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The Ultimate Blush Guide for Beauty Lovers

By Rebecca Jenkinson and Ellie Child - 2 years ago | Updated
repeated image of woman applying blush

Blusher is a great way to add warmth to the skin, as well as enhancing the natural curves and contours of your face. However, with so many textures, formats and finishes to choose from it can be tricky to know where to begin your blush journey.

Well, luckily for you, the beauty buffs here at Cosmetify have put our heads together to come up with the ultimate blush guide for beauty lovers. We run through the best blushers, blusher palettes, makeup brushes and all our top tips for application.

Take a quick look to find all your new favourite formulas right here…

What's the difference between cream blush, liquid blush and powder blush?

The difference between cream blush, liquid blush and powder blush is down to the texture and consistency of the product.

Cream blushes arrive in a creamy, malleable formula that can be blended in with just your fingertips, whilst powder blush requires a blusher brush for application due to its more rigid and solid texture.

Liquid blushes are yep, you guessed it, a liquid formula that can also be blended in with your fingertips or a beauty sponge for a soft, second-skin finish that can be built up.

How do you apply blush?

When applying blush, start by smiling to make the apples of your cheeks more prominent. Using a blusher brush, sweep the blush down from the ear to the cheekbones, finishing and focusing on the apples of your cheeks – this is typically where most people flush when they're genuinely blushing.

You can also bring the blusher up along your temples for a more exaggerated look and for an extra pop of colour but be sure to blend out thoroughly for a diffused look. Finish off by applying a small amount of blush to the chin for a truly peachy, flushed look.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Real Techniques Blush Brush

£10.58
Dr Hauschka Blusher Brush

Dr Hauschka Blusher Brush

£20.79
beautyblender Pro Sponge Pro Black

beautyblender Pro Sponge

£17.04 £17.50 (3% off)

Where do you apply blush?

The most common place to apply blush is the apples of your cheeks. However, this can depend on your face shape.

For example, if you have a rounder face, you may look at applying it along your cheekbones – like you would a bronzer. This helps contour and draw the face in a little more for a slimmer finish.

Meanwhile, heart-shaped faces may want to apply blush just below the apples of the cheeks, sweeping it out to the hairline to again add a subtle contour. Longer face shapes should look to focus beneath the apples but avoid sweeping up towards the temples.

What’s the difference between blush and bronzer?

The difference between a blusher and a bronzer is simple: one is used to add a flush of peachy colour whilst the other contours and tans the face.

Blusher primarily uses pinky, peachy, orangey tones within its formula to mimic that natural flush. It also helps to add a pop of healthy colour to the cheeks and is usually applied to the centre of the face.

Bronzer typically boasts a more golden-brown hue and doesn't have so much variety in colour. A bronzer's main focus is to add depth, shadow and a sun-kissed colour to complexions in order to contour and reshape the face, whilst adding a bit of tan to paler visages. They typically get applied around the temples, across the cheekbones and around the jawline.

What are the best blushers?

Here at Cosmetify, we have a wide range of blushers to choose from. Whether you prefer powder, cream or liquid formulas there’s something for every skin type and every type of routine.

Take a look at our top picks from some of the biggest brands in the biz to find the best blushers:

Best powder blushers:

Benefit Wanderful World Blush Mini: Crystah

Benefit Wanderful World Blush

£17.70

The beauty buffs here at Cosmetify love the Benefit Wanderful World Blush. The lineup contains a host of pressed powder blushes in a range of shades that suit every skin tone, making it easy to add a beautiful warmth to the face.

Milani Baked Blush Berry Amore

Milani Baked Blush

£9.11 £11.75 (23% off)

You can easily add a pop of colour with the much-loved Milani Baked Blush. This small powder comes in a variety of versatile shades, including bright pink, warm orange and cherry red. The lightweight powder blends effortlessly over the skin, which you can build up for a bolder colour payoff.

Best cream blushers:

SOSU by SJ Blush On The Go Cream Stick Blush Rose

SOSU by SJ Blush On The Go Cream Stick

£11.91 £13.23 (10% off)

This blush stick is perfect for on-the-go moments and has a hydrating formula, which feels comfortable on the skin all day long. Simply swipe directly across the cheeks and blend in with your fingertips. You can also use as a lip stain for a gorgeous, natural-looking tint.

Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush Fuchsia Spark

Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush

£10.58

Who doesn’t love Maybelline? Their gel-cream blusher is a great option for summer months as it’s sweat resistant and gives a gorgeous sun-kissed glow. It comes in a handful of beautiful shades, including pink and peach.

Best liquid blushers:

Perricone MD No Makeup Blush 10ml

Perricone MD No Makeup Blush

£33.00

Beauty editors, influencers and makeup gurus all around the world enjoy the Perricone MD No Makeup Blush. The liquid instantly adds a sheer tint to the cheeks, which works from day to night no matter the occasion. We recommend popping the small bottle in your purse for midday touch ups.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher Acid

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher

£15.22 £18.45 (18% off)

We love the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher as it’s super easy to blend across the cheeks, whether you prefer a sheer finish or a full coverage look. Their impressive shade range makes the blush ideal for all skin tones, as you can take your pick from tones of pink, peach, orange, mauve and more.

What's in a blush palette?

A blush palette contains two or more shades of blush in one compact palette. These shades could be anything from a bright trio of pinks to a duo of peachy hues. You can easily find a makeup palette to suit every skin tone, every makeup style and every makeup collection.

Blush palettes are a great way to test lots of different shades without committing to one single product. This is perfect all year round so you can mix and match shades to suit the occasion. Not to mention, the sleek palettes are ideal for travelling as you can take multiple colours to top up your look.

What kinds of blush are in a blush palette?

In a blush palette you can find a mixture of formats, such as cream or powder. Powder highlighters are perfect for oily skin types and creams are ideal for dry skin. When searching for the best blush palette, powders are a great choice for winter when you want a full coverage, long-wearing makeup look. Cream blush palettes are a summer makeup staple to create a natural, glowy finish.

Some blush palettes also contain a range of finishes, whether matte, natural, shimmering or satin.

How do you use a blush palette?

It depends how many shades you have to play with. However, you need a big fluffy powder brush to help blend and buff your favourite colours across your cheeks, forehead and nose. Blush duos are great for beginners as you can add the darker shade onto the apples of the cheek and then use the lighter shade to highlight further up the cheekbone.

When your blush palette has three or more colours, choose your favourite shade to suit your mood that particular day. Of course, you can swirl shades together to create your own unique colour depending on the occasion. Shimmery shades are perfect for summery days, while satin pigments are great for long-lasting back-to-the-office looks.

What's the best blush palette?

There's lots of blush palettes on the market, with everything from bright pops of colour to subtle hints of shimmer. Some of our favourites come from the likes of NARS Cosmetics, Natasha Denona and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

At Cosmetify find your favourite high-end palettes, as well as affordable high-street must-have blushers that suit your skin tone to a tee.

Sigma Beauty Blush Cheek Palette

Sigma Beauty Blush Cheek Palette

£35.99 £49.00 (27% off)

Step up your blusher game with this blush palette from Sigma. The beauty gang here at Cosmetify love this offering as you can completely customise your makeup, whether you want a soft, daytime look or bold, evening glam.

L.A. Girl Fanatic Blush Palette Island Hottie

L.A. Girl Fanatic Blush Palette

£14.03 £17.65 (21% off)

The beauty experts at L.A. Girl have created the ultimate blush palette with four gorgeous shades to play with, including matte and shimmer finishes. The ultra-pigmented powders blend easily across the skin and look great mixed together for a unique finish.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio Berry Adore

Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio

£25.50 £30.00 (15% off)

We love using one shade for a monochromatic look or mixing all three together for a unique, sun-kissed vibe. Each shade complements the other and you can use across the skin to add warmth and structure to the face.

For more beauty goodies, take a look The Best Liquid Lipsticks and The Best Makeup Brushes and Brush Sets.

Rebecca is a content writer with over three years’ experience and a keen interest in cosmetics. Cosmetify allows her to combine her blogging skills with her passion for beauty.

Ellie Child

Written by Ellie Child

With five years’ experience under her belt, Ellie has worked alongside a range of highly regarded makeup artists, giving her a real insight into what consumers should be spending their money on.

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