top – it’s the makeup version of double denim.
Tints & Liquid Blush:
Blush tints are also popular, and liquid blushers are becoming more so. These are a great way to give you a natural-looking flush that lasts. These are in a both in a liquid form and need blending instantly so that they don’t go patchy. Tints tend to be super sheer, whereas liquid blushes can be a little bolder and buildable.
A brief (but fun) history of blush:
Let’s talk about the history of blush because this baby has been around for centuries. Even before makeup was “officially” invented, blush or rouge was used to show social status and to signify health, with pale skin and rosy cheeks considered desirable. Although some of the ingredients were dodgy to say the least. Although I reckon a bit of red wine on the cheeks would actually work wonders?! Let’s take a little stroll through blush history…
Ancient Times:
· The Egyptians were out here mixing red ochre (clay) with fat to stain their cheeks and lips. Multi-tasking queens.
· Greeks & Romans used mulberries, wine dregs, and red vermilion (yep, the mercury one – don’t try that at home) to get their glow on. Blush = a status symbol. Pale skin + rosy cheeks meant you were rich enough to avoid manual labour.
Middle Ages:
· Blush? Binned. It was seen as a bit risqué – aka for the working class or, erm, ladies of the night. Pale, makeup-free skin was in. Think moody medieval minimalism.
Renaissance:
· Blush made a comeback! Women started using natural dyes like cochineal and madder root. We love a botanical moment.
18th & 19th centuries:
· It was go bold or go home. Rouge was everywhere – especially among the aristos.
· But by the Victorian era, it was back to being a bit taboo.
20th & 21st centuries:
· We’ve had every blush trend under the sun, from the soft pinks of the 50s to the full-on fuchsia of the 80s.
· And today?! Blush is all about enhancing what you’ve got and having fun! A subtle glow or full-on Madonna vibes – anything goes!
Where to place your blush
Before I get stuck into my fave and most used blushers, let’s talk face shape. Positioning of your blush is key as if it’s placed in the right place, it will complement your face. Correct placement can make your cheekbones appear more prominent, your face look slimmer or wider, and your complexion appear brighter. So, I’ve put together some fancy pictures for you below to simplify it…
Face Shapes
Round
Heart
Square
Oval
Diamond
My absolute faves:
Blush is probably my most-used product – so this list was tough to narrow down. IMO a makeup look is never complete without it. And if you only have time for one thing, a bit of blush will make a massive difference. I’ve pulled together my ride or dies across cream, powder, liquid and tints. Each one has a slightly different vibe, and honestly? I’d wear them all at once if that wasn’t completely crazy. (…or is it?)
Cream Blush:
This pot of joy delivers a rich, creamy pop of colour that melts seamlessly into the skin – and it doubles up as a lip tint too. ‘Pale Pink’ is a forever fave for that flushed.
If you like your cheek colour glossy, this is your best friend. It adds a sheer wash of radiance with a subtle tint – I’ve used this so many times for the runway and it’s just perfect for that “model skin” look.
Buttery soft and packed with skin-loving ingredients. It blends like a dream and gives a satin finish – not too dewy, not too matte.
pigmented, so you only need a dab. It’s fab for longer wear and won’t slide around throughout the day. Great for sculpting.
An amazing blush range for absolutely any skin tone. This is a must in my kit – the balm-to-powder texture gives a beautiful flush with a soft-focus effect.
Cheap and cheerful. Honestly, can’t believe this little guy is under £10! Comes in a range of gorgeous shades and gives a fresh, glowy finish without looking greasy.
Pillow Talk in blush format is just my dream product. Lasts forever as you only need a dab on each cheek. Perfect for a soft and natural look but very buildable if you want a bit more!
Ultimate “Hi Barbie!” packaging. This is so hydrating but even cooler than that, this product adapts to your skin’s pH for a personalised flush
Powder Blush:
Would it be a blush blog if I didn’t mention Orgasm by NARS?! Although Orgasm is THE icon for a reason, I love every shade in this range.
Silky, luxe, blends like a dream. I’ve been using mine for ages and no hint of pan yet. So definitely worth the price!
Another OG! Does anyone else remember saving up their money to try and buy as many shades of this as possible?! Great pigment and a huge shade range.
Love this for a festival or a night out as it has such as beautiful glow. Happy is my favourite shade… for obvious reasons!
Love this – it’s high pigment, blendable and lasts all day. You know that Madonna vibe I was talking about earlier?! The shade Cherub is all you need to achieve it.
Liquid Blush:
The lasting power of this is unreal for this, the colour is subtle but so beautiful and buildable. I’m absolutely loving Bold Pink at the moment.
Ok, this might be my favourite Rare Beauty product ever?! I’m giving this the prize of the world’s most pigmented blush. Seriously, a pin prick of this will give you an amazing look.
I love this brand because their makeup is packed with skin-loving ingredients. Built with fruit extracts so it’s nothing nasty on your skin. Plus the colour is beautiful.
Oop, it’s another icon! Ultimate clean girl blusher. I love this so much for layering and I trust this packaging (to not explode!) 100% in my Chanel bag!
This is glowy without glitter?! Witchcraft. We love to see it.
She’s an icon, she’s a legend, she is the moment! I’ll never stop loving this product. So nostalgic and honestly, I don’t think anything will knock Benetint off top spot in my heart!
Ok, I have to admit I was a bit sceptical when this went viral but I tried it and I love it. Goes on sheer and just blends like a dream.
This is a fab everyday blush. Super lightweight and fresh!
I may have accidentally saved my current favourite for last. This is the ultimate luxury tint. VB has absolutely nailed it on this. The dropper gives you the perfect amount of product and it just blends like a dream.
There you have it… my blush bible. I hope you love this list! And just remember, don’t be afraid to play! Blush is about having fun, feeling fresh, and bringing colour to your day (and face). What have I missed?! Let me know in the comments or on my IG.
Love,
Lisa xx