If we were to hold a popularity contest for the contents of our makeup bag, certain products, like mascara, concealer, and lipstick would have a permanent place in the spotlight. Cream blush, on the other hand, would fall somewhere between bright lipstick and individual falsies—nice in theory (we do envy that lit-from-within flush, after all), but usually avoided due to fear of looking too clown-like.
But, it actually might be time to re-evaluate this cream blush trend, altogether. Cream blush, when applied correctly, can give you a glowy, slightly dewy flush that traditional powder blush can’t. Plus, the texture makes it ideal for people with dry or mature skin (read: no more cakey finish!) Since it's important we know how to apply cream blush correctly, here's a video and a simple step by step guide on how to do so, you won't be disappointed. Ahead, watch celebrity makeup artist Bob Scott's cream blush tutorial for a natural, seamless flush.
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Click Play to Watch MUA Bob Scott's Cream Blush Tutorial
Meet the Expert
Bob Scott is a celebrity makeup artist with clients among the likes of Karlie Kloss, Padma Lakshmi, and more.
Step One: Prep Skin and Apply Foundation
To ensure your skin is prepped and hydrated for cream blush, go through your usual skincare routine before applying any makeup. It's important to use products that will add some dew to your skin such as hydrating moisturizers and face oil. A great moisturizer to use for hydration is Tatcha's The Water Cream ($68), and Tata Harper's Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil ($150) is super nourishing.
Once your skin is ready, you can certainly apply whatever makeup you want (i.e. mascara, brows, and lipgloss), but the key is to start with just foundation or a tinted moisturizer on the face, along with concealer. When you think about using cream-based products, liquid foundations are best to use with cream blush, because they work well together as far as texture is concerned. When you apply cream blush alongside powder products, they can tend to get splotchy or not glide as easily as you'd hope.
Step Two: Apply Cream Blush to Apples of Cheeks
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You can apply your cream blush to the apples of your cheeks in a sweeping upward motion with a blush brush. If you don't have a brush, your fingers are okay to use, just make sure they have nothing else on them. To learn where the apples of your cheeks are, give a slight smile and apply the cream blush right where your cheek looks the most round in the center. Blending upward along the cheekbone adds more depth, and helps you avoid looking like you placed two large dots of blush.
If applying color to your cheeks feels out of your comfort zone, it's totally okay to start lightly and blend more as you go. You don't need to add a ton of product to get the natural, flushed effect. I've chosen Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ($50) and am using Clé de Peau Beauté Cream Blush Brush ($50) to apply it.
Step Three: Add Highlighter and Bronzer
After you've applied your cream blush, you can go in and add highlighter or bronzer, or both if that's what you fancy. I'm applying Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Palette here that can be used on top of cream products, to give some extra radiance and glow to the skin. Since cream will grab anything that's placed on top of it, highlighter is the perfect choice when wanting to add a healthy glow to your complexion.
If you're adding bronzing powder to the face, go ahead and sweep it over the forehead, down under the cheekbones in the natural hollows of your face. An easy way to find the hollow parts is to suck them in and purse your lips like a fish. When you apply bronzer in this area, it helps to give you an instant contour. You can even bring it as far as the jawline to create warmth all over the face that looks natural.
Step Four: Ensure the Color is Even
For the final step, take a look at your cheeks and make sure that the color is even on both sides and looks flattering. If you've over-applied, it's really easy to correct by blending the color down with your brush some more, or a makeup sponge. Make any last-minute touch-ups you might need, and congratulate yourself as you're now officially a cream blush master.
It’s no secret that as the seasons change, the contents of our makeup bag inevitably change, too. In the winter, we lean on moisturizing face masks and lip colors with hydrating formulas to repair our dry skin. In the summer, it’s all about the glow. Anyone who stays on top of makeup tips and trends will probably agree with the one product that we consider a staple year-round: cream blush. We love cream blush for its ability to give our complexion a natural-looking flush of color and provide that dewy finish, regardless of the season. The only hard part is choosing the right shade of blush for your skin tone.
Naturally, applying a cream formula can be a little intimidating too, especially if you’re new to the formula. Luckily, professional makeup artist Kasey Spickard is sharing all of his tips and tricks for flawless cream blush application. “The goal of blush is to add flush and warmth back to the skin, which you may have covered up with your foundation and concealer,” says Spickard. “Cream blushes are fantastic because they are blendable and melt into the skin to give a true-looking flush without drying the skin.” Keep reading to find out exactly how he applies cream blush.
What Is Cream Blush?
Cream blush is pretty much what it sounds like — a rosy tint for your cheeks in an emollient cream form. It can come in a wide variety of different packaging, from compacts to tubes and even sticks. Compared to classic powder blush, cream blushes tend to be a bit more sheer, hydrating and natural-looking.
Where to Apply Cream Blush
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to cream blush. As with any other type of makeup, everyone likes a different look. But if you’re not sure where to start, you can essentially apply it in the same spots where you would apply powder blush. For a basic blush application, apply it to the apples of your cheeks, then blend it out and up towards your temples. Beyond that, it’s entirely up to you! You may want to dab a bit onto the bridge of your nose for a sunkissed look, for example.
How to Apply Cream Blush in 3 Easy Steps
Step 1: Warm It Up
Unlike a powder blush, cream formulas can get a little cold in between uses, which makes them a little hard to blend. To make cream blush easier to use, Spickard says it’s a good idea to warm it up first. “Before applying to the face, I like to take my ring finger and swipe it into the cream blush in a circular motion, then swirl it onto the back of my hand to warm it up,” says Spickard. Warming up the product on the back of your hand will allow it to blend more easily and create a more natural finish.
Step 2: Buff It Out
When applying your cream blush, it’s super important to blend it out onto your cheeks and into your temples. “Smile, then lightly tap the product with your ring finger onto the apples of the cheeks and up the cheekbone,” says Spickard. Next, buff the product into your skin in circular motions using a brush like the Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush. We suggest pairing this brush with the NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Blush — it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to help hydrate your skin while creating a buildable, beautiful and natural finish.
Step 3: Finish With Powder
“A great way to make your cream blush last throughout the day is to layer a powder blush on top of it to set it,” suggests Spickard. After you’ve applied your cream blush, set it with a powder of the same shade. We love the Maybelline New York Fit Me Blushes for the creamy powder formulas and large shade range that complements many skin tones. “It's the same idea as using a powder to set your foundation to make it last all day,” adds Spickard.
The Best Cream Blushes
Who doesn’t love two-in-one makeup products? The NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Blush is one of our favorites because it has two gorgeous shades of hyaluronic-acid-infused blush in one product. Inspired by the brand’s contour stick, you can wear the shades on their own or use them together for a glam contoured and highlighted effect. If you want to use the Wonder Stick Blush to contour, simply swipe the darker shade under or on your cheekbone where you would normally contour, then apply the lighter one to the tops of your cheekbones and blend. Choose between three shade options — Light Peach and Baby Pink, Coral and Deep Peach and Bright Amber and Fuchsia.
The Maybelline New York Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush is a water-based cream blush that gives your complexion a natural-looking flush. The warm shades of this multi-use tint allow for buildable, dewy, color. With this super-blendable liquid-like cream formula, a little bit goes a long way. That means you only need one or two little dots on each cheek, so this product will be sure to last you a long time.
You’ll fall in love with the lightweight, hydrating feel of the YSL Beauty Nu Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint, thanks to a formula featuring soothing ingredients like orange blossom, hyaluronic acid and shea butter. It glides across your cheeks and melts into your skin to give you a subtly pretty flush. The shade options include Flush, a vivid red, Chills, a jammy berry shade and pinch, a warm peach.
The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has a cult following and is constantly selling out for a reason. The creamy liquid formula comes in radiant and matte finishes, so there is something for everyone. The stunning tube almost resembles a lip gloss or liquid lipstick, complete with a doe-foot applicator that makes it easier than ever to dab the color onto your cheeks. You can build the color up to your desired level, whether you want a natural, no-makeup look or are giving the statement blush trend a try. But keep in mind, a little goes a very long way!
Say goodbye to cakey, heavy blushes. Our favorite thing about the MERIT Beauty Flush Balm is how it seamlessly melts into your skin so that you feel like you aren’t wearing any makeup at all. Formulated with vitamin E, it conditions and nourishes your skin as you wear it. It’s available in nine stunning shades, from taupe to soft pink to deep burgundy. We’re also obsessed with the smooth, satin finish. Reach for this blush when you want to warm up your complexion and add a bit of glow.
Indie makeup brand ILIA Beauty is known for its versatile multi-stick, which can be used to add a wash of color to your cheeks, lips or anywhere else you want a little extra flush. This cream-based tint comes in a twist-up stick form, making it perfect to throw in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups throughout the day. You can choose between nine different shades with natural, soft matte finishes, or three radiant, pearlescent options that double as highlighters. Our favorite colorways are At Last, a mauve rose, and In the City, a shimmery, bronzer-like shade.
You’ll need to feel the pillowy texture of the Beauty Pie Supercheek Cream Blush for yourself to believe it. Cushioning oils give it a creamy yet lightweight feel while mattifying powders provide a second-skin soft matte finish. We adore this portable little pan of blush because you can easily apply it with your fingertips. If you want a no-fuss, user-friendly cream blush, this is the right choice for you.
The Best Powder Blushes
Make sure you have a powder blush, like the Valentino Beauty Eye2Cheek Blush and Eyeshadow, on hand to set your cream blush per Spickard’s advice. This dynamic blush-eyeshadow hybrid will round out any makeup collection. The cream-to-powder formula ensures that it doesn’t feel or look drying on your skin. Wear one of the gorgeously pigmented 12 shades on both your cheeks and your eyelids for a chic monochromatic makeup look. Between the corals, pinks and plums, you’re sure to find a shade that matches your cream blush.
The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Satin Blush With Camellia Oil is our pick for a powder blush for mature skin. The Camellia Oil in the formula gives this blush a uniquely creamy texture that won’t crease, cake or dry out. The luminous finish of the six super pigmented shades gives your skin a youthful radiance.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting powder to set your cream blush, look no further than the Lancôme Blush Subtil Powder Blush. This blendable, silky powder is oil-free and oil-absorbing, but never looks dry. Plus, the convenient compact comes with its own mini brush, so you can reapply throughout the day.
For a soft, blurred blush look, we’re into the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush. Not only does this blush diffuse the appearance of pores, but it is actually enriched with anti-aging ingredients including antioxidants, peptides, silk and hydrolyzed collagen. Swipe it on over your cream blush for a youthful burst of color that will last.
Photo: Chaunte Vaughn