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What blushes would you recommend to someone new to makeup?


What blushes would you recommend to someone new to makeup? Share!

It really depends on skin tone and personal preferences, because someone new to makeup may still prefer bolder color barely there color. Some lighter (as in blush color, not skin tone) options: Tarte Exposed, MAC Well Dressed; medium options: MAC Ambering Rose, NARS Deep Throat; darker options: MAC Plum Foolery, NARS Dolce Vita.

Thanks to reader Joey for today’s question idea Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

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Carrie Avatar

I’d aim for something that had buildable coverage this way it’d be hard to overdo it at first pass, but if they wanted something more intense they could get that too. It’s more newbie friendly than something super pigmented that takes a light hand and a stippled brush for sure!

WondersReviews Avatar

It dépends the skin tone.
Cold skin looks pretty with cold pink.
Peach/Coral pink goes well with warm skin tone.
Clinique’s cheek pops are great quality products, suit with large spectum of skin tones without to be too expensive, and also very travel friendly.
Xoxo
Michelle

Emily Avatar

I’m addicted to La Femme blushes, so I would recommend those! They have a jillion colors, can be had for $5 or less, and they are excellent quality. A newbie could build a formidable blush wardrobe to create a variety of looks for less than $20-30.

Sylirael Avatar

Because I’m a terrible person, I would tell them to start the way I did, with Chanel Affinite! Yes, it’s expensive, yes, the colour is aggressively bright in the pan, but it’s just so glorious and blendable and pretty, I don’t think you can go wrong, and it will serve you well for a while, as you don’t need tons to get the effect. 🙂

If that really did send them running from the room, I might dial it back to a Cheek Pop blush from Clinique 😉

Natalia Avatar

I too really love my Warm Soul from MAC for looking so natural on my NW15 skin while giving me that nice glow :))). So I would safely recommend it to all the pale to medium toned girls out there for a first everyday blush.

Did not show up much on my sister’s well-tanned skin though without building it up quite generously, which she did not appreciate 🙂

Are you fair-skinned as well?

Kirsten Avatar

Hey, Christine, I was browsing around the web and came across this site: [redacted]

Is this your site too? Because that looks an awful lot like one of your reviews. FYI. (No need to unscreen this. I just wanted you to know.)

Yummm Avatar

Any lafemme blushes. Can’t beat the $3 price tag for super duper pigmented blushes. Sometimes I think they are too pigmented but I ain’t complaining

Malia Avatar

Most brands have shades within the range that suits everyone, so I’d pick Nars and makeupgeek for the best blushes. I also think sleek has excellent blushes but too hard for a beginner to use since they’re so pigmented and most of them are pretty deep toned.

Mariella Avatar

I’d recommend any of the Amazonian Clay blushes from Tarte but colour would pretty much depend on their own colouring. I got my best friend hooked on MAC Dame some years ago and it’s her “go to”. Right now, my personal favourite is a blush I got from IT Cosmetics in a face palette – the colour and texture both look so natural that it’s hard to believe it is actually makeup. For someone new and timid, I’d highly recommend Clinique’s Plum Pop because it’s very subtle so would be good for someone new, who might be a bit heavy handed.

zainab Avatar

I’d recommend MAC Sunbasque, theBalm’s Instain range because they’re pretty cheap and Toile and Argyle are pretty hard to go wrong with on any skin tone and the whole range packs a lot of pigment, MAC Springsheen if they wanted an Orgasm type shade (I think Springsheen is much more flattering than Orgasm) and either MAC Breezy or Sweet as Cocoa if they wanted something more dramatic/pigmented/unusual. I’d recommend the Hourglass Ambient blushes too for someone of roughly my complexion or fairer, I think they’re a nice range but some of them need layering on me and I’m an NC20 at my tannest.

StrangeOne Avatar

I would tell them to go for a couple of dramatically different NYX ones. See which ones flatter them the most and then go for their more expensive counterpart.

It has taken me some time to see that pinks don’t flatter me as much as corals and reds. Even Orgasm is too cool on me and doesn’t brighten my skin the way a red does. I’m currently using bodyshop’s stain but I’m currently going through swatches to get a powdered version.

Lee Avatar

My first “good” blushes were Benefit Dandelion and Nars Orgasm. They worked great for me, I’m very fair so lighter blushes meant I didn’t have to worry about looking clownish. And they’re flattering shades that I still wear today.

Kiss & Make-up Avatar

Oh that is so difficult… Like you said, it really depends on personal preference. I honestly wouldn’t know. I’d probably steer them towards a brand like Revlon or Bourjois or NYX though. Something affordable though with quality.

chris Avatar

I always recommend MAC Ambering Rose for darker complexions. I think I would add NARS Taos (warm option) and NARS Dolce Vita (cool option). I think both add an initial hint of color which is buildable.

Nina Avatar

For someone new to makeup, I wouldn’t recommend something really expensive. I think drugstore options are best for people who are new to makeup. I would recommend the Milani baked blushes, especially Luminoso for those up to Medium skin tone. It’s a really universal blush that looks really pretty on a lot of skin tones and gives a nice flush to the cheeks. The Milani blush in Bella Rosa is a great pick for those with deeper skin tones.

xamyx Avatar

NARS Multiples; for someone new to makeup, chances are they won’t have an extensive brush collection, and Multiples can be applied/blended with fingers, brushes, or sponges. Also, most can’t be overdone, and in the right shade, can look quite natural. The more “shimmery” shades also give a nice glow, so the addition of a highlighter isn’t necessary.

As for DS, I’d go with L’Oréal True Match, as these are sheerer, and tend to be more “natural” in tone. NYX is great, as well, but aren’t as readily available-even if a store carries them, the selection is limited, and/or the stock has been picked over.

Carla Avatar

I agree that a lot would depend on the person’s skin tone and preferences.
For example, a deep wine blush on an NW15 might look clownish, if not expertly applied, while even a less-than-skillful application of the same blush could look quite natural and understated on someone with deep mahogany skin.
I think a key for someone starting out with blush is a *good brush.* If you have a good fluffy brush, your chances of a subtle blush application are WAY better than if you’re trying to use one of those nasty little rectangle-shaped brushes that sometimes come pre-packaged with drugstore products.

AudreyNZ Avatar

I was new to makeup a year ago. After much research, Chanel Rose Initiale was my first blush purchase. Six more blushes later, this blush is still my favourite. It’s buildable, suits all seasons and most of all, I love the subtle smell of roses it gives on application.

Zena Avatar

I’d recommend the BH blush palette first to test out what works best for them for the look they wish to achieve. Then spend money on the more high end brands. Mac gingerly or coppertone. Nars lovejoy.

Judy H. Avatar

Good question! I’m interested in seeing the comments. I’ve always been phobic about blush; not knowing which color to get, if I have applied too little or too much and where exactly should it be applied.

Lisa Avatar

Is money no option? I wouldn’t be so bold as to reccommend colors as that is a very personal and individual choice but I would steer the novice to powder blushes verses cremes, the newer fine milled formulas that blend so seamlessly and adhere effortlessly on to the skin. There are many that in the high-end lines that have embraced this type of formula, but Tom Ford led the charge so I would start her off there.

Krista Avatar

i would definitely recommend drugstore affordable so they can at least see what tone works best for them before they graduate up to spending up to $20 for their first time. You would not get a 16 yr old a Corvette for their first car.

Ellie Marie Avatar

I second the Milani blushes. Milani’s Luminoso and Bella Rosa baked blushes are so pretty and if they’re new to makeup and want to stick to drugstore before buying high end, then Milani is a good option. I’d also recommend the Amazonian Clay blushes from Tarte.

Heidi Avatar

For cream blush I think the Flower cream blushes are really nice to work with. I think ELF Mellow Mauve is a pretty universal powder blush or their HD blush in superstar would be great for a deeper skin tone. I think Milani Berry Amore is great if you don’t mind shimmer and is pretty universal and Tarte Exposed for everyday when you just Sony know what to grab.

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