Blush Techniques: How to Apply Blush Like a Makeup Artist

Sure, no one enjoys being blasted in the face by wind or getting burnt on the slopes; that’s how you end up with a raw, apple-red complexion that requires extra TLC for days. But faking it with blush? Now that can be extremely cute. 

Ferreri favors using a gel or cream blush formula for this method, and she prefers either pink or rosy tones for the most natural finish. “I like this look to have no texture so that the color looks like it’s just coming from within,” she says. “Focus the blush a bit higher on the cheeks, like right under the eyes, and then diffuse any harsh lines.”

She adds that you can also take any leftover color from your fingers or brush and apply the softest touch on top of your nose, just under the bridge. This allows it to look more realistic, which is ultimately what you’re going for with blush.

Carrillo also prefers gel and cream formulas for this flushed look, “or, as some call it, ‘drunk blush’,” he says. He likes using the bottom of a makeup sponge (what he refers to as “the belly”) to blend the blush, starting at the apples of the cheeks. “For placement, smile and apply the color in the center of the apple,” he shares. “Start with less, and build gently fading the edges off.”

For the nose blush, he recommends adding the pigment to the sides of the bridge to complete the flushed appearance. One of his favorites to use is the Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush, available in six rosy and peachy hues.

5. Sculpted: Along the Cheekbones