Sometimes, all the ammo you need in your makeup kit is a mascara, a lip gloss and some blush to brighten up your face and get you ready for the day. A blush is probably the one makeup staple that makes it to everyone’s ‘stranded on an island’ list. For a quick moment there, people may have been swayed by the sculpting bronzers and highlighters of the world, but a trusty pop of blush that’s been around for centuries can never go out of style.
However, this makeup essential is not as basic as it once was. It now comes in various textures, finishes, and formulations, making it a little more tricky to navigate. Once you figure out what blush texture works for your skin type, you’ll find yourself acing the blush game in no time. Follow along as celebrity makeup artist Tanvi Marathe gives you a comprehensive guide on how to pick a blush that’s best suited for you.
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Enter the world of blushes
Cream blush
Cream blushes are available in pots, tubes and sticks. They promise a natural flush of colour, hydration and nourishment, along with being buildable and easy to apply.
According to Marathe, you must make sure to avoid using a cream blush on powdered skin. Prep your skin with a hydrating moisturiser, layer your cream blush, and then top it off with a powder. With a cream blush stick, collect the pigment onto your hand first and then apply the colour with your fingers. This results in a smoother blend and an even application of the blush instead of it being saturation in one place.
Tira recommends: 1. Simply Nam Velvet Cream Magic Blush - Girl Next Door
2. SUGAR Cosmetics Face Fwd Blush Stick - 02 Pink Prime
Liquid blush
Liquid blushes can be found as wands, cushions, drops and tints. They are hydrating, pigmented and offer long-lasting wearability.
As per Marathe, you must be careful with this one. Avoid depositing the product on your skin directly with an applicator. Applying the product to your wrist first and then blending it into your skin with a makeup blender to avoid streaks is recommended. Remember that if you put liquid or tinted blushes directly on your face and fail to blend it in time, it leaves streaks and marks. “With liquid, make sure you use it sparingly and then build it up. This is because sometimes it looks like a tiny dot of liquid, but it can hold a lot of pigment. Build it up instead of going with a lot of it at once,” cautions Marathe.
As for tints or serum-based blushes, Marathe suggests skipping any tools or makeup brushes during application. Given the water-like texture of tints, there are chances that brushes might soak it all up. Emulsify the product on your brush between your fingers and then apply it on your cheeks instead.
Tira recommends: Makeup Revolution Super Dewy Liquid Blusher - You Had Me At First
Powder blush
Finely milled powders and pressed compacts are easy to use, carry and top up.
“Loose powder blushes are the easiest to use. All you need is a fluffy brush,” reveals Marathe. She recommends experimenting with the placement of the blush depending on your face shape. For round faces, she recommends applying it to the contours of the cheek for a lifted look. For a square face, dusting it onto the apples of the cheeks will soften the features. “Use your powder blushes very sparingly and build it up gradually,” she concludes.
If you’ve got oily skin, the pigment will stick to the oil on your face and get patchy. Therefore, she advises dabbing translucent powder onto your skin first if and then going in with your powdered blush.
Tips to best use your blush
- Avoid the areas with noticeably enlarged pores if you use a shimmer blush. You can also use it on the high points of your face in place of a highlighter.
- Instead of using a regular contour, you can use blush to contour your face. It’s just another form of draping.
- When layering, remember that creams, tints, and liquids will always go first, and powders will always go second.
Which blush is for whom?
Oily, acne-prone skin
This skin type naturally produces more oil, leading to a greater occurrence of enlarged pores. “Matte works the best with this skin type,” reveals Marathe. She elaborates that matte textures blur out the appearance of pores. And, if the blush has a shine to it, it will further accentuate the appearance of pores. “Secondly, use a powder blush. Any cream, liquid, tint or serum will just glide off the skin and might have mineral oil in it, which won’t suit oily or acne-prone skin,” she adds.
Dry or balanced skin
Having a balanced skin type means your skin is healthy and supple. However, you can experience bouts of dryness caused by weather and lifestyle factors. When you have dry skin, your sebaceous glands produce fewer natural oils than usual. “This skin type can actually wear any formula based on their preference. They can even layer the creams with powders—it all depends on what they want,” says Marathe.
Tira recommends: 1. Lakmé 9 To 5 Pure Rouge Blusher - Pretty Pink
2. Maybelline New York Fit Me Blush - 35 Coral
