This time last year, it’s fair to say that the phenomenon dubbed ‘blush blindness’ reached its zenith. Applying a colourful, dramatic flush — often layered on with a slightly heavy hand — became de rigueur, with pop poppet Sabrina Carpenter leading the charge.
As we head further and further into 2025, it’s a different story. Blush is most definitely back and still central to the chat, but it’s being approached with fresh intention and more of a bespoke touch. MUAs and makeup lovers are playing with placement, texture, and tone, with soft-focus washes that sculpt and highlight, or diffused blends that mimic summer’s late-afternoon warmth that flatter every complexion.
Some techniques to considerOne of the easiest ways that MUAs are applying to upgrade their blush game this season is by mixing liquid formulas with a little liquid highlighter/luminiser. It keeps things dewy when your skin might be feeling anything but, and is great for adding a little glow where its needed.
Just a touch of blush brushed across the nose can also make a huge difference if you’re looking for a sun-kissed touch in the middle of winter, but keep it light by using whatever’s left on your brush or fingers after applying to the cheeks to add a soft, diffused warmth.
As any MUA will tell you, the right cheek colour will add the kind of vitality and glow that a bronzer or highlighter just can't, and there are so many formulas ready to work hard for any skin type or occasion. Here’s some of my picks for a mid-winter flush of colour to brighten even the darkest of days…
YSL Beauty Make Me Blush Bold Blurring Powder Blush
Joyously buildable, this blurring powder blush delivers an unapologetically bold, instant colour flush. Its weightless, comfortable feel and coated pigment technology allow for an effortless transition from a sheer, natural flush to a daring sculpted look, and I love that the squalane infused formula also blurs the appearance of pores and imperfections.
MECCA MAX Off Duty Blush Sticks
Easy on the budget and almost foolproof to use, this creamy formula starts off as a flush that can be intensified if needed by popping a little powder blush over the top. Perfect for those wanting just a hint of colour on the cheeks, these babies are super portable and very buildable, gliding on effortlessly and giving you plenty of time to blend before they dry down to satin finish.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Not for the faint of heart, these beautifully featherlight liquid blushes features pure colour pigments in a transparent base for true colour payoff on all skin tones. In matte and dewy finishes, the formula includes a botanical blend to calm and nourish skin, and they can be used with fingers or a brush. For more control, apply blush to the back of your hand first, then use the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Blush Brush to pick up and blend onto cheeks.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush
It’s matte, but not as you know it! My current go-to formula, this cushiony cream-to-powder blush gives the dreamiest flush of colour with a lasting, blurred matte finish. The airy, cloud-like flush they deliver looks like a dream, with the most weightless, natural matte finish that won’t settle into creases, emphasise skin texture, or dry you out. Water-, sweat-, and humidity-resistant for serious staying power that won’t transfer or smudge, they are a joy worn bright and bold or blended for a softer effect.
NARS Blush
A true beauty moment and enduring classic, François Nars put blush on the map when he created the forever iconic ‘Orgasm’ blush in 1999. The perfect mix of pink, peach and gold is universally flattering, and now the legendary blush has been reformulated alongside the 20 other shades in the range. This powder blush still has the blurring texture and buildable intensity that made them artistry staples, but now they last for up to 16 hours.
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