Blush application tips from a makeup artist

Let’s take a little look at all the tips I have learned over my years as a makeup artist whilst working on all face types and teach you how to apply blush. When I see lousy blush applications, it’s not always the shade choice that has gone wrong; it’s the application techniques that could be improved. 

Blush can be quite underestimated in its ability to shape and lift the face. Women often choose to avoid blush because they don’t know how to apply it or have the confidence to pick the right shade for themselves.

From picking the best colour and formula to learning the best area to apply it, I’m going to cover it all…

Colour selection

Like I have previously said; the colour selection is not as important as placement and application but still have a few guidelines I can mention.

Light toned skin:

Try sticking to light pinks, light peach, coral, and sheer rose shades.  Remember to keep things light and diffused. 

Olive and medium tone skin:

Colours like apricot, coral, peach, deep rose, brownish type rose will all be nice shades to experiment with. 

Dark to Deep Skin tones: 

Your best colour choices are apricots, deep pinks, brick reds, berry, plum, and cinnamon shades. The deeper your skin tone is the more colour you can have in your blush, explore with brick reds and crimson shades or a bit of shimmer.

Blush Formula Selection

Now if all else fails go with the staple powder, but for those wanting to play a little, there is also cream blush, liquid blush and stain blushes. For the extra playful makeup lovers, lipstick can be used as a blush! Here is the breakdown of each category. 

Powder Blush: Easy to blend so great for makeup beginners, it’s good for all skin types except extremely dry. Can be good for oil absorption on oily type skin and can hide pores slightly. 

Cream Blush: It’s not difficult to learn the application, leaves a beautiful sheen to the skin, and is great for dry and mature skin types. If you do get oily throughout the day you may wish to avoid this type of blush as it could lead to looking more oily. 

Liquid Blush: Requires a little more skill in blending, so ensure your skin is well moisturised before starting your makeup. You need to work faster on blending it out before it dries, practice makes perfect.

Stain Blush: This is the least forgiving type because of its nature to stain, so if you get it on the wrong area it will be hard to correct it. Work fast only applying the product on one cheek, blend and then move on to the next side. 

Lipstick: Can be great for that midday boost to the face when you’re feeling a little flat. After applying lipstick on the lips, dab your finger on your lips and then pat onto the cheeks blending it out. No need to carry both blush and lipstick for touch-ups!

Some powder blushes I love…

Some Cream blushes…

and some liquid type blushes…

Blush Application

As I have discussed that the application is more important than the shade because if you have a shade that’s possibly too dark, you can learn to apply it in a very sheer way. Likewise, if you have a shade that is too sheer or light you would build up. 

Powder Blush: Use a large fluffy brush to make blending easy and seamless. Swirl the brush in the powder then tap the brush to remove any excess it’s always best to start with a light application and build up later. Start applying on the apple of your cheeks and swipe in an up and out direction. Don’t go too far down or towards the nose. 

Cream Blush: This can be done with both your fingers or a brush but a different type to the powder blush for cream – you want to use a stippling brush that is designed for cream products. Apply straight after your foundation and concealer or if not using these products, then straight after moisturised skin. 

Liquid and stain blush: I would not recommend hands here, a beauty sponge would be good or a stippling brush. Work fast, do one cheek at a time to avoid the product drying before you get to blend it out. 

Pro Tip: For cream and liquids you really want to do a dabbing motion to apply- not swiping, as swiping will disturb your foundation underneath and you will lose the coverage making it look patchy.

Where to apply blush

This is where you can do a bit of face shaping magic. For mature faces, it can help give the face a more lifted feel. For dull skin, it helps brighten the overall complexion. 

Many people say smile to find the apple of the cheeks and start applying there, but I think this is not very helpful. Because when you smile it lifts your cheeks, you apply the blush and then relax the cheeks and the blush placement has dropped and drawing the face down instead of the lifting effect we are after.

So start at the apple (high point of the cheeks) not too close to the nose, and swipe up and out towards the hairline sheering it out as you apply.

Pro Tip: If you find your blush not lasting as long as you wish too, try the cream blush first and then add a powder blush on top! 

I hope this has given you more insight into blush application techniques.  So, if your a makeup newbie or needed light refresher on your skills, I hope this has been helpful.

As always any questions please comment below or msg me on my Instagram! 

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