Basic Blush Guide

This is the continuation of the basic makeup post series that I started some time back. The first post was on Basic Foundation Guide Here comes the Basic Blush Guide: POwder BlushPowder Blushers: These are the most common types of blushers that are available in the market. In fact my love for blushes started when my mom gifted me my first colorbar powder blush- Cosmic Rose. They are easy to blend and control. Powder blushes suit almost all skin types.

My favourite powder blushes: Colorbar blushes and especially Cinnabar and Peachy Rose are the ones that I use the most. Liking the NYX blush a lot and have a little liking for the Bourjois Blush as well. Some people also rave about the blushes from Lakme’s Bridal Sutra’s range. Want to try NARS Orgasm, Benefit Sugerbomb and MAC blushes. πŸ™‚ Revlon’s Beyond Natural Range is liked by a lot of people. Some of friends also love Pure Rogue Blusher by Lakme

Application: Powder blushes are best applied when you have done your foundation and powder base. If you think you have gone overboard with your blushes, apply some loose powder on top of your blush and you are set. πŸ™‚ Cream Blush

Cream Blushes: These kind of blushes just glide on your skin and blend on your cheeks as if the natural flush on your cheeks was always there.For me these are the best if you are looking for a natural day time finish on your cheeks. The creamy texture makes it ideal for dry and mature skin.

My Favourite cream blush: Inglot Cream Blush. Want to try MAC and NYX cream blushes as well. I wish Colorbar comes up with its range of cream blushes. Revlon also has its range of cream blushes.

Application: Dot a small amount of cream blush on your cheek bones/ apples of your cheeks either with a q-tip or fingers and blend upward and outward in a circular motion.Apply it over foundation but before powder. Gel Blush

Gel Blushes: They offer a very sheer finish and are great if you are looking for just a hint of glow on your cheeks. The pigmentation of these type of blushes in pretty strong so wash your fingers after you have applied it.

Recommendations: Last year MAC had a gel blush called Just a Pinch but I think it is not available now. Clinique has gel blush in its range.

Application: Should be applied after you have done your foundation. these can be used on bare skin as well.

Tint Blushes: These are sheer and long lasting.Β  They tend to dry very quicklyour application must be quick. Dot the blusher with your singertips and apply in upward and outward circular motion. Tint

My favourite tint: The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Tint in 02 Bronze. Although it says that it can be applied on lips as well but in my opinion, it sucks when applied on lips. The watery base evaporates after a while and you are left with chunk of bronzy shimmer on you lips. It looks pretty ugly that ways. However the same tint makes a beautiful highlight on the cheeks. I mostly use it as a highlighter when I need a little oomph on my cheeks, especially during the evenings. πŸ™‚ You may check out my blush tutorial where I have shown its application. Atlest 5 people have recommended me Lakme’s lip and cheek tint as well. πŸ™‚ Damn! I so want to try Benetint.

Application: These dry petty quickly so blend them quickly in upward and outward circular motion. They are best applied either with cosmetic sponges or with fingers. Also when you are using tint blushes, apply tiny dots on your face, blend them quickly and if you need more colour on your cheeks, just repeat the process. Highlighter

Highlighting Sticks: I remember my mom used to have the rouge sticks in rose and golden shades that she use to carry with her every where. I haven’t seen them in Indian markets now . But I know that NARS multiple highlighting sticks are one of the cult favourites.

Application: Apply the stick directly on your cheeks and blend it upward and outward. The highlighting sticks really accentuate your cheek bones and give you a sculpted look.

Bronzing beadsShimmer andΒ  Glitter Powders/ Beads: All those who have Colorbar’s Trace Gold blush, please raise your hand. πŸ˜€ The shimmer powders come in a variety of formats. These kind of blushes are mainly used to accentuate your cheekbones, brow bones, Cupid’s bow etc. These are excellent for evening but I mostly stay away from them during the day time. I was on the verge of buying The Body Shop Shimmer beads. I loved the texture and finish of the product when the MA applied it on my cheeks but them I remembered that I already have enough to finish up. So I had to resist hard from buying them. πŸ˜€

Application: Can be applied with a blusher brush. Just swirl your brush on the product and apply it on the areas that need you want to highlight. Mineral Blushes

Mineral Blushes: If you are skeptical about using too much cosmetic chemicals on your face and want a safer option, then the mineral blushes are your best friend. They areΒ  mostly in powder form and can be applied with regular blush brush.Best for people with normal to dry skin. The Body Shop and Beyu Cosmetics have a range of mineral blushes and MAC has a range in Mineralized skinfinish. Mousse Blush

Mousse Blushes: These are oil free blushes with air whipped formula. The start off as cream but finish like a powder. They are best for oily skin. People have love and hate relationship with Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

Some Quick tips for blush application:

  • Always start with a little colour and then gradually build up. Moderation is essential.
  • While the shade of the blusher you choose is generally determined by your skin colour but a swipe of dusky pink colour on cheeks can warm up any tired looking skin.
  • If you have been heavy handed with a powder blush, you may tone down the colour by applying a little loose powder on the top. If you have been heavy handed with a cream blush, you may blot the colour with a tissue. The stains of gel and tint blush can only be corrected by washing them off with water. πŸ˜›
  • To make your blush last longer on your cheeks, smooth a little bream blush on your cheeks and apply powder blush on the top. Until I bought the cream blush, I used to apply lipstick underneath my powder blush and it used to work well for me.

Coming up:

  • Basic Eye makeup Guide
  • Basic Lipstick Guide
  • Basic Concealer Guide
  • Basic Makeup Tools Guide

So stay tuned. πŸ™‚

So what are your favourite blushes?

Images taken from Lakme, Revlon, TBS, Maybelline, NARS and MAC website

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41 thoughts on “Basic Blush Guide

  1. Blushes are my second most fav aftr foundations, kajals, and lipsticks :p
    Lol jokes apart I have huge blush on collection and since I started blogging I got so many mineral blusher samples,Love how blush on turn a dull face into a happy fresh face.( Btw I’m talking about myself)
    Benetint is good,I have it but I like revlon blush gel better. Have you tried it?
    I have rimmel mineral blush in moonlight mauve or something like that..its fabulous.
    I usually find myself drooling over pink ones( when I say pink, I mean hot pink ). But I’m temepted to try coral ones.
    I want to try Nars but more than that I want to try,MUFU Hd blush, MAC creme blushes and Illasmaqua ones. *sighs* so many products so less money :p

    1. lol!! your grumpy face is back πŸ˜€

      I love blushes. I mean I rate them the highest in my makeup collection. Badly want to try MUFE MAC , and Illamasqua blushes. Actually Benefit and NARS too. πŸ˜€ I have got my first hot pink matte NYX blush and I just love it. Hot pinks are pure love. Haven’t seen the revlon’s gel blush here. I am not sure if it is available here in India. Will check it out.

      I am addicted to blushes. Period. πŸ˜€

  2. Wow!!

    That was quite an explanation. Thank you Rati.

    I am so PDF ing these articles for a quick reference in future. I have never used a multitude texture of blushes.

    The one I bought sometime back was the Lakme one. I find it quite ok. I have the cream blush tube from TBS, but am disappointed coz its not creamy at all and I never knew the right method of applying it πŸ™ Will try your method soon, as I don’t want to throw it.
    I also have those TBS beads..they are just awesome.

    1. The TBS beads are beautiful. I only wish that guilt factor had not come in between. πŸ˜€ I am going to buy them from the July sale he he. I had not used the cream blusher until I got the Inglot one, so this post got delayed a bit. But now since I have used that as well, this post was ready to come on my blog. πŸ™‚

      Glad you liked it and found it useful.

  3. hey rati…missed ur blog hehe…this is very useful thank you ..u knw the The Body Shop Lip and Cheek is my fav too its sooooooooooooo good everyone thinks my lips are natural like that when i apply it hehe..waiting for the other posts coming up

    1. Aww!! How are you doing? Yes the red lip and cheek tint would look lovely on lips but since this one has glitter in it, it kind of gets weird after a point of time. I am going to buy the red one soon. πŸ™‚

  4. Nice post, sexy…

    In fact, I am really not into blushes. still, its great to see how much ppl love blushes…

    to be honest, only bersion of blush i like is tinted/gel based coz u can use them on ur lips πŸ™‚ wat a justification, yaar…wah waah…

    i am more lip person, partial to lip products πŸ™‚ LOL seems somebody cant escape Body Shop πŸ™‚ I feel like rolling on the floor lol…

    1. Divija,

      You got us all addicted to The Body Shop. The moment I think of listing Indian products , TBS comes to my mind instantly. πŸ˜€

      Don’t worry about the typos.

  5. I am a complete novice as far as blushes are concerned………this basic blush guide by you has given me literacy regarding the same…….also, I am going ahead and buying the Lakme lip and cheek tint keeping your suggestion in mind…also, I want to try out colorbar…..

    1. Jomol, you haven’t tried the Colorbar blushes yet?Most of us are colorbar fans out here. πŸ™‚ I am also going to buy the cheek and lip stain. Glad you like dthe article. πŸ™‚

    1. divija…i am a complete ghanwar……i am taking baby steps in makeup through Rati’s and your blogs…..actually, Body Shop has opened shop in Hyderabad and do you know, I dream of all that body butters that you review…..do I hear you saying “Body Shop ki jai ho.”

  6. Nicely compiled Rati…. I am so gonna save it for future reference.. I was a complete novice when it came to blushes… I bought my first (3 :D) colorbar blushes on your reco.. And SOOOOOOOO LOVING THEm!!!

    I really want a cream blush and a gel blush.. Does maxfactor have these?

    I was tempted to buy the Lakme tint but I was not so sure abt the colour.. Does such a bright colour really suit everybody???

    1. Mrunmayee, Glad you are liking the colorbar blushes. The tint is pretty sheer so I am guessing that it would give a nice flush on most skintones. Although I like more of peaches, bronzy and pale pink tones on my skin but I think I would be able to pull this off in winters. In summers I like my blushes that have more apricot and peach undertones.

      1. Rati….please help me get rid of this grumpy face….it looks so uncool, even if I am writing good things, it seems as if I am in a bad mood………………….plsssssssssssssssssssssssss

        1. Mrumneyee, go to gravatar.com and you would able to change your avatar for all over the internet. πŸ™‚

          Just use the same email id that you use here.

  7. That’s what I thought.. We Indian women (most of us) have yellow undertones.. And this is not just pink.. It’s a bright fuchsia!!!
    I tried it on my hand and it looked as bright as ever.. Little bit scared… Maybe a review will help.. πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜‰

    1. Mrunmayee, I have got the reco for Lakme tint from women who have pretty fair complexion than I have but I do wear hot pink blushes as well. I have no apprehensions about pulling off fuchsia. But if you are someone who likes very natural flushes on your cheeks, this might be a bit brighter for your skin tone. However let me swatch it once again at the store and would let you know. πŸ™‚

  8. This is interesting, I always had some questions about blusher, this is really helpful!
    I love to read this blog but now there are so many posts I don’t have time to read it all:(

  9. Oh blushes blushes blushes….come to me!!! :D. Cant wait for that Revlon Cream Blush with the sliding mirror to be launched here!

    β™₯xxβ™₯

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