This story first appeared on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign up here. The Strategist Beauty Brief is delivered every Wednesday.
It was a summer filled with the newfound anxiety of “blush blindness.” From sunset blush to cream or powder, to Rare Beauty’s market dominance, the Beauty Brief team found themselves asking this: What’s even going on with blush right now? We decided to sit down for a roundtable on the topic. We’ve also thrown in a few of our favorite blush recommendations — and some new picks we’re eager to try.
Has anything changed recently about how you all are applying your blush?
Crystal Martin, senior editor: I thought we were all on the same page about keeping it cute and simple: one color. But there are trends like “sunset blush.” I’m like, Am I supposed to do three shades? And where do they go? All of a sudden, I’m analyzing my face shape in a way that I didn’t before.
Rachael Griffiths, writer: A lot of blush trends on social media aren’t actually about the product or the shade; instead, it’s about application and location.
Ambar Pardilla, writer: Blush has become, in a weird way, like a highlighter. Now if you want it to lift your face, you place it higher, but for a more natural, droopier look, it’s about placing it lower. There’s this look that’s like you’ve just been out running, and I always think, That’s a lot of blush.
RG: And now there’s “sunburn” blush, where people are putting it across the face, including the nose bridge.
So are we all trying nose blush yet?
CM: I have — literally — in the past ten days tried it.
Kitty Guo, writer: I do the nose blush! I first learned about that from the e-girl trend. I never liked the low-apples application. That’s how it’s done in the boyfriend blush that was everywhere this spring.
So, when it comes to products: Are we Team Cream or Team Powder?
AP: I’m pro-powder — like this one from Gucci. I like the way it feels kind of painted on, like a porcelain doll. But I have used Merit Cream Blush, and I like that texture — it just melts right in. If I’m feeling really lazy, I’ll do a Tower 28 Multi-stick and just put a lazy circle.
RG: For me, I’m still on the NARS Liquid Blush — but instead of Orgasm (which still feels really popular), I use Torrid; it’s less violently pink than Orgasm, it has more of an orange tint, so it feels more buildable.
KG: I just worked on our cream-blush roundup. But I started wearing blush as a kid doing dance performances. My mom would put powder blush on me, so that was all I knew until I tried my Glossier Cloud Paint. I have to say, I’m not a Cloud Paint lover — it’s too pigmented for my skin tone. But generally, I am a cream-blush girl. It doesn’t last long, but if you add a powder blush over it, that extends the longevity.
Are there any newer blushes that are impressing you?
CM: I’ve been using something new from Charlotte Tilbury, and it’s quite sheer. It looks great for the sunburn look, but when I’m doing other areas, like below the cheekbone, it doesn’t hit. It’s probably too sheer.
AP: I haven’t tried Rare Beauty, but I feel like that was the successor to Cloud Paint. And it’s the blush that put Rare Beauty on the map.
KG: For me, Rare Beauty was too pigmented. I really want to try the Patrick Ta one; it’s a cream-and-powder duo. I feel like it’s just easy, and I just love a multipurpose, two-in-one kind of product.
CM: I want to try REFY — they’re big on nose-bridge placement. Also, coming out of this conversation, you all have convinced me I need to revisit powder. And last, I remember Rio wrote about how long-lasting the Danessa Myricks cream-to-powder blush was. We should try that.
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