How to Apply Powder, Cream and Liquid Blush

Blush is the quickest way to make a face look fresh, but the texture you choose changes how you should apply it. Powder goes on over a set base, cream and liquid go on before powder, and all of them look best when you build colour slowly. This guide covers each formula and the tools that make them easy.

The golden rule: creams before powders

Layer products in this order: foundation, then cream or liquid blush, then powder, then powder blush. Putting a cream over powder tends to drag and look patchy, while a powder over a damp cream can turn blotchy. Keep creams under powder and powders on top.

How to apply powder blush

Powder blush is the most forgiving texture and a good choice for oily skin or long days. Embossed blushes, such as the Bunny Garden Embossed Blush, have a raised pattern on the pan; you can sweep across the whole surface without worrying about the design.

Tap a soft brush lightly on the pan and knock off the excess on the back of your hand.
Smile slightly to find the apples of the cheeks, then place the colour just above and blend up towards the temples.
Use small circles or back-and-forth sweeps to soften the edges.
Add more only after you have blended the first layer.

An angled brush like the Bunny Garden Angled Blush Brush makes it easier to place colour exactly where you want it. For a softer, more diffused flush, try a fluffier brush such as the Snow Ballet Blush Brush.

How to apply cream blush

Cream blush melts into the skin and gives a dewy, lit-from-within look. The Little Angel Cream Blush has a creamy, melting texture that blends smoothly over foundation.

Apply it straight after foundation, before any powder.
Dab a small amount onto your fingertip and warm it slightly.
Tap two or three dots onto the cheek and pat outwards to blend. Patting keeps the foundation underneath in place.
If you want it to last longer, press a very light layer of powder blush in a similar shade on top.

How to apply liquid blush

Liquid blush is usually the most pigmented, so less is more. The Strawberry Cupid All Day Glow Liquid Blush comes in shades from soft 01 Frosty Strawberry to deeper 05 Rum Cocoa.

Place one small dot on each cheek. You can always add more.
Blend quickly with fingertips, a damp sponge or a dense brush before it sets.
Build a second dot only where you want more colour.

Strawberry Cupid All Day Glow Liquid Blush

Where to place blush

On the apples for a sweet, youthful look.
Just above the apples, sweeping to the temples for a lifted look.
Across the nose and upper cheeks for a sun-kissed, just-came-in-from-the-cold look.

Choosing a shade

Soft pinks and peaches suit most people for every day. Berry and mauve tones look polished in the evening, and browner shades give a more sculpted effect. Browse all our blushes, including the airy Snow Ballet Air Blush, in the Blush collection.