How we pick our products
Even if you feel tired and your skin seems sallow, a little blush can do wonders. Your face is, for better or worse, the first thing that people tend to notice about you and is capable of making a big impression. The good news is that there are a lot of great cosmetics out there that can really elevate your face in both subtle and major ways.
Blush is one of the most commonly purchased cosmetics out there and comes in a large variety of textures, shades and formulas to suit the skin types of most women. Using blush can help smooth out textures, provide warmth to your skin, and hide small blemishes.
Contents
- 1 Key Facts
- 2 Our Selection of the Best Blushes on the U.S. Market
- 3 Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Blushes
- 3.1 What is a blush designed for?
- 3.2 How and with what should I apply blush?
- 3.3 How should I apply blush according to the shape of my face?
- 3.4 How much blush should I apply?
- 3.5 Should I change my blush depending on the time of day?
- 3.6 Can blush be used for contouring techniques?
- 3.7 Can I be allergic to my blush?
- 4 Buyer’s Guide
- 5 Summary
Key Facts
- Blush typically comes in two main textures: creamy ones that tend to be better for drier skin; and powdery ones that are better for oily skin.
- Blush needs to be applied based on your face shape, as well as the effect you are going for and what you are trying to conceal/augment.
- You shouldn’t choose a shade to alter the color of your skin entirely, but rather to help elevate your natural beauty and the tone of your skin.
Our Selection of the Best Blushes on the U.S. Market
The below selection contains a compilation of five of the best and most popular products on the U.S. market at the moment. We have provided a summary of their main characteristics while keeping value for money at the forefront. There is undoubtedly something on here for almost any taste and preference, so let the browsing begin!
- No. 1: Milani – Baked Blush
- No. 2: NARS – Blush (Orgasm
- No. 3: Stila – Convertible Dual Color Lip and Cheek Cream
- No. 4: Laura Geller – New York Baked Blush
- No. 5: Maybelline New York – Fit Me Blush (Berry)
Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Blushes
Blush is great for smoothing out the appearance of wrinkles and rejuvenating older faces.
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What is a blush designed for?
Blush is great at reducing the look of imperfections on the surface of our skin and amazing for bringing out the natural strong features of your face and complexion.
How and with what should I apply blush?
A blush won’t simply brighten up your face and give a healthy look to your skin; it also has the particularity of creating various visual effects. This is why you can apply blush to help create an entirely new appearance, softening or emphasizing certain features, while concealing others. Most blushes are applied with special brushes, though you can use your fingers depending on the look you want to achieve.
There are a variety of different textures of blush out there, with powder and cream being the most common.
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How should I apply blush according to the shape of my face?
| If your face’s shape is: | And your goal is to: | Apply blush like this: |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Define it | You should spread the product from your cheeks to your temples. |
| Wide | Narrow it | Put the blush horizontally right under your cheekbones. |
| Thin | Widen it | Spread the product placed on your cheekbones up to your ears. |
| Square | Round it | Spread the blush from your cheekbones slightly downwards, or apply it directly to the apples of your cheeks in a circular movement. |
| Diamond | Soften the angles | Apply powder or cream on top of your cheekbones and towards ears, attracting the eye down and highlighting your cheekbones. |
| Heart | Smoothen your jaw line | Put the blush on the bottom of your cheekbones, in a similar way to contouring. |
How much blush should I apply?
In the end, it’s all about personal taste. With that in mind, professional makeup artists recommend using blush to create a great natural look, and not overdoing it. The ideal result you are after is one that makes it appear as though the warmth of the blush is radiating directly from your own skin. This takes practice, but over time, you will become an expert at it.
Should I change my blush depending on the time of day?
If you have oily skin, a matte tone is the best to use during the day. If you have dry skin, however, a more satin texture is generally preferred.
Can blush be used for contouring techniques?
Use draping on your cheeks and with darker colors if you want to add volume. Lighter blush tones are designed to add light to your face, so they look great applied to the tops of cheekbones. Makeup experts contend that doing this helps give your face a more natural and fresher look.
A good idea is to get a good mineral-based blushed to help protect your skin from UV.
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Can I be allergic to my blush?
If you find yourself suffering from eczema, or breaking out in acne, then your blush likely has ingredients in it that are reacting with your skin. In this instance, you should speak to a doctor or dermatologist. If you find that after application your skin feels extremely dry and rigid, that is another sign that your body disagrees with your choice of blush. It is best to stop using the product at that point.
Buyer’s Guide
At this point, you have a lot of information about how blush works and how to apply it. In the below section we will provide you with the most important buying criteria to use when choosing your blush. Having all of it in mind will make sure you get the product that is right for your skin and your purposes. These criteria are:
- Textures and Characteristics
- Blush Tones
- Origin of Its Components
- Age of the Skin
- Potential Allergens
Textures and Characteristics
As previously mentioned, powder and cream are the most common textures found on the market. When choosing either or there are a number of important considerations. You must understand what kind of skin you have, the makeup effect you are going for, and the result you expect. Below are the main characteristics of most blushes on the market:
| Texture | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Powder | For oily skins, as they can absorb excess sebum. More comfortable if you are looking for contouring. Favor applying it with a brush rather than your fingers. |
| Cream | For dry skins, as it provides moistness. It can make greasy skins shine in an unpleasant way. Very natural results. It can come in sticks or boxes. Its solid texture makes it more difficult to obtain an even result. |
| Liquid | Very natural look. Ideal for dry skins, as they are nutritive. Better for young skins that do not have acne than mature skins. |
| Meteorites or balls | The combination of colors they offer allow for different tones and effects using light. Best applied with natural hair brushes. It is probably the texture that most brightens the face. |
| Mineral powder or loose powder | Similar to compact blush. It tends to coat the brush quite a bit, which means you need to be careful before applying. More suited to dry oily skins. |
Blush Tones
When evaluating a tone of blush it is best to compare it to your natural skin tone. Get a product that doesn’t stray too far from your natural tone. You don’t want to just get a color because it looks beautiful, or one that will make you more or less fair. You want something that will augment what you naturally have.
Lighter-skinned women often go for light pink tones, while medium skin tones often buy darker pinks, fuchsia and orange with golden highlights. Darker complexions often like russet, terracotta and dark gold hues. You will also need to consider what kind of glow you are going for.
Makeup artists recommend using blush to help enhance natural beauty and not overdoing it.
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Blush can also be chosen based on your hair color. Black hair and dark brown look great with brown or bronze colors. Light brown and blonde hair looks great with orange, coral, and peach hues.
Origin of Its Components
Blushes contain pigments and soluble dyes. Many are naturally-based, while others are artificial. You will also encounter titanium oxide or zinc to cover the skin, and mica or glitter. Kaolin or magnesium carbonate are used to absorb perspiration.
Many skin experts and makeup artists alike suggesting getting a blush that contains minerals as they help protect your skin from the sun. They also give you a nice matte finish that is more natural-looking and are more non-comedogenic. Since these products do not contain oils, they are suitable for dry, mixed and oily skins alike.
Age of the Skin
If you are getting older and your skin is not as elastic as it once was, you should opt for a blush the same color as your base. Make sure to blend it properly to make sure you don’t make your cheekbones look too high. These blushes will give your face a nice young and healthy look.
If you are younger, you should focus on drawing attention to your most beautiful features. Rose, orange, and iridescent shades tend to look best on young skin. They are also nice for rejuvenating the skin of older women. If you wear strong tones you tend to appear older (just something to keep in mind).
We wear cosmetics for hours every day, so it is important that they do not contain anything that will damage our skin.
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Potential Allergens
We have cosmetics on our face for many hours a day, so we need ones that are not going to harm or irritate our skin. Dermatologists suggest applying blush to the inside of your wrist and letting it rest for 48 hours to see if your skin reacts. The below can cause allergic reactions:
- Scented blushes, because their scent ingredients can be irritating
- Conservatives such as parabens. The good thing is most modern makeup lines don’t use these anymore.
- Products designed to be much longer-lasting can be those that are the most harmful.
- Any petroleum derivatives and paraffins
- The metal, nickel, which tends to be present in brighter colors. If you have sensitive skin it is best to stick to more neutral and earthy colors.
Summary
A good blush is a fundamental component of any cosmetic arsenal. They make you appear younger and fresher, and your face looks warmer and healthier. They come in a wide variety of colors, hues, and textures, so you will need to do some research and know your skin to get the right product for your skin type, age, desired look etc.
There are great blushes available for all occasions and skins. The best products will elevate your natural beauty without being harsh on your skin. You should always consider your face shape when applying your makeup to achieve the best effect. Always be aware of your allergies and skin sensitivities and check the ingredient list accordingly.
If you enjoyed our shopping guide to blush and found it helpful, share it with your friends and family on social media. Additionally, you can leave us a comment in the below section and let us know what you think.
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