The right blusher can turn a lacklustre complexion into healthy, lively, ethereal skin with just one sweep and, frankly, we need all the glow we can get.
Like foundation and concealer, your skin tone plays a huge part in hunting down the perfect blusher. Thankfully, it's no longer a 'one-shade-suits-all' situation. But it also pays to take the texture and finish into consideration, not to mention your skin type, too.
Blemish-prone? We hate to break it to you, but shimmer is not the one.
Luckily for you guys, we're on hand to make achieving that post-spin class flush a little easier - and there's no exercise involved whatsoever.
How To Find The Right Blusher For Your Skin Tone
'Blusher is like the magic wand of make-up,' says Pixi Beauty Global Director of Training & Artistry, Amanda Bell, 'But only when it's the right colour!'
So if you find yourself being sent off with a standard doll pink every time you visit the beauty counter, we've got you covered.
The Best Blusher For... Pale To Fair Skin Tones
If you have pale skin, you might feel like you're limited to one shade of blusher - baby pink - but there's so much choice out there, and it all depends on the finish you want.
'Peach and soft rose hues are great options for paler skin, especially if you want to achieve a more subtle effect,' says Amanda. 'But for a little more of a statement, sheer plum (the key word being sheer) and soft coral both look great.'
Steer clear of anything too warm, though. It'll only make your skin look muddy.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Pale To Fair Skin Tones
A blusher-highlighter hybrid, this rosy-hued delight gives you light, glowing cheeks without any unwanted chunky glitter. If that's not enough to put a spring in your step, it also boasts up to eight hours of staying power.
You know how your cheeks look after a minute or two in the cold? This pretty pink blusher is basically that in a tube. It may look dainty but the pigment inside is mighty. Expect vivid, non-budge colour that's on par with your favourite powder blusher.
Slightly rosy, slightly coraly, this iridescent blusher warms and revives light skin but never makes you look 'done up'.
With a dusty peachy twist on the classic pink, this two-tone blusher has just the right amount of shimmer to give cheeks a healthy flush.
The Best Blusher For... Medium Skin Tones
If you're in this camp, you suit most shades - YAS.
Your best bet? To invest in a blusher palette. That way you can tailor your make-up to the seasons - warmer in the winter when your skin needs a boost and softer and peachier in the summer. You can also play around with different finishes and textures depending on your mood.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Medium Skin Tones
This palette offers six shades with two finishes for ultimate blusher experimentation. Mix and match the peach and fuchsia matte shades with the four shimmer highlighters to customise your blush to your mood.
Choose from dusky desert, bubblegum or peachy pink with this genius trio of blushers. Go casual, peppy or au natural - it's your choice!
Fans of the cult Orgasm blusher, rejoice. This palette gives cheekbones a multi-dimensional glow thanks to the the golden pearlescent formula, and features the original Orgasm blusher next to it's new, sexier older sister Orgasm X, a richer coral shade for those daring to go deeper.
Whether you're looking for muted nudes, natural flushes or vibrant pops of colour, this palette offers a great a range of undertones and finishes without compromising when it comes to the intensity of the pigment.
The Best Blusher For... Olive Skin Tones
Thanks to both yellow and green undertones, olive skin can look a little sallow sometimes, so a wisp of blusher is key to perking it up - but you need to pick hues that are going to complement, not clash.
Orange-y peaches breathe life into both light and dark olive tones, but if you're after more of a pretty, pinched look, a vibrant rosy shade works wonders.
Alternatively, you can reach for a bronzer. 'A rich bronze adds a natural blush effect to olive skin tones,' says Amanda.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Olive Skin Tones
For those wanting a soft wash of colour without compromising on warmth, this blush hits the spot. Don't be fooled by its initial appearance in the pan, this deep rose shade is super blendable allowing you to build it up to your preference intensity.
For that highlighter-meets-blush flush, it has to be Hourglass. This might look extra-pink in the compact but it lends cheeks a subtle, petal-like finish.
120 of these rosy blushers is sold every hour and it isn't difficult to tell why. It's the closest thing we've seen to a believable flush, suits most olive tones beautifully, and the subtle light-reflecting particles add a gorgeous glow, so there's no need to follow with highlighter.
Occupying a cosy space between bronze and peach this matte blusher warms up olive skin in a few swipes and doubles as a flattering eye shadow.
Check out the rest of the blusher and bronzer shades we love on olive skin tones.
The Best Blusher For... Dark Skin Tones
Rosy hues and candy pinks might show up well on darker skin tones but they have a tendency to look a little frosty or doll-like. Instead, look for something with a warm undertone to enhance your skin's natural glow.
'Dark Asian skin pops with hot corals, warm reds with a rich undertone and deep neutral pinks especially,' explains Amanda.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Dark Skin Tones
For those seeking ultimate precision in their application, this rich merlot shade from Westman Atelier comes in a cream formula, allowing you to manipulate your blush placement and lift your complexion all at once.
Fenty Beauty doesn't play around when it comes to pigment and this blush holds no bounds. True to the name, a sweep of this will give you that healthy post-wine flush with an extra bit of Fenty glow thrown in for good measure.
Laura Mercier's seriously blendable matte blusher means you can add a hit of pink that looks seriously natural.
This punchy berry pink shade works a treat on darker skin tones. Simply dab this genius cream-to-powder formula onto the apples of your cheeks for an instant flush.
The Best Blusher For... Deep Skin Tones
It can be difficult to get pinks and corals to show up on deep or ebony skin tones, but according to Amanda, something with a brick red tint will look epic.
'Other shades that complement deep skin are raisin browns or bronzed sienna hues,' she says.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Deep Skin Tones
Vieve Sunset Blush in Piazza
This rich burgundy powder has been finely milled to ensure it fuses with the skin, avoiding the chalky finishes of blushes in days gone by.
If you're looking for colour that's a bit on the jammy side, this berry nude with just a hint of plum looks great on deeper skin tones and thanks to its balmy texture works as a lip and cheek combo.
Illamasqua's cult powder blusher is somewhere in between russet, taupe and brick red and the pigment payoff is incredible.
This genius cream blusher stick gives cheeks a sheer, balmy tint that says 'healthy and fresh'.
Check out the best highlighters for darker skin tones here.
How To Pick The Right Blusher Formula And Finish
Cream, powder, gel, tint... The type of texture and finish you settle for is largely down to preference, but if you want to look f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s, your skin type should always be a factor.
Large pores? Go for a matte powder. Acne-prone? Avoid thick or solid textures.
If You Have Oily Or Acne Prone Skin...
If you find that cream blusher slips off before you've even got to the office or that it contributes to your breakouts, swap it out for a powder version, especially if you want it to last and look smooth.
'Also keep away from blushers that contain mineral oils,' mentions Amanda. 'Formulations that are powder-based will work best - they just have to be blended well into the skin.'
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Oily Or Acne Prone Skin
Armani Beauty A-Blush
Small but mighty, this lightweight blush is a great option for oily or acne prone skin types, giving a healthy glow without congesting. The fuzzy doe-footed applicator is also a welcome addition for accurate placement.
Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush
This nifty little brush and blush duo works well on oily skin due to its finely-milled and oil free powder formulation.
This loose blusher is oil-free and non-comedogenic, which means it won't clog your pores or lead to spots. The feather-light powder also absorbs any face grease that crops up during the day. Win-win.
Dermatologically tested and proven not to contribute to breakouts, every single one of MAC's powder blushers are buildable, whether you prefer a subtle wash of colour or a bold finish. If you're super-oily, go for the mattes to avoid extra shine.
If You Have Normal To Dry Skin...
You'll do well with most blushers (lucky you) but if you like the dewy, ethereal look, try a hydrating cream, gel or serum-based texture. To amp up things up, you can always layer a powder blusher in a similar hue over the top.
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Normal To Dry Skin
If you like to err on the side of caution when it comes to blush, this lightweight option might be for you. Containing Arctic Spring Water and no alcohol (which can sometime dry out your skin), the formula is hydrating and gives a natural sheer glow.
Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm
This much-loved balmy blush is great for those looking for a low maintenance dewy finish. Surprisingly it doesn't contain oil, which means you won't have to worry about it breaking down your base make-up. Bonus.
If you want your glow to look au-natural, a few tiny dots of this highly pigmented cream blush is all you need. Yes, it feels super-silky, but it really sticks around.
Give your cheeks a hit of nourishment and colour with Lanolips rosy-hued balm. The best bit? It's 100% natural.
Top Tip: To make cream blusher look dewy all day, choose a product with natural oils and waxes in the formulation. 'This means that there is an existing rich base,' says Amanda. 'You can also spritz a hydrating facial mist on to the brush before blending it in to the skin for an extra glowy finish.'
And what about tints?
'Those with dryer skin can use tints, but they have to ensure the skin is super-hydrated first,' says Amanda. 'Use a primer with humectants. It will trap moisture in the skin so that it doesn't just drink up the tint.'
We rate the Pixi Rose Flash Balm, £26. It leaves skin feeling quenched and soft so that any make-up you apply on top glides on seamlessly.
If You Have Large Pores...
Matte blusher is your best friend.
'If you're conscious of your enlarged pores, stick to blushers that have a velvety texture,' says Amanda. 'Anything with a sheen or too much lustre in the pigment will only accentuate pores, bumps and blemishes.'
ELLE Edit: Blushers For Large Pores
Containing Vitamin B, an ingredient credited for minimizing the appearance of pores, this clever blush blurs and smooths the skin while bringing a flush of colour. The bounce comes from its use of light refracting pearls, ensuring the finish never looks flat.
While a cream blusher might not be the first formulation you'd think to reach for, certain finishes work really well with enlarged pores, especially when layering on top of other products. This velvety-matte finish is blendable and allows you to have full control over how intense you want your flush to be.
Minus any gaudy silver shimmer, the pigment, staying power and quality of Chanel's matte blusher compacts is second to none. Obsessed.
Sweep YSL's ultra-pigmented finely milled powder blusher across your cheeks and eyes for this season's take on monochromatic make-up.
How To Apply Blusher
We're all guilty of being a little slapdash with blusher but Amanda has a few top tips to pinpoint exactly how and where we should apply it to avoid the theatrical look.
'To know where you should apply blusher, imagine a line coming down from your iris to the end of your nose,' she says.
'Where it ends is the perfect spot which you should start applying your blusher. Starting from this point, sweep the blusher onto the cheek and blend outwards towards the hairline.'
Gotcha. But it's not just the technique - the tools matter, too.
How To Apply Powder Blusher...
'When using a brush, sweeping movements give a much stronger blush application. For a pro finish, take a smaller-headed brush and blend outwards towards the hairline using use swift, circular motions. This will effectively polish the pigment into the skin,' says Amanda.
How To Apply Cream or Gel-Based Blusher...
'Creams and gels are the easiest to work with.' says Amanda. 'They can be applied to the apple of the cheeks with a nylon brush and then blended in with clean fingertips for a soft, fresh effect.'
12 Of The Best Blushes For All Skin Types And Tones
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