Blush Makeup Guide: What It Is, How to Use It & Choose the Right One for You

The three main types of blush makeup include liquid, cream and powder blushes.

• Cream blush:

These tend to be the most pigmented with liquid formulas coming in a very close second. Cream blushes are also the most versatile in terms of format and packaging, available in tubes, pots, and sticks.

• Powder blush:

These are the original format and undoubtedly the most widely available across brands even today as the popularity of liquid and cream is on the rise. With a powder blush, the premise is to start with a light layer and continue to pick more product and build on it as you go.

• Liquid blush:

With a liquid or cream blush, considering they can be much more pigmented, start with a single dot or swipe of cream, blend it out and then add more if you want to.

If you've never used blush before or find it intimidating, Mumbai-based celebrity makeup artist Shraddha Inder Mehta recommends simply testing a few colours and textures on and having fun with it. For some in-person help from a pro, head over to the nearest multibrand beauty retailer with bare skin, ask a floor assistant to help you out and spend some time discovering your perfect blush. Here are some of the benefits of applying blush to your face:

• Adds Natural Freshness: Instantly brightens your complexion for a healthy, awake look.
• Balances Face Shape: The right placement can subtly enhance and harmonize your facial features.
• Gives a Healthy Glow: Creates that rosy, "in the pink of health" effect that signals vitality.
• Instantly Polished: Makes you look put-together in seconds, whether for coffee runs or evening outings.

Step 1: Prepare your base

Apply your foundation and set it with a light dusting of powder—this creates a smooth canvas for your blush to blend flawlessly.

Step 2: Testing blush

Using cream or liquid blush: You can apply it to the back of your hand and use a damp or dry beauty blender to buff and apply it evenly to the skin, or use a brush to apply it directly to the cheekbones and blend upwards and outwards.

Step 3: Apply the blush

Pick a soft, round brush with loosely packed bristles for a smooth, even finish. Lightly tap the brush into the blush and shake off any extra product. Smile to find the apples of your cheeks, then sweep the color outward toward your temples using a gentle pat-and-swipe motion. "To apply powder blush, a big, fluffy round brush is your go-to. This is also ideal if you have oily skin."

Use your pupils as a guide so the blush doesn't creep too close to your nose. Layer gradually, building up the shade until it feels just right. For cream and liquid blush formulas, Mehta recommends using your fingers to apply them. "Liquid blushes are also great for dry skin."

Step 4: Refine your application

To lock in a cream blush and boost its longevity, you can layer a light dusting of powder blush on top. Prefer a softer, more lived-in glow? Tap a hint of cream blush over your powder, focusing on the highest point of your cheekbones.

For mature skin, keep the color higher on the cheekbones and blend upward toward the temples to create a lifted effect—placing blush too low can drag the face downward. For a youthful, fresh-faced finish, add a soft wash of color to the apples of your cheeks and diffuse it outward.

Mehta, commonly known as The Makeup Maven on Instagram, works with a myriad of faces on a daily basis including names like Tara Sutaria and Mira Kapoor, and she's found that while face shapes can be indicative, every face wears blush differently.

• For round faces:

"I find that rounder faces should have their blush applied upwards, towards the higher part of the cheekbones, whereas anyone with a squarish face should have it on the apples of the cheeks to mainly make them appear fuller," she says.

• For long or oval faces:

It's best to apply blush on the apples of the cheeks to make the face appear softer and more balanced.

• Heart Shaped Face:

Start at your apples and go up to your temples in a c-shaped motion.

• Square Face

Apply blush slightly below the cheekbones and blend upward toward the temples to soften strong angles. Keeping the color rounded and higher on the cheeks helps balance the jawline and creates a more lifted, harmonious look.

• Mehta considers using too much product to be the biggest mistake when using blush makeup. "It's very common for people to pick up too much powder blush on their brush. It's very important to pat the brush on the pan, dust off excess product and then apply it so you don't overdo it." While we may refer to it as blush blindness today, the act of wearing too much blush doesn't always work with every makeup look so be mindful of this one.

• Mixing incompatible textures: Layering liquids or creams over a heavily powdered base can cause streaks and patchiness. Stick to similar finishes or layer cream first, powder second.

• Using the wrong tools: An unsuitable brush or applicator can leave your blush uneven and poorly blended.

• Placing blush in the wrong spot: Applying blush too close to the nose or too low on the cheeks can drag the face down or look harsh instead of lifted.

• Not blending enough: Harsh lines or unblended edges can make your blush look stark. A little extra blending creates a softer, more seamless finish.

Go on and bet on these blushes the next time you're adding to your makeup haul — we guarantee you'll love them.

1. Lakmé Facelift Multislayer Blush Stick
2. Lakmé 9 To 5 Powerplay Velvet Crème Blush

The three main types of blush makeup include liquid, cream and powder blushes. Cream blushes tend to be the most pigmented with liquid formulas coming in second.

Celebrity makeup artist Shraddha Inder Mehta shares tips on how to choose your blush on your next beauty shopping trip. "To figure out what works for you, experiment. Opt for rich berry and plum shades for darker skin, peach and pink shades for warm medium skin tones and light pink rosy colours and nude blushes for very fair skin. Try the blush on the apples of your cheeks, then try going upwards towards the cheek bones."