Staying on trend can be tricky, especially when it comes to something as specific as blush placement. With terms like “blush blindness” flying around, it’s easy to feel both overwhelmed and tempted to try popular shades like Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush or Rhode’s Pocket Blush. To help you confidently participate in the blush trend, we spoke with experts on how to find the perfect blush placement for your unique face shape. Keep reading to determine yours.
Featured Experts
- Natalie Dresher is a makeup artist based in Miami
- Charlotte Knight is the founder and CEO of Ciatè London
- Melissa Walsh is a celebrity makeup artist
Blush Placement Trend Takeover
Thanks to TikTok, there are a thousand-and-one trends focused on blush: boyfriend blush, chin blush, lifting blush, oh my! It feels like there’s a new blush application method every week. However, not all blush placement trends are one-size-fits-all. “Blush application relies heavily on the look you are going for and your face shape,” explains Miami makeup artist Natalie Dresher. “For example, the Sabrina Carpenter look is trending, and in order to achieve her flushed cherubic look, you need to focus the blush on the apples of the cheeks and the temples. This may not be flattering for all face shapes.”
Fear not, though—there is a perfect blush placement for your unique face shape, and we’re about to dive into how to find it.
Square Faces
Dresher recommends applying blush along the cheekbones. She also suggests focusing the blush on the inner part of the face to create a more “snatched” look that emphasizes your facial contours.
Charlotte Knight, founder and CEO of Ciatè London, is a fan of the boyfriend blush trend for this face shape. “The increasingly popular trend is also said to be particularly flattering for those with longer, squarer faces as it complements the structure,” she says.
Oval Faces
Makeup artist Melissa Walsh stresses that you don’t need much product for effective blush placement on an oval face shape, whether you apply it to the apples of your cheeks or just beneath the cheekbones for definition. She recommends “starting under the pupils and blend[ing] to the middle of the cheeks” for a natural look.
The recent chin blush trend is particularly flattering on oval-shaped faces. A light application of blush in this area creates softness and draws attention away from the length of the face.
Round Faces
Blush in the wrong place on a round face can create a more baby-faced look than you may want. So-called “blush blindness” can be a problem here, as too much product can add weight to the face. To avoid this, Dresher uses blush placement to create the illusion of sharper cheekbones, lifting the face and creating dimension. According to Charlotte Tilbury’s blush guide, “When applying blush on a round face, it’s key to apply slightly higher on the cheeks to help visibly lift and define the shape of the face.”
Heart Faces
“Blush application for a heart-shaped face would focus the blush on the apples of the cheeks but also placing it along the temples,” Dresher recommends. “That’s what accomplishes that instantly lifted look.”
Golden Rules for Blush
“My goal when working with clients is to always lift and snatch the face, so anything going alongside the cheekbones is 99.9 percent always the route that I will go,” Dresher says. The apples of the cheeks with a highlight along the cheekbone will nearly always create a flattering final result. It’s also a good idea to place blush where you naturally flush.
Knight says the following is a fool-proof way to make your blush suit your face shape. “Create a downward triangle shape on the cheeks, starting from a higher point and extending down to the bottom of the cheek,” she says. “This technique mimics the subtle flush that occurs after physical activity, lending a fresh and youthful glow to the complexion. Begin with a minimal amount of product and gradually build up to achieve the desired intensity, as it’s easier to add more color than to remove excess pigment.”
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