How to Apply Blush
Applying blush at first can be tricky, but it’s all about being patient and using the right tools. You want to make sure you’re using the right blush brush — preferably, you want a brush that’s dense enough to pick up color but still fluffy enough to deposit it softly. You may also want a buffing brush on standby for any mistakes!
Powder Blush
- Step 1. Finish prepping the skin and let all products sink in/dry. Whether you’re just wearing moisturizer, tinted moisturizer, or foundation, you want all these products to be applied before you to get to blush. (Though, you can always switch it up and wear an intense blusher before foundation–but after moisturizer–and then lightly apply foundation on top!)
- Step 2. Taking a slightly fluffy, dense brush, gently tap it into your blush compact. I usually do three or four taps and then a sweep.
- Step 3. SMILE LIKE YOU JUST WON A BAJILLION DOLLARS! The easiest way to find the apples of your cheeks is to smile really big–you’ll see them pop out at you as compared to when your face is relaxed.
- Step 4. Gently tap the blush brush onto the apples of your cheek, starting from the roundest portion and tapping lightly upwards and towards your temple.
- Step 5. Do a sweep–like a Nike “swoosh”–from the apple to the temple to diffuse and blend the color together.
- Step 6. If it’s not intense enough, rinse and repeat. If it’s too bright, you can either lightly sweep upwards with your blush brush or use a buffing brush to buff some of the color out. You can also layer translucent or colored loose powder on top to help soften the color (and this will also help to set your makeup).
Cream blush how-to…
Cream Blush
- Step 1. Just like powder blush, finish prepping your skin. I always prefer to apply cream blush on top of foundation, and I do find that cream blush always looks more natural and better over some foundation than none, particularly if you have any imperfections in the cheek area.
- Step 2. Depending on the delivery system of your cream brush, it may be more practical to use fingers than a brush. If it pumps out, you may want to pump the tiniest bit onto your finger and then dab a dot onto the apple of each cheek. If it’s in compact-form, then take a stippling brush and tap it (vertically!) three or four times.
- Step 3. SMILE LIKE YA MEAN IT! The type of blush doesn’t really change where we want to apply it, so smiling big and pretty will emphasize the apples of your cheek.
- Step 4. Take your stippling brush and lightly tap the color onto the apples of your cheek and gently tap towards the temple. Then, using the stippling brush still, blend in small circular motions until the color diffuses and blends outward. Some may prefer to use their fingers for blending, as it can heat up the product, which will allow it to blend more easily.
- Step 5. “Swoosh” your brush from apple to temple very lightly, just to do a final sweep through.
- Step 6. Use translucent powder to set!
How do you get your face to look so glowy/dewy??? I love it!
Try a luminizing lotion/primer – I like MAC Strobe Cream!
Thanks – this was great! I think I have a tendency to place my blush too low on my cheek, so this helps me visualize where it should go.
Great instructional article, and really great tips. The problem I think most women have is applying it too close to their nose, and then they look “irritated” instead of flushed.
Thanks Christine!
Good point!
You talk so fast! (I do too, especially when talking infront of people) Don’t worry, you’re still understandable ^^
Thanks for this tutorial! I’ve always ‘swooshed’ my blush on, but I’ll go ahead and try your method next time.
Sorry!
girl,you don’t need makeup at all! what a natural beauty
Thanks, LRW
I thought blush was supposed to be applied lower — within the lower half to two-thirds of the apples. It looks like you’re applying it in the upper half. Is there a reason behind this? Do certain colors looks better in certain areas of the cheek?
I’ve always applied it on the apple – not really above it, but in the middle. It’s just how I do it (which is all self-taught), but since people have asked me how I do mine, I’ve assumed it’s OK! lol!
Hey! I loved seeing you live, Christine! Quick question: mobile Temptalia is finally coming up for me which is exciting, but I couldn’t figure out how to post a comment. Is that feature not supported with the mobile version or am I doing something wrong? I clicked “post a commment” but the page just refreshed from what I could tell.
Nice brush tips, btw. I’m in the market for some blush brushes and you made great points. Thanks!
Hey Kaylynrenee!
So the way the mobile version works is, at least for now, there is no commenting ability — we’re working with Glam Media (who also does our advertising) on the mobile platform, so I’m trying to see what we can do in the comment situation.
What’s better for you — no mobile version but the ability to comment or mobile version and can’t comment? Obviously the ideal situation would be mobile version with comments!
I use an iPhone so the web version isn’t all that inconvenient. I do live the clean-cut mobile version though. Since I’m the commenting type, of course I like that ability. That being said, the “view full site” (or however it’s worded) link on the mobile version is very clearly placed and an extra click doesn’t bother me in the case that I want to comment. :0)
Thanks, Kaylynrenee! We are still in beta, so any suggestions/feedback is helpful. I talked with the dev team, and they’re hoping to roll out the commenting feature in 7-10 days…
This video never gets old. It’s so cute (and useful)!
LOL!
Thanks Christine, now my blush will look more natural and pretty
there is any brush for blush cream in particular that you recommend?
thanks
I like MAC’s 188!
This was a good tutorial Christine. Thanks. You look so good in this tutorial and it doesn’t look like you have any makeup. You’re so lucky!!
Aw, thank you Diana!
I just bought 2 new blushes and have very similar coloring as you (nars sin and mata hari) do you think this method is good for those tones and what are your opinions of those nars shades?
I like Sin, but I find Mata Hari a little on the cool side, but it can work
I’d pair it with pinks and purples.
Yes, I think this method is fine for those blushes!
This was a great tutorial! I love the natural look. Soft and Simple. Enough said.
Thank you, Linda!
Thanks for the basic tutorial.
I hope it helped a bit!
whatever happened to your money saving mondays? i really enjoyed those posts! (maybe i missed something? eeks!)
All sales are separated and posted under the Deals section (other than particularly *huge* sales — e.g. Sephora, MAC, etc.) as people felt they clogged up the page!
yay thank you! and thanks for the quick response
Thanks! I will definitely use your tips.
I hope they help you, An!
Christine!!! I followed your instructions while applying my blush this morning, and I’m very happy with the results. =D
Thank you!
Ooh!! I’m so happy for you!!
thanks girl!!!
Sure thing
Hi Christine,
what translucent powder can you recommend to set my cream blushes?
Thanks!!
I like Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder!
Thanks so much, Christine!
Sure thing, Jenni!