When you’re feeling embarrassed, when you’ve just finished exercising, or when you’ve braced yourself through cold weather, blood flows to your face and dilates, giving your cheeks a flushed look. Blushing cheeks are often associated with youth, vigor, and passion, so it’s no wonder that humans have found ways to emulate this bodily phenomenon. Even in ancient times, people would adorn their cheeks with rouge made from plants, minerals, and even bugs, and now, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to blush formulas, shades, price points, and even packaging. So how exactly did our modern interpretation of blush come to be? How have blush trends evolved throughout the years? And what are the differences in which people from different cultures apply their blush? Here, we take a look at the history behind the rosy glow that no one can get enough of.
Blushing Through The Years
Blush was most likely invented by the Ancient Egyptians. They would dab a mixture of fat and red ochre, a natural clay earth pigment, to their cheeks, giving them a pop of color. The Ancient Greeks were also said to have used blush—crushed mulberries and alkanet root were used to stain their cheeks. The Roman nobility would contrast their lead-whitened skin with red vermillion a.k.a. mercury sulfide, a compound just as toxic as lead.
Meanwhile, in the East, blush was popularized during the Tang dynasty by Yang Guifei, an imperial concubine and one of China’s four legendary beauties. She would often wear heavy blush made from safflower at the royal court, enhancing her seductiveness and beauty.
But blush wasn’t always the popular product that it is today. During the Middle Ages, blush (and cosmetics in general) fell out of favor with the upper class. Reddened cheeks had become associated with peasants working under the sun all day and prostitutes who continued to dab it on their cheeks to enhance their sensuality. In fact, the upper class was so opposed to blush that they would use methods like bloodletting and leeching to counteract one’s own natural flush.
It wouldn’t be until the 1500s that blush made a comeback, thanks to Queen Elizabeth I. She was known for bringing makeup in general back in fashion as she used it to cover up her smallpox scars, and while she was known for her white visage, she would also use rouge to color her cheeks and lips.
In 1863, Alexandre Napoleon Bourjois created the first powder blush. He created it in response to the greasepaint thespians had resorted to for stage plays, and his blush became extremely popular with the performers of Paris. A little over 10 years later, blush became readily available for purchase to the public.
After the First World War, there was a huge demand for makeup. Free-spirited flappers wore heavy blush to emphasize their youth. Ever the rebels, flappers would even apply rouge to their knees to draw attention to the fact that they were showing their legs. The emergence of film and Hollywood glamor would also put a spotlight on blush; iconic actresses like Clara Bow, Louise Brookes, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn were seen with blushed-up cheeks both in their movies and print advertisements.
In the ‘80s, bright blush was all the rage. Women would exaggerate their makeup for it to show up in photos. The decade’s biggest pop stars like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Kim Wilde were often adorned with bright—sometimes neon—makeup, including vivid shades of blush.
The ‘90s ushered in more natural blush looks, and now, the 2000s are proving to be a pivotal time for blush. Thanks to the internet, the trend cycle turns over a lot quicker than that of the decades before. Now, it’s a lot easier to find the style of blush and formula that would suit your own tastes.
A Formula For You
Throughout the modern age, the makeup industry has continued to innovate its products, including blush. Looking back on your teenhood, you might remember just a handful of powder blushes that were popular at the time. Now, there are so many options when it comes to formula and finish. Below are some popular formats of blush nowadays.
Powder
Perhaps the most popular formula of blush out there, powder blushes are blushes usually made up of talk or silica, color pigments, and preservatives. They can come in matte and shimmery finishes and are great if you struggle with oily skin. They can look quite natural (as long as you don’t overdo it!) and are easy to apply.
Cream
Cream blushes are a great choice when you want to impart a subtle, dewy pop of color to your cheeks. Since they have a lot of slip, they can easily blend into your foundation, giving you a seamless look.
Liquid
More often than now, liquid blushes are the most pigmented of all blush formulas. They also tend to last long and are perfect if you want to create a bright, dramatic look. Since they’re so pigmented, they can be a bit tricky to blend out.
Stain
Stains are like liquid blushes but are often water-based. They are the most long-lasting of formulas and, as its name suggests, this blush stains your cheek for all-day wear. They usually dry down fast, so you’ll need to blend this type of blush as quickly as possible.
Modern Blush Trends
In the 2010s, blush took the backseat as more sculpted looks rose in favor. Bronzers and highlighters were at the forefront, giving rise to the Instagram Makeup trend. After the pandemic, blush became a popular way to add color back to the cheeks when people have grown pale from being indoors all day. On top of that, thanks to the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, new makeup trends crop every day. Influencers and non-influencers alike aren’t shy about sharing their favorite ways to wear blush, and we’ve been taking notes.
Clean Girl Makeup
If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you’ll know just how popular the Clean Girl Aesthetic is. The effortless, minimalist look employs mostly cream products for a very natural, skin-like look, and that includes blush. For this look, you’ll want to apply cream or liquid blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards towards the temples. Apply just a small amount at first (you’ll want it to come off as very natural, after all), and don’t forget to top it off with a cream highlighter.
Drunk Flush
This trend has been around for a while, and for good reason. The sunkissed look screams youth and whimsy. Typically, a peach or rosy blush is spread across the face, including the nose bridge. The blush color should complement the skin—think of the color that comes to your cheeks when you actually flush or when you get sunburnt. This way, the bold placement will look more natural on you.
Igari Blush
While this Japanese makeup trend was popularized by makeup artist Igari Shinobu, it has roots in traditional geisha makeup. Celebrity makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent tells Byrdie, “Centuries-old traditional geisha makeup features reds and pinks around the eye area. It also draws on the modern ‘kawaii’ look of anime girls that features strong pink ovals on cheeks, below the eyes.”
To get the look, blend cream blush just under the lashline, below your irises when you look straight ahead. Most of the color is concentrated on the center of the cheeks below the eyes, giving you a cute, child-like effect. For this look, we recommend cool-toned pinks or vivid true reds.
Strawberry Makeup
Popularized by Hailey Beiber, the strawberry makeup trend draws inspiration from the fruit, with pink cheeks and fake freckles as distinguishing features of the look. Liberally layer a pink cream or liquid blush along the apples of your cheeks and on your nose bridge for a sun-kissed look, then use a freckle pen or an eyebrow tint pen to add fake freckles along your nose and cheeks.
Douyin Blush
Douyin is China’s TikTok equivalent, so you can only imagine the number of makeup looks featured on the app. The Douyin Blush trend entails using a liquid blush to draw small V shapes at the outer corner of the eyes, on top of the cheekbones, on the nose, and on the chin, and then blending everything out with a damp sponge or fingers for a natural, seamless look. This gives the makeup wearer a natural, youthful flushed look.
Straight From The Artists
We asked some of our favorite makeup artists their favorite ways to apply blush on themselves and on their clients. Check out their techniques and product recommendations below.
“I like to layer blush by starting with a cream formula and then topping it off with a matte powder blush for a long-lasting effect. It’s great to use your fingers to apply the cream blush as the warmth in your fingers can really blend the product well onto the skin. When topping off with powder blush, I like to use both matte and shimmer finishes to create dimension. Apply the matte on the apples of the cheeks and the shimmer on the high cheekbone. It makes them look extra glowing!” —Ria Aquino
Milk Makeup Lip + Cream Blush Stick & Lip Color in Werk
Milk Makeup Lip + Cream Blush Stick & Lip Color in Werk
VIA MILK MAKEUP
NARS The Multiple: Multi Stick Makeup in Maui
VIA LAZADA
“I’ve never been a believer that certain skin tones are only meant to wear specific shades of blush. Personally, I love trying any shade under the sun, and I encourage others to do the same. May it be my friends, clients, or followers.
My advice to feel less intimidated by blush shades outside your comfort zone is to “ground” the new shades with a more neutral blush first. I will usually put a nude blush a little above my contour areas, then take the brighter new shade on the highest points of the cheek. This incorporates the new color more subtly and seamlessly, it’s kind of like wearing a neutral-colored lip liner when wearing a vibrant shade of lipstick.” —Czari Domingo
Nudestix Nudies Blush Stick in Moodie Blue and Nude Buff
VIA NUDESTIX
3CE Face Blusher in Youth Pink
VIA HOLIHOLIC
Benefit Box O’ Powder in Willa
VIA SEPHORA
Patrick Ta’s Major Headlines Double Take Creme & Powder Blush Duo in She’s So LA
VIA SEPHORA
“For long-lasting blush, I always apply a cream blush first as my base layer of color. Then after setting the face with powder, I’ll apply another layer of powder blush. This technique is a classic and works all the time. I also love adding some blush on the eyes and a touch above the eyebrows—it’s an easy way to make the look more cohesive.” —Tamara Pineda
NARS Orgasm blush
VIA LAZADA
Clocheflame’s All Around Flush
VIA LAZADA
MAC Powder Blush in Melba
VIA LAZADA
“My favorite blush technique when using a powder blush is applying it in an 8 motion. This technique will help you blend the blush as you apply it, giving you a natural finish.” —Rica Salomon
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Elephant Blush in the shade Iridescent Coral
VIA SEPHORA
Issy Powder Blush in Flesh
VIA LAZADA
