The 4 Best Blushes, According to Bobbi Brown

Blush livens up your complexion by adding a natural-looking flush to your cheeks. Blushes come in cream and powder formulas with either matte or shimmery finishes. Matte products look most realistic and are more versatile, while shimmery products work great as a highlighter, applied sparingly on the high points of the face, like the temples, or just on the cheekbones.

The best way to find a natural-looking blush shade is to pinch your cheek and match your natural flush. Play around with different tones like peach, pink, or red for a different effect. If you have a darker skin tone, the cheek-pinching technique doesn’t always work, in which case Bobbi suggests choosing a more vibrant or deeper shade.

Although identifying your undertone isn’t as important when it comes to choosing blush as it is for selecting the right shade of foundation, it’s a good place to start. Whether you’re exceptionally pale or have very dark skin, undertones fall into three basic categories: warm, cool, and neutral—and each of these has tones within it.

• Cool: bluish, red, or pink
• Neutral: a mixture of both warm and cool
• Warm: golden, peachy, or yellow

For the most natural look, choose a blush that matches your undertones: Peach for warm undertones, deep plums for cooler undertones. For blush that stands out, experiment with shades in the opposite undertone, or try mixing layers to add warmth.

Different blush formulas yield different results. Whatever you do, don’t mix cream on top of powder or powder on top of cream—it won’t blend well and will likely look streaky.

• Liquid blush and cream blush are great for dry or mature skin since they won’t stick in fine lines. Cream is great for its ease of use—you can apply it with your fingers, pressing it into the skin and blending with your fingers for a fresh, glow-from-within finish. For cream blush and liquid blush, start with a base of liquid foundation. (It’s almost always a good idea to match product textures.) If your blush comes in a stick, swipe directly onto cheeks. If it comes in a container, use clean fingers to gently dab product onto cheeks. Use a makeup blender to blend for a satin finish.
• Gel blush and stain blush work well with most skin types. Stains need to be blended quickly to avoid streakiness, but they’ll last all day.
• Powder blush is great for those with oily skin. It’s also the most versatile, especially because it comes in different finishes. Powder blush has a reputation for sticking to fine lines and dry spots, but this can be fixed with a good makeup primer. After priming your face and using powder foundation, if desired, use a medium-sized, round, fluffy brush to apply powder blush. A brush that’s too big or wide will make it more difficult to target specific areas of the cheek.

While your fingers are a perfectly fine option for blending, Bobbi also recommends specific makeup brushes to help you obtain the perfect look.

Blush is a great product to warm up your face and help you look more awake and refreshed. While Orgasm by Nars may be the most popular blush option on the market, consider Bobbi Brown’s top four choices for the most natural, radiant, and dewy finish.

1. 1. Joues Contraste Powder Blush by Chanel. A classic powder blush with a touch of shimmer for extra radiance.
2. 2. Flush Blush by Trinny London. A creamy blush in hues of berries, pinks, and peaches, for a long-lasting dewy finish.
3. 3. Smart Powder Blush by Beauty Pie. A natural-looking option with light pigments for a rosy glow, in an elegant compact.
4. 4. Primer-Infused Blush by Elf. A hydrating option that beats dry skin with a classic matte finish.
   

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