Getting Cheeky: We Tried the Internet's Favourite Blush Placements
July 13 | 5 minute read
Words by Madeleine Boles de Boer
A decade or two later and that circular application has evolved – both in placement (now creeping up toward my temples) and shape (amorphously curling with the contours of my cheekbones).
A scroll through social media reveals that I’m not the only one who’s experienced a literal glow up. The youthful pink orbs that once dominated every celebrity red carpet have now matured into creative applications of crimson, peach, berry, mauve and terracotta and the only rule is that there are no rules.
Georgia Tries Front-Facing Blush
As someone who runs hot and often feels flushed, Copywriter Georgia revealed that her feelings around blush are mostly fear-based. “I don’t feel like I can wear blush... It actually scares me a little.”
Trying the NARS Insatiable Liquid Blush in ‘Itsy Bitsy’ (a serendipitous colour name for someone dipping their toes in the category!), she quickly went from cautious to convinced. “It was super dewy and skin-like, much to my surprise. Felt and looked very natural on my cheeks. I loved it!”
Topped with the NARS powder blush in ‘Orgasm Edge’, the coral tones and front-facing application were the perfect gateway to the world of blush. “It really did my cheekbones a favour. I’m a convert!”
Samyuktha Tries Sunkissed Blush
You know that special flush you get at the peak of summer – just off a day at the beach, feeling a little windswept and with a smattering of colour across your cheeks and nose (from warmth not actual sunburn, of course). That was the inspiration behind Paralegal Samyuktha’s sun-kissed blush application.
Combining the Insatiable Liquid and Powder Blushes in ‘Exhibit A’, the soft tomato red colour across the middle of her face instantly said ‘summer’, even in the middle of winter. Even as someone who calls blush “the most important part” of her makeup routine, it was a placement she hadn’t tried before. "I never take blush across the bridge of my nose, but I definitely will be now!"
Pamela Tries Boyfriend Blush
A powder blush loyalist, MECCA’s Micro Space Manager, Pamela, stepped outside her comfort zone with both a different placement and a liquid formula.
While many blush trends are now reaching eyebrow-level heights, it’s not just upward that our flush is travelling. Mimicking the natural, youthful glow often seen after exercising (see also: the ruddy cheeks of Princes Harry and William in the ‘90s), the 'boyfriend' placement applies product lower on your face, beneath the cheekbone in an upside-down triangle.
It was a new experience for Pamela: “I usually place my blush higher up, but I loved it! It made my makeup feel so natural, and since it blended so well, it was easy to achieve a seamless look.” Topping the NARS Insatiable Liquid Blush in 'Que Calor' with ‘Dolce Vita’ Powder Blush, the look delivered a believable, all-day flush – no cardio required.
Alicia Tries Blush Draping
As an essential part of her routine – worn with a full face of makeup or just a swipe of brow gel – self-proclaimed blush obsessive Senior Brand Manager Alicia was excited to try something new.
Draping is one of the internet's boldest trends, taking your flush across the cheek and up to the brows and eyes. Alicia’s pretty-in-pink combination of ‘Fast Ride' and ‘Thrill’ nodded towards the technique’s ’80s roots, but with a thoroughly modern finish. “When it was being applied, I thought it was going to be super bold, but it was actually really wearable. I think it was really flattering and gave me a kind of “I’ve just been out in the cold” look in a cute, youthful way,” she says.
Aside from loving the “incredible” range of colours (and already eyeing up a few cool-toned options), Alicia gave bonus points for the liquid formula’s finish. “It’s natural and satin-like – it’s pigmented but still looks like skin!"
