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How do you apply cream blush?


How do you apply cream blush? Share!

I use a stippling brush (like MAC’s 159 or 188) to apply to the skin, and then I blend out with fingertips.

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

45 Comments

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Cathy Avatar

I’m so glad you sad that. I have, quite literally (as in five minutes ago!) placed an order of some RT brushes, amongst them the stippling brush!

Lioness Avatar

I scrape a small bit out with the handle end of a small eye makeup brush onto the back of my hand, then I tap, tap, tap it onto the apples of my cheek with my ring finger and then I blend with a soft brush towards my hairline.

Ryou Avatar

I apply and blend with fingertips! There are two reasons why I’m crazy about cream blushes: 1. They can be applied without brushes, and 2. They tend to sit better on my skin. So yeah. 😛

Lisa Avatar

It completely depends on the consistency of the creme. For Beccas new creme mousse like blush I use a stipling brush, for chanel, laprarie I sue my fingers and buff out with any soft brush. With bobbi brown I use the Laura Mercier creme blush brush for an amazing finish. The bobbi brown is in between consistencies of the others not super soft not hard.

nina Avatar

I like to use my Real Techniques stippling brush to apply to the cheeks and then blend in with circular motions. My favorite cream blush has been Revlon pinched this summer.

Anne Avatar

I have several high end but prefer this little $3 gem over all of them.. It’s small for precise application. It doesn’t pick up tons of product, which is great for intense colors or if you want to build up the color slowly. It’s super easy to clean. At $3, I have several. They’re great for cream contours as well and for the same reasons.

Tigerlily Avatar

I always use my fingertips as I never found a brush that applies cream blush as precisely as I want to. Plus I find it very easy to build up color this way and there is no need to wash a brush afterwards 🙂

I start by putting a bit of the product of the back of my hand, then I dab it with my middle finger. I then dab said finger on a product-free area of my hand to remove any excess product. I proceed to dab and stroke it gently on my cheek, starting on the apple and buffing out towards the temple. I repeat these steps to build up the color (building up is key IMO) and I finish by using my ring finger to smooth out the edges.

Mariella Avatar

Pretty much the same as you, Christine, though sometimes I do it the other way round – apply with my finger and then blend in with a clean stippling brush.

RE my logging in issues – things are fixed (sort of). I followed all these instructions re going into my settings, etc. except that now, every time come to the site, even though I never log out, I have to log in again and I get the same messages and going ’round in the same circles although today, when I got to the 2nd log in page that told me there was an “error” and I had to enable cookies, etc., I hit “log in” and then suddenly, I was logged in. But I never log out, so I don’t understand it. Just wanted to let you know, in case you are still going to talk to your tech guys.

Christine Avatar

Hi Mariella!

Thank you for the update – it is a priority for today to look into. I will pass along this info!

The only thing I can think of is if you ticked a setting that clears cookies after you close your browser, but it is probably something on our end.

Mariella Avatar

Christine, it’s only an issue at this site and while I did initially clear the cookies, I’ve not done so since so I am thinking it’s a glitch at Temptalia. And it’s not a huge big deal, since I do seem able to get in but I sort of panic at the thought of not being able to get in one day and, therefore, not being able to check my “wish list” for the next time I’m out shopping for makeup. Kinda sad that I’m so dependent on this list (and that I’m so hooked on this site and makeup generally!)

Mairyn Avatar

I’ve been having the same issue as Mariella for a while now, actually. I have to log in every time and I always get that same message about cookies. Could be a temptalia issue with Google Chrome, maybe?

Christine Avatar

Thank you, Mairyn! The team is on it, and already a few things were implemented to see if we can help/resolve any of these things on our end. WordPress has at least one known cache issue (we use a lot of caching mechanisms and programs server-side to help the site load faster for readers), and Chrome does have a “sticky cache” issue in general at times, but hopefully we can tweak some things on our end so that these don’t happen.

Wednesday Avatar

MAC 130 all the way! Short stippling brush. It’s small enough to fit in smaller pots (Becca), and just the right size for buffing. I use the brush in a buffing circular motion starting around cheek area at centre eye and blending upwards and outwards. If you do not apply too much pressure to the brush, you will not disturb your underlayer(s). Yup. One of my favourite Goss pointers of all time. Don’t go at it all hells bells with your brushes. He put it in different terms.. but just that one tip finally clued me in as to why I would struggle with some products… esp. cream blusher, cream eyeshadows and concealer.

Mariella Avatar

I love the 130 also. Being shortsighted, I practically have my nose to the mirror when I apply makeup so the short handle is such a boon. I actually had my husband cut the ends off the handles of my Sephora concealer and cream shadow brushes so I could use them.

Meg Avatar

If I want a softer look I use my regular blush brush and apply and blend it like powder blush. If I want something stronger I use my fingers and apply to the apples of my cheeks and then blend back toward my hairline.

ana2cats Avatar

Creme blush was so scary for me, but now I adore it! 🙂

I use MAC 130 brush – it perfectlly blends blush with foundation. Good thing is that I use same brush that I use for foundation, so I do not have to wash another one… 🙂

Samira Avatar

Real Techniques stippling brush. I use my fingers to blend if I don’t have anything else handy but when I’m home I use a Real Techniques buffing brush to diffuse the edges and, if I’ve put too much on, bring the whole thing down a notch. I’m pretty pale and can overdo it easily 🙂

ALEXANDRIA Avatar

I use a baby spoon or a small painter’s spatula to take out some product and put it on the back of my hand. Then I warm it up with my fingertips and apply with fingers. This is the only way I’ve found to avoid brush double-dipping and/or those tiny fibers that can get into cream products if you stick a finger or a brush directly into the product!

heather Avatar

thanks to previous temptalia reader tips- i use an elf small stipple brush ($3) and it works great! sometimes if i over apply, i’ll take the leftover foundation on my beauty blender and tone it down.

julie Avatar

I really love using Tom Ford cream foundation brush to apply Le Metier de beaute cream blushes. It works like a dream even though it’s not a blush brush. Part of it is because I have a smallish face so the TF cream foundation is my go to brush for cream blushes.

Georgia Avatar

Always use my fingers – to apply and blend. I’m not a fan of using brushes for anything except for maybe powder blush, bronzer, eye liner and eye shadows. I use fingers for everything else – much more control IMHO

doreen Avatar

I usually use my sheisedo or Hakuhodo
cream/liquid makeup brush. But ive also used
my fingers..but brush does a better job of application
and blending the cream blush best!

CeeBee Avatar

I have a relatively small flat oval goat hair blush brush that I received with a Pupa baked blush. It is THE MOST PERFECT thing for cream blush. Otherwise I just tend to use my fingers and tap/pat it in to blend.

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