2025 Was The Year Of Blush
October 22 | 4 minute read
Words by Christie Sinclair
If your blush collection quadrupled this year, you’re not alone.
From the steps of the Met Gala to every social platform, 2025 was the year blush dominated the beauty zeitgeist. Powder, cream, stick, stain. On cheeks, across noses, on lips, all the way up to temples, we happily tried (and loved) it all.
Let’s blush up on the trends that defined our cheeks this year.
The anti-dewy movement
After years of glass-skin everything, we never thought we’d be team matte again. But 2025 brought the 'anti dewy’ movement as we traded glossy cheeks for satin and soft-matte finishes that melt seamlessly into skin. Brands like ILIA Beauty with its Soft Focus Blurring Blush and Tower 28 with their GetSet Blur + Matte Blush led the way with butter-soft formulas that focus on smoothing and blurring the skin like a filter as they set. Too Faced delivered an innovative take on the trend with their Cloud Crush Whipped Lip & Cheek Color - a highly pigmented mousse formula that dries down to an air-brushed finish.
It wasn’t long before we relegated our ultra-glossy blushes to the back of the beauty cabinet to make room for powders. But let’s be clear, powder blush isn’t what it used to be. Today’s versions are lighter, talc-free and lend the complexion a smooth, satin-y, skin-like finish, like Too Faced’s Cloud Crush Blurring Blush, with ingredients to minimise pores and fine lines, and Kylie Cosmetics’ Hybrid Blush, which blends like an absolute dream thanks to its creamy suede texture. Westman Atelier joined the movement, launching a new micro-fine powder version of their iconic Baby Cheeks Blush with lasting, streak-free payoff.
Rich berry tones
Bold, moody hues were front and centre – and not just for winter. Cheeks were sporting deep plum, burgundy, wine and cherry tones all year round, often softened or buffed out across the bridge of the nose or into the hairline to look more like a real skin. Tap into the mood with MECCA MAX Off Duty Blush Stick in our beauty editor Kerri’s favourite shade ‘Moody’ or Morphe’s Cheek Thrills Multi Finish Face Trio in shade ‘Wine & Dine’.
Blush goes skin deep
Skincare-infused blush became the gold standard. The best of these formulas made it impossible to tell if you were wearing blush or if you’d just returned from a brisk walk.
Westman Atelier was among the first to blend makeup with active ingredients that continue to treat the skin when washed off. Baby Cheeks remains a cult favourite and the star of the brand’s highly coveted Petite Petal Edition Set for the holidays. Glow Recipe launched their Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush™, a tinted cheek serum that deposits a sheer wash of hydrated colour along with brightening skincare ingredients. While Charlotte Tilbury injected her multi-use stick blush with plant-based collagen. And we were finally able to get our hands on Victoria Beckham Beauty’s inimitable Colour Wash Blush Water Tint. Infused with French mineral sea water, coconut water and antioxidant-rich superfruit it absorbs like a facial serum and is quite simply the most natural looking flush you’ll find on our shelves.
Even powders got the skincare treatment, with Kosas’ Blush is Life Baked Dimensional and Brightening Blush delivering seamless colour along with squalane and hyaluronic acid.
Westman Atelier was among the first to blend makeup with active ingredients that continue to treat the skin when washed off. Baby Cheeks remains a cult favourite and the star of the brand’s highly coveted Petite Petal Edition Set for the holidays. Glow Recipe launched their Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush™, a tinted cheek serum that deposits a sheer wash of hydrated colour along with brightening skincare ingredients. While Charlotte Tilbury injected her multi-use stick blush with plant-based collagen. And we were finally able to get our hands on Victoria Beckham Beauty’s inimitable Colour Wash Blush Water Tint. Infused with French mineral sea water, coconut water and antioxidant-rich superfruit it absorbs like a facial serum and is quite simply the most natural looking flush you’ll find on our shelves.
Even powders got the skincare treatment, with Kosas’ Blush is Life Baked Dimensional and Brightening Blush delivering seamless colour along with squalane and hyaluronic acid.
Blush on blush
Beauty lovers discovered the power of layering, stacking tones, textures and finishes to sculpt, lift and really bring skin to life. We paired powder over cream for extra depth, and mixed satin with shimmer for multidimensional colour. Palettes that combined matte and shimmer shades or blush and highlighter, like ISAMAYA’s Skin Enhancing Duo and NARS’ Ethereal Aura Blush Palette, let us create custom looks with ease. It was also about placement, layering highlighter under blush (think Westman Atelier’s Lit Up Highlight Stick topped with VIOLETTE_FR’s Bisou Blush) so it looks like the glow is coming from your skin rather than sitting on top of it. Try it!
