All hail liquid blush – one of the best products on the block for making dull skin look instantly fresh. Some may fear it, but rest assured, it's a vital last step in your makeup routine for lifting your entire look.
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Out of style for a while, blush has seen something of a renaissance in recent years (most of us actively avoided pink cheeks in the 90s, after all) – though there are some misconceptions about its application that need to be debunked. Anyone can wear liquid blush, FYI, and adding a little natural flush back into your cheeks after foundation is a great way to keep the skin looking natural. Even those who suffer with redness and rosacea can wear liquid blush; it just takes a little thought about shades, application and placement.
- Lisa Eldridge, makeup artist and founder of Lisa Eldridge Cosmetics
- Daniel Sandler, makeup artist and founder of Daniel Sandler Cosmetics
- Mira Parmar, celebrity makeup artist
What is liquid blush?
“Liquid blush is a fluid, gel or cream blusher designed to melt into the skin, giving you a natural, healthy flush," says Mira. “Liquid formulas tend to blend with your base and complexion in a way that feels more like a second skin – which is perfect for that inner glow look.”
Unlike a cheek stain, liquid blush tends to have movability and play time, and is generally considered to be easy to blend into the skin and mix with other products like highlighters. “Liquid blush is wonderful if you like makeup that looks fresh and skin-like, as it tends to melt into your base rather than sitting on top, so the result is a flush that looks as though it’s coming from within the skin,” adds Lisa.
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How to apply liquid blush for a natural look
- Prep the skin and apply your base. “Makeup will always last longer on a well-hydrated and moisturised face, so pay attention to your skincare and base products first,” says Lisa.
- Start with a small amount on the back of your hand. “You really only need the tiniest amount, often much less than you think,” she adds. “I usually put a small drop on the back of my hand first, rather than straight onto the face. That gives you much more control. Remember, you can always add more, but once it’s on, it’s harder to remove.”
- Pick up a small amount on your tool of choice (more on that later). “Blend onto your cheek in a sweeping or patting motion,” says Daniel, who launched his own famous liquid blush 20 years ago. “You can use your fingers, too. Build up the colour slowly for a natural, seamless finish.”
- Blend your edges. “My top tip for believable blush is to blend the edges of your blush and highlighter with the brush you used to apply your foundation, which should carry a little residue of product," says Lisa. “This makes the overall look seamless. Your foundation, blush, and highlighter should all be in complete synergy, so you can’t see where one ends and another begins.”
Where to apply liquid blush
“Placement makes a huge difference to your look,” says Lisa. “For a fresher, youthful look, keep the blush slightly more central on the cheeks. If you want something more lifted, you can bring it a little higher along the cheekbones, blending upwards rather than downwards.”
“At the moment, when it comes to blush, makeup maximalism is very much still trending – but if you want a natural look, blush should balance the rest of your makeup, not dominate it. Always step back as you’re applying and check your face and look as a whole.”
Lisa advises finding the right application for you, however. “As with all trends, you should cherry-pick what you want from them and make them work for you,” she says.
“Not every trend suits every face. For example, at the moment, there’s a trend of having blush really high up on the cheeks – on me, because I have quite a long, thin face, if I blush up there, it just makes my face look longer! So I personally like to add blush to the front of my cheeks, in a way that sort of breaks up the length of my face.”
There’s no such thing as “blush blindness.”
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What's the best tool to apply liquid blush?
You don't need any specific tool to apply liquid blush – the warmth of your fingers can work just fine, but many MUAs prefer to use a brush or a sponge.
“For a seamless inner glow finish, I love using a soft, damp sponge,” says Mira, adding that it must be clean every time. “As for brushes, synthetic tools work best for liquids and creams because they don’t absorb as much product as natural bristles and give a softer finish.”
“If you do prefer a brush, go for something soft and not too dense,” adds Lisa.
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Can you mix liquid blush with other products?
Because of its fluid quality, liquid blush makes a great mixing medium. “Depending on the quality of pigment, liquid blush can be mixed with foundation to soften the shade,” says Daniel. “Though if the foundation is not silicone based, the blush may wear off easily. You can also mix liquid blush with liquid bronzer to create a ‘blonzer’.”
“I love mixing liquid blushers (or even a lipstick, if you’re in a pinch!) with my Elevated Glow Highlighter to make a bespoke, illuminating blush,” says Lisa. “Mix together on the back of your hand, pick up with a brush and sweep across the apples of your cheeks for an easy, fresh and enlivening flush.”
How to find the right shade of liquid blush
There is no ‘right’ shade of liquid blush – it totally depends on the look you're going for – but if you want to achieve a natural look, it's worth looking at the undertones of your complexion.
“Look at your natural flush,” says Mira. “If you tend to go rosy when warm, go for soft pinks. Peaches and corals suit warmer or golden undertones; deeper skin tones look stunning with berry and terracotta shades. Choose shades that mimic your skin’s undertone.”
But there's no reason to play by the rules if you don't want to. “I often like to contrast – a cool-toned, blue-pink blush looks amazing on a warm, olive skin, for example, as the contrasting tones make the blush really pop. I also find that matching your blusher to your lip tone gives a pretty, polished, monochromatic effect,” says Lisa.
“But while I don't like colour 'rules', and blusher is no exception, some combinations are best avoided,” she adds. “I don't like to use red lipstick with a bronzed-toned blush as it can look 'muddy', and likewise I avoid teaming blue-toned pinks with coral, as it can look 'off’.”
What skin type is liquid blush best for?
Generally, most of us can use it – you just need to choose a formula that's right for you. “Liquid blush generally works beautifully on all skin types,” says Daniel. “On normal, dry, mature or combination skin, it adapts to suit and will glide on beautifully without emphasising texture or fine lines.”
“The exception would be very oily or blemish-prone skin where powder is preferable,” says Lisa. “If you do want to try it, silicone-based gel or cream blushes would be longer wearing, and if they’re waterproof, they're perfect for the summer and holidays.”
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