I’ll be the first to admit, it’s only in recent years that I’ve realised the power of blusher. My skin is naturally quite flushed and pink-toned, so I didn’t think I needed to bother. But I’ve since learnt that it can add the perfect finishing touch to any makeup look, and it’s now a firm staple in my makeup bag. I know, I know, I’ve finally caught up to the rest of the makeup world!
The right blush can really sculpt and lift your complexion, adding a stunning radiance that enhances your contour or provides your skin with a natural rosiness. But with so many blusher types available, it can be tough to find the right blush for your skin.
In this blusher guide, I’ll show you some of my favourites for each of the blush types – from pressed to loose powder, liquid tints to gel formats. Read on to find out what I love about each blusher type, so you can choose the right one for your skin and achieve the rosy finish you’ve been looking for.
1. The Loose Powder Blusher
Blush name: GIVENCHY Prisme Libre Blush
Blush type: Loose powder
Shade: 1 Mousseline Lilas
The GIVENCHY Prisme Libre Blush is the first four-colour loose powder blush and, trust me, it’s a showstopper! The quartet of colours adds an effortless flush of vibrant colour to your complexion, perfectly blending together to create a seamless rosy glow. The combination of four harmonising shades provides a multidimensional depth and effortlessly illuminates while lifting the face. I love this microfine powder as it feels weightless on the skin with a second-skin effect, while it offers a naturally luminous finish. The Prisme Libre blush is a true luxury; I love the white puff applicator and mirrored-lid cuboid as it exudes glitz and glamour, and makes me feel like an old Hollywood movie star when I apply it.
2. The Pressed Powder Blusher
Blush name: bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush
Blush type: Pressed powder
Shade: Peachy Keen
The bareMinerals blusher is made using minerals and naturally-derived pigments to create a good-for-skin blush. It’s a pressed powder that’s incredibly blendable and creamy, and I just love the way it mimics a natural flush. It’s made with bareMinerals’ Blurring Mineral Complex, which uses light-diffusing mineral-based pearls to create an airbrushed finish for that perfectly natural rosy flush. It looks flawless on top of makeup as the soft-focus finish expertly layers and blends with the rest of your complexion; plus, it’s incredibly easy to apply, even if you’re a complete makeup newbie.
It gets even better! The hypoallergenic blusher is hydrating and contains antioxidants, so it doesn’t just look good on skin, but it’s good for skin, too.
3. The Cream Blusher
Blush name: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Blush Stick
Blush type: Stick
Shade: Ambitious Pink
The Lancome Blush Stick feels like velvet to touch; it’s incredibly creamy as you glide it across your cheekbones, but then transforms into a silky-soft powder. The colour pay-off is seriously impressive, thanks to the highly-concentrated pigments that make up this glow-enhancing blush. I love how buildable and blendable the Lancome stick blusher is; it can take you from a subtle flush to an all-out WOW moment for when you want to go super glam. What’s great about this one is that you don’t need a makeup brush or any tools to apply it; you simply swipe it over your cheeks and blend out with your fingertips.
Beauty Team Member, Keavy, said it’s one of the “dreamiest cream blushes” she’s ever used, and I have to agree with her! I love the vibrant colour payoff and the silky-smooth formula, not forgetting the luxuriousness of the black and gold twist stick. Plus, the blush even has that iconic subtle rose scent that Lancome fans will simply adore – it’s an excellent addition to the iconic Teint Idole collection.
4. The Gel Blusher
Blush name: Daniel Sandler Watercolour Gel Cheek Colour
Blush type: Gel
Shade: Berry
I think this one would be perfect for travelling or if you’re going to a festival as it offers an all-day flushed colour that stays put without smudging or transferring. I love wearing this one on natural, no makeup skin as the cloud-textured gel fuses perfectly with bare skin. I’ve chosen the shade Berry; I love the deep burgundy hue, which I think would be the perfect gothic shade for autumn and winter. What’s more, the Watercolour Gel can double up as a lip tint, offering the perfect just-bitten look that I always opt for in the colder months.
5. The Liquid Blusher
Blush name: Benefit Playtint Lip & Cheek Stain
Blush type: Liquid stain
Shade: Pink Lemonade (one shade)
If you’re a fan of the Benefit liquid tints, then this is one you’re going to want to know about. The universally flattering coral-pink shade adds a long-lasting vibrancy to your complexion in a matter of seconds, which is why I love the Benefit Pink Lemonade Playtint.
Similarly, if you’ve never used a liquid blush before, then don’t be scared or put off by the fact you don’t know how to use them; they’re incredibly simple to apply and take seconds to get the knack of! The precise applicator allows you to simply dot the liquid blush on before you blend out with your fingertips.
Benefit’s pigment-rich rosy-pink colour looks fresh and natural, while it’s also incredibly buildable. I love that this one looks like your own skin and doesn’t really look like you’re wearing blusher at all; it’s also non-drying and smudge-proof so you can trust it to stay fresh and vivid all day long (or all night long)! It doubles up as a liquid lip stain too, which perfectly ties in your complexion with harmonising pinky tones.
