If you could only have one item of make up, what would it be? For us, the answer is easy: blusher. A complexion champion you can always count on, blusher is one of the easiest ways to instantly lift your look.
Whether you’re wanting to achieve cherub cheeks or a flattering flush, finding your best blush is a make up must. With endless colours and textures to choose from, we’ve teamed up with Connor from Cult Concierge to help answer your cheek-craving questions and reveal the most popular blushers available today.
So, without further ado… it’s time to illuminate your facial features and enjoy the ultimate beauty pick-me-up.
How To Find Your Blush Colour
From cheeky coral to coveted caramel, when it comes to picking your blush colour the possibilities are endless. But finding your perfect shade doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. The common rule of thumb is simple…
The best blushers should complement, not contrast, your complexion. With that in mind, the darker your skin tone, the darker your blusher should be – and vice versa. As for the colour, darker tones should opt for highly pigmented hues (we’re talking oranges or berries), medium skin apricots or mauves and fair skin peachy pinks.
How To Apply Blush
The placement of blusher should be treated with care and precision. Follow the steps below to ace your best blush application.
- It’s all about the base. To prolong your blusher, start by prepping your skin with a primer.
- Next, it’s time to consider your formula. For those who prefer a more barely-there blush finish it’s best to opt for a cream, or if you’re looking for long-lasting wear a powder typically withstands the test of time.
- Now, for the application. To ensure you pick the perfect placement for your pigment, all you need to do is…smile (say cheese!). This makes the apples of your cheeks visible in order for you to gauge where to start. For powder blushers, it’s best practice to use a medium complexion brush and begin to swirl in and upwards and outwards motion, slightly above the middle of your cheeks. Or, if you’re opting for a creamy blush, use your fingers to blend the products outwards on the apples of your cheeks.
- Finally, lock in your look with a setting spray.
Where To Apply Blush
Allow us to let you into a little secret…blusher isn’t just for your cheeks. Revolutionary, we know. While the make up marvel was created to add a flush of colour to the apple of your cheeks, today, there is not just one place to wear it. It can be utilised everywhere from the bridge of your nose to your temples and lips, thanks to the variety of hybrid heroes on the market (Milk Makeup Mini Lip + Cheek and Benefit Benetint Rose Tinted Lip & Cheek– we’re looking at you).
The Top 10 Best Blushers
Already selling 11,069 units this year (and counting), it’s no surprise this make up miracle is first on our list. Adding a flush of soft-focus colour to your complexion, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand brightens, blurs and boosts a blendable pigmentation. Powered by Lumi-Blur technology, the cream contour is digitally developed to enhance a light-reflective effect and pop of brightness.
SHOP ALL CHARLOTTE TILBURY >>> Sitting somewhere between a cream and liquid blusher, Saie’s Dew Blush comes in the form of a water-based gel to boost hydration and a healthy glow. Buildable and buttery, the featherweight formula fuses mulberry extract, elderberry and evening primrose to soothe and nourish your skin while offering colour.
SHOP ALL SAIE >>> Dreaming up some of the beauty industry’s most iconic blusher shades, it comes as no surprise that NARS’ Liquid Blush is high up on our list. Enriched with moisturising tamanu and monoi oils, the formula nourishes and replenishes your skin while working hard to impart a refreshing powerful pigment to your desired placement.
SHOP ALL NARS >>> Inspired by the Mediterranean horizon, Vieve’s Sunset Blush Balm gives you a golden glow all year around. Rain or shine, the featherweight formula creates a luminous veil of soft pigment or can transform into a brighter and bolder build with just a few extra taps.
SHOP ALL VIEVE >>>
Using a higher oil concentration than ever before, SUQQU’s Melting Powder Blush mixes an infusion of pearl pigments with rosy radiant hues to create a cushioning formula based on three prime colours – yellow, black and red. As the powder becomes wet with oil, the blush boosts a translucent finish, with less powdery white residue.
SHOP ALL SUQQU >>> A limited-edition release on everyone’s radar, Patrick Ta’s Major Headlines Blush Palette Vol II is perfectly balanced between a powder and cream formula. Allowing you to alternate between finishes, it now features two new blush shades and an incandescent highlighting duo – so no two looks ever need to be the same. It really is the gift that keeps on glowing.
SHOP ALL PATRICK TA >>> Renowned for lifting your cheeks from within, Charlotte Tilbury's Chic to Cheek is a cosmetic classic. Consisting of a deep core shade encircled with a paler hue, the covetable compact adds a natural, pinch of colour to any look. Plus, infused with 'light-flex' technology, it maximises luminosity, not to mention longevity.
SHOP ALL CHARLOTTE TILBURY >>> Recognised world-wide for advancing hydration, Huda Beauty’s Lip Blush Creamy Lip And Cheek Satin adds a generous dose of pigmentation to your everyday complexion. Fusing both colour and comfort, the multi-tasker blends hyaluronic acid and coconut extract to deliver a soft, satin sign off. Oh, and did we mention it’s totally transfer-proof too?SHOP ALL HUDA BEAUTY >>>Whether you’re searching for a silky,matte, or shimmer finish NARS’ Blush comes in a variety of shades to suit every skin tone. Providing a natural, healthy hue that brightens up your complexion, the signature shades (including Orgasm, Sin and Luster, to name a few) offer powerful pigmentation with the lightest application. When it comes to this blusher the bright and bolder, the better.
SHOP ALL NARS >>> A match made in blush heaven, Patrick Ta’s Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo marries its signature silky powder with an ultra-hydrating creme. Blurring the lines between skin care and make up, it nourishes your skin while adding a dewy, chiselled cheek finish.
SHOP ALL PATRICK TA >>> Now you’ve got everything you need to know about the best blushers, it’s time to level up your look and experiment with your favourite pigments and textures. Ready, set, blush…
SHOP ALL BLUSHER >>> 
