The Best Blush for Every Skin Tone—How to Pick the Right Shade

Cosmopolitan

3 days ago

Whether you're all about bold, statement makeup or more of a five-minute face kind of person, blush deserves a spot in everyone's makeup bag. In my opinion, it's the unsung hero of makeup. Sure, foundation gets the credit for smoothing out complexions, and people cling to their favorite lipstick to instantly perk them up. I think blush has the ability to do both when done right.
And 'done right' comes down to finding the right shade. Yes, placement matters, but if the color isn't quite right, your blush is not going to pop as well as it could.
It can be daunting to opt for anything other than a rosy pink, but a wealth of color choices out there are waiting to liven up your look. Makeup artist and founder of KJH.Brand, Katie Jane Hughes says, "When it comes to blush, I believe things need to be tried and tested. So the best blush shade for you is the one that makes you happy." And while she doesn't subscribe to the idea that there are wrong shades, she does think some look more incredible on different skin tones. More on that, below.
"I love using berries, red plums, and deep rust tones on deeper complexions," says Hughes, "and make sure you choose shades that don't have too much white in them." As a black girl who loves blush, I find that I get the most skin compliments when I wear my Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Flushed Blurring Balm Powder in Dancing Queen (you can shop it below).
For olive skin tones, unsurprisingly, a mix of bold but mid-toned hues works perfectly. So look for shades of apricot orange, deep peachy tones, or terracotta (a lighter take on rust hues), to really emphasize your complexion. These shades look especially vibrant on sun-kissed skin and make the cheeks look perfectly flushed.
"For more fair, pale complexions, I usually opt for varieties of pinks and peachy tones," says Hughes, "something within those hues always looks so fresh on the complexion." Cool-toned pink looks incredible on fair skin–if you're worried about the color looking too stark against your skin, try a blush balm formula, which is easier to build up and gently blend out on the cheeks.
Katie Jane Hughes is a professional makeup artist and the founder of KJH Brand. She's Dua Lipa's makeup artist, creating many of the pop star's most iconic looks.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.