In an era of blush blindness and blushmaxxing, forgoing a vibrant pop of pink, coral, or rouge on the apples feels like a radical move. Yet the anti-blush trend – an understated approach to cheek colour – is progressively gaining traction, and according to Spate data, has seen interest increase by 274.9 per cent.
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Contrary to what the name suggests, the anti-blush movement is not about shunning blush altogether. “It’s about using a neutral, low-saturation blush that mimics your natural skin pigments, giving you a barely-there wash of colour that melts into your complexion and makes it look naturally healthy,” explains Sofia Tilbury, global artistry director at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.
It’s a philosophy that has divided the British office. Shopping producer Mia Portet considers blush her desert-island product, often going bare-faced save for a slick of Rhode’s Pocket Blush in Tan Line or Refy’s Cream Blush in Rose – and often layered together, with Rose on the apples of the cheeks and Tan Line used to sculpt the bridge of the nose and temples to replicate a fresh-from-holiday warmth. Yet she understands the appeal of anti-blush, which aligns with the natural, skin-first flush feel that she favours. Beauty director Funmi Fetto, however, believes that punchier pigment is required to “look alive,” insisting that blush on the high points of the cheekbones is essential.
The beauty of the trend is that you don’t have to pledge allegiance to either camp. You can be fluid. That is certainly Tilbury’s approach: “Some days I want blush to be the focus of the make-up; on others, I want people to notice how beautiful the skin looks without immediately spotting the blush. That’s the fun of it!”
To get on board with the anti-blush trend and achieve a more understated, naturally-flushed finish, she recommends reaching for softer hues that give a barely-there feel. “It’s a softer alternative to the bright, expressive pops of colour we’ve been seeing on cheeks this spring and summer. My favourite shades of Airbrush Flawless Blush Blur for this are Naughty Talk for a subtle rose-beige flush, or I’ll reach for the deeper burnt rose of Pillow Talk Dreams when I want that understated effect on a deeper complexion.”
Placement, too, can make all the difference, transforming both the intensity and the look. Applied to the apple of the cheeks and blended outwards, blush “brings colour to the centre of the face and enhances the natural fullness of the cheeks, creating a fresh, healthy and softly radiant “juicy cheek” effect,” says Kristina McLeod, national lead artist at Vieve. Sweep the same shade higher along the upper cheekbones and towards the temples; the effect is more lifted. Diffuse across the cheeks and along the bridge of the nose and, you are mimicking where the sun warms the face, “creating a soft, sun-kissed and effortless flush.”
The key to anti-blush, therefore, is about finding the right shade, buildable formula and placement to give you an understated approach to cheek colour. Scroll on for ’s top blushes to master the anti-blush trend and create a softer, natural flush.
- Why it’s -approved: Ilia’s make-up collection is designed to give you that no-make-up make-up feel, and as such, you will find that the Soft Focus Blurring Blush is incredibly lightweight and subtle with its pigment. Yet while it applies sheer, it works with you, should you be looking to build up the layers and in doing so, you are not sacrificing the blurring finish. “When we developed our Soft Focus Blurring Blush at ILIA, we wanted to make sure there was a shade for everyone, from soft pinks like Closer to rich berries like Magnetic, and warm shades like Flutter, a peach, and Wonder, a deep terracotta,” explains ILIA’s executive director of global education, Sam Michalska. “We also kept the saturation from going too high, so every shade is easy to blend and customise. I like to sculpt with a more neutral shade like Glimpse along the cheekbone, since muted colour reads like a soft shadow. Then pop a brighter shade like Pulse or Closer onto the apples, where saturated colour catches the eye just like a real flush. Because our Soft Focus Blurring Blush shades were designed with balanced saturation, they blend seamlessly into each other, leaving cheeks that look natural, dimensional, and beautifully put together.”
Universal Cream Cheek & Lip Stick
- Why it’s -approved: Newly launched in the UK from Ireland, Poco Beauty is known for its skin-first make-up and hybrid Universal Glow formula that works quartet duty as a primer, SPF, hydrator, glow giver and colour corrector. The Universal Cream is similarly multitasking as a subtle wash of colour for the lips and cheeks. The finish is very dewy, while the pigment is soft and buildable, making it incredibly easy to blend out. This is the type of formula that you can apply on the go, both for the ease of the stick format and the unlikelihood of stepping off the cheek with eye-popping, punchy pigment on your face. You very much have the control.
- Why it’s -approved: We cannot stop raving about Rhode’s blush launch, and with good reason – they guarantee dreamy, dewy skin. In every shade, the brand’s pocket blush is pigmented, plumping and flattering thanks to smoothing peptides in the formula that give you a seamless blend. Also in the mix is glass-skin-giving tamanu oil, which conditions the cheeks and gets you Hailey’s signature glazed doughnut look. A must-try blusher for mature skin, with a gorgeous finish and ingredients we could all benefit from.
- cream stick
- hydrating
- Why it’s -approved: A creamy texture that glides onto the skin and leaves a dewy finish in its wake, this Cream Blush from Refy deserves all the accolades that it receives. Ideal for dry or dehydrated skin, it offers a subtle, buildable flush while imparting nourishment to smooth out the skin. One swipe and you get a barely-there tint, but it’s very buildable; three or four more dabs of pigment and it blends out for an unmissable pink, orange, red or berry hue.
- Why it’s -approved: Inspired by the shades found in a Mediterranean sunset, Vieve’s new blush balms are a delight to use. Delivering a natural veil of colour to cheeks, you can build product up for a bold look, or keep it minimal with a little pop of pink. Either way, they’re a must-try.
- Best gel blush
- sheer, glowy finish
- Why it’s -approved: For a flushed sunset glow, look no further than these illuminating liquid blushes from Kiko. The spongy tip makes on-the-go application a breeze, while the blush itself has a slight shimmer to it, which catches the light in all the best ways.