Credit: Lucy Partington / Mac Cosmetics
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These are the best blushers for people who are scared of blusher, according to a beauty editor
3 years ago
4 min read
Despite working in beauty for close to a decade, freelance beauty editor Lucy Partington has never quite understood the appeal of blusher – until now. Here are the shades she loves.
Having grown up with rosy cheeks (and constant comments about their colour), it’s safe to say that while my love of make-up was developing, blusher was the one product I always avoided.
Why would I want to use foundation to knock back the shade of my cheeks, only to apply a product that, in my eyes, would draw more attention to them? That’s why the blusher life just wasn’t for me, and it stayed that way for years – even when I was lucky enough to have my make-up done by a professional, I hated it when they applied blusher. It just didn’t suit me, didn’t add anything to my overall look, and it generally just caused more insecurities.
That was until a few months ago, when I discovered that blusher came in more shades than just classic rosy and red tones. Who knew? In fairness, I did know – but I still chose to avoid it. The product that changed my opinion was Beauty Pie’s Supercheek Cream Blush. Created in collaboration with make-up artist Hannah Martin, I asked her which colour she thought would suit me best, and I immediately tried that one.
It was a shade called Bare Blush, a neutral pink tone that applies quite sheer but adds a slight hint of a healthy flush. I applied it onto the apples of my cheeks, blended it out with my fingers and didn’t immediately hate it. A miracle.
Since then I’ve been more experimental with shades and formulas, switching between powder and cream, but usually staying on the paler pink, peachy side of things. That way my cheeks don’t resemble the red tones of my childhood nightmares and instead, I look more alive – like I’ve made more of an effort.
Now, ironically, I don’t feel like my make-up is complete if I don’t have blusher on, and these are the products I’ve found myself reaching for the most.
The best blushers for people who are scared of blusher
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk
You can always count on Charlotte Tilbury to create incredible products, and these new matte liquid blushers are up there with the best. A little goes a seriously long way, but I love the soft flush that this shade gives me – it adds life without being too much, and the formula blends so easily with fingers to create a seamless finish.
Shop Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk at Charlotte Tilbury, £30
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Smirk
The perfect place to start, these combined lip and cheek colours from Milk Makeup are sheer but buildable, so you can apply as much or as little as you like. Super blendable and nourishing, this shade is a dusty rose with a slight hint of shimmer perfect for the lead-up to summer.
Shop Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Smirk at Cult Beauty, £23.75
Nars Air Matte Blush in Gasp
Described as a ‘rose bronze’ shade, this Nars blusher has a velvety cream texture that’s easy to blend into skin and the colour adds a hint of warmth. I like to dab it onto my cheeks and over my nose for a subtle take on the sunburnt blush trend. My only small complaint is that the packaging isn’t very user-friendly (especially for anybody with long nails).
Mac Cosmetics Glow Play Blusher in So Natural
I love the pillowy texture of this, it’s kind of bouncy which is satisfying to use. I apply with either a brush or fingers, and I love the subtle peach flush it leaves in its wake – it’s probably the most subtle of the bunch but it really just adds a bit of something to any make-up look, you know?
Shop Mac Cosmetics Glow Play Blush in So Natural, £26 at Mac Cosmetics
Beauty Pie Supercheek Cream Blush in Bare Blush
The product that started the love affair, Bare Blush is a soft muted pink shade that’s super blendable and literally just melts into skin when applied with fingers – I was always worried cream blusher would make a ‘hole’ in my foundation but this gives truly seamless application.
Shop Beauty Pie Supercheek Cream Blush in Bare Blush, £30 (£12 for members) at Beauty Pie
Vieve Sunset Blush in Pesca
When I first laid eyes on this I immediately dismissed it – it looks like quite a bold shade of orange in the pan but it’s the colour that Jamie Genevieve, the brand’s founder, said would suit me most, and after trying it out I couldn’t agree more. It adds a hint of warmth without being overpowering, and the powder pigment is so finely milled that it has the finish of a cream texture.
Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion in Ginger
This is along the same kind of lines as the Vieve blush but is slightly softer and verges more on the peach side of orange. I like that it has a completely matte finish but never looks flat – it’s also a good shade to apply on the lids too for a super-easy, pulled-together look.
Shop Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion in Ginger, £25.50 at John Lewis
Images: courtesy of brands
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