Blush is such an underrated step in a makeup routine. I'm even guilty of skipping it occasionally but when I do apply blush, I feel like it really pulls the look together and improves my overall face makeup. Putting colored powder in the middle of your face can be a scary concept but with a light hand, the right brush, and a well-formulated product, blush can be really beautiful.
I like to use a fluffy angled blush brush to apply my blush. I've been using the Coastal Scents "Classic Blush Angle Brush Large" for years now and although I have found other good ones, I always stick with this one. I take a small amount on my brush and lightly swipe it onto the apples of my cheeks and then blend backward towards my hairline.
Like all makeup products, it is best to start with a little bit of product and then keep adding more as needed instead of putting a ton on your face and struggling to tone it down.
Here are my favorite blushes:
Becca Mineral Blush, Flowerchild ($32 for full size)
Benefit Boxed Blushes, Rockateur, Dandelion, Galifornia, Hoola Lite, & Hoola ($29 when sold separately. Cheek Parade costs $58)
Jordana Powder Blush ($2.99)
Kat Von D Shade + Light Blush Duo, Piaf + Poe (I think this is discontinued which is sad because it's my favorite!)
Milani Baked Blushes ($7.99): Luminoso and Berry Amore are my favorites. The others I found a bit glittery. Rosa Romantica is beautiful as a highlighter for medium-dark skin tones
Milani Rose Powder Blushes, Romantic Rose & Tea Rose ($9)
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek, Werk ($28 for full size, $15 for mini)
NYX HD Blush ($6.50)
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12HR Blush, Paaarty ($29)
Here are some of my "second tier" blushes:
BH Professional Blush Palette ($9.99): Not bad, I just didn't like the color selection. Not sure they even have this one anymore.
Burt's Bees Blush, Toasted Cinammon ($9.99): These have a nice formula that is easy to blend. I usually go for a more pinky color so I haven't worn it a lot, but I wanted to have a color like this in my collection.
Colourpop Super Shock Blush, Prenup ($8): I just prefer a powder and this has almost a hybrid cream-powder formula so I couldn't get the hang of blending it.
ELF Baked Blushes, Pinktastic & Peachy Cheeky ($3): I don't love them as blushes but they're beautiful as highlighters!
ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, St. Lucia ($4): Just not my favorite colors or quality.
ELF HD Blush, Headliner (discontinued?) Didn't really like this. See below for swatch
Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick, Just-Pinched Pink (discontinued?): If you're going to do a cream blush, I liked this one. But I don't like cream blushes enough to call this a favorite
NYX Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush ($7.50): These were pretty nice but sometimes I feel like they blend a little weird on the skin, almost patchy. But the colors are pretty and each shade comes in a matte and a shimmer version.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 hr Blush ($29): A great formula, easy to apply and blend, stays on well and beautiful colors!
Paarty (top) & Quirky (bottom)
Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush, Mellow Wine ($2.99): A nice formula- a little goes a long way. Pretty mauvey-wine color. Crazy good price.
