What You’ll Learn
- If your undertone reads neutral, choose blush by skin depth, not undertone: pale mauves for light skin, salmon or raspberry for medium, vivid berry for deeper skin that you can build from sheer to bold.
- Olive skin often has a green cast, so pick pinks and reds with golden warmth—warm corals or bronzy-rose tones neutralize green and create a sunlit cheek.
- As skin gets deeper, boost pigment saturation: saturated crimson makes a high-contrast statement, while plum or maroon gives a natural-looking flush; creams and liquids help color read true.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What color blush should I wear?” you know that you have a lot of options to choose from. A warm coral blush color is great for faking a summery glow, while petal pinks and dusty roses can lend your look a soft, romantic vibe. And while it’s a good idea to choose a blush shade based on your desired look, it’s also important to select a hue that complements your skin tone (and undertone). Here, we’ll explain why and offer advice on how to choose a blush color that complements your skin. Keep reading to learn how to find your most flattering flush.
What Is Blush?
Blush, as you may know, is a type of makeup product primarily used on the cheeks to mimic the natural flush that your skin gets when you blush (hence the name). While blush colors typically fall somewhere on the pinkish spectrum, this isn’t always the case—shades can range from sandy taupe to deep purple or brown. When choosing a blush color, you’ll want to opt for a shade that flatters both your skin tone and undertone. A blush that’s too dark may make your complexion look splotchy or muddy, while one that’s too light may wash you out (or simply not show up at all).
Aside from variations in shade, blush can come in different finishes. Powder blushes tend to be matte, while cream and liquid blushes may be matte, satiny, dewy, or even shimmery. Picking a formula, finish, and blush color that aligns with your needs is the best way to ensure a cohesive end result.
What Blush Color Is Best for Your Skin Tone?
While you can wear any blush you like, you’ll find that some shades flatter your skin better than others. Ahead, we’re breaking down some of our favorite blush colors for different skin tones.
Best blush colors for fair skin tones
If you’re on the fairer side, you’ll want to take caution to avoid blushes that are too dark, as deeper tones will look unnatural against your light skin. Instead, look for soft, light shades, such as carnation pink or pale mauve. The Buttermelt Blush in Butta Together is an excellent pick for a natural-looking, fresh-faced flush.
Best blush colors for olive skin tones
Olive skin tones can be fair or dark, but tend to be greener in tone rather than pink or brown. Generally speaking, pinks and reds with golden undertones are ideal for this skin tone. Look for warm corals or even bronzy rose shades to help bring out your skin’s natural golden tones. We love the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Papaya Plump.
Best blush colors for medium skin tones
Medium skin tones are neither obviously fair nor dark, but fall right in the middle (often, they look perpetually tanned). To ensure your blush pops against your skin tone, we suggest seeking out brighter, more pigmented pinks and softer reds, such as salmon or raspberry. Try the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Peach Plunge for a dewy finish, or the Buttermelt Blush in Had Butta for a velvety matte flush.
Best blush colors for deep skin tones
The deeper your skin, the more saturated you’ll want your blush to be. Vivid crimson blush makes a bold statement against darker skin tones, while deeper shades like plum and maroon offer a more natural blushed effect. The Buttermelt Blush in Butta Than Before is one of our favorite shades—the dark raspberry hue pops beautifully against deep skin tones. If liquid blush is more your speed, try the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Plum Pop.
What Blush Color Is Best for Your Undertone?
It’s also important to consider your skin’s undertone (or underlying “tint”) when choosing a blush color. While there are a few methods you can use to determine your skin’s undertone, we find the vein test to be a fairly reliable method. Position yourself in natural lighting, then take a close look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. If they appear primarily blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones, while veins that appear green usually indicate a warm undertone. Those with neutral skin often see a mix of blue and green tones—this just means your skin is neither entirely warm nor entirely cool. Ahead, learn how to pick a blush color that complements your undertones.
Best blush colors for cool undertones
Those with cool undertones often have a pinkish cast to their skin and tend to look best in shades that emphasize that coolness (such as dusty rose, bubblegum, and purplish pinks). If you have fair cool-toned skin, try a light pink, like the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Dragon Fruit Drip. Those with deeper skin tones, meanwhile, can pull off more vibrant purple-pink and berry shades. If you’re looking for a recommendation, we love the Buttermelt Blush in Butta With Time.
Best blush colors for warm undertones
Those with warmer undertones tend to look best in equally warm-toned blushes. Peaches, salmons, and orange-reds are all great options—they’ll help bring out the natural warmth in your skin. Give fair warm-toned skin a sun-kissed glow with a bright coral hue, like the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Fig Fizz. For deeper skin, the Buttermelt Blush in Feeling Butta is a gorgeous option. The warm shade bridges the gap between a soft pink and a golden brown, making for a sun-kissed flush that’ll complement your complexion beautifully.
Best blush colors for neutral undertones
Neutral skin is neither warm nor cool, and as such, can pull off a wide range of shades. When searching for a blush for neutral undertones, we recommend making your decision based on your skin tone (rather than undertone), as well as your desired look. A brighter, more vivid blush will have a more dramatic effect, while softer, subtler tones tend to provide a more natural-looking flush. If you’re on the hunt for a blush that you can wear for daytime and nighttime, try the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush in Bouncin’ Berry. You can apply a small amount of the vivid pink blush for a soft wash of color, or build it up for a brighter statement blush look.
How To Get a Sun-Kissed Look with Blush
Once you’ve found the best blush color for your skin, you can get to the fun part: applying it. Here are five steps to follow for a summery, sun-kissed look.
1. Lay down your base
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: Makeup primer is the key to a lasting makeup look. We recommend priming your face with the Face Glue Gripping Primer, which provides long-lasting hydration and feels lightweight on the skin. Apply a small amount to clean, dry skin, then blend it out for a smooth, even base and up to 24 hours of makeup wear.
2. Add foundation (if desired)
Next, apply your favorite foundation to help even out your skin tone. You can use any products you like, but we’re especially fond of how the Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30 pairs with the aforementioned primer. The skincare-makeup hybrid is packed with skin-loving ingredients and contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to keep your skin protected from the sun’s damaging rays.
3. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks
Once your base is set, you can go ahead and apply your blush. If you’re using a liquid blush like the Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush, apply a few dots to each cheekbone, then blend the pigment with a makeup sponge or your fingers. The pigmented formula feels hydrating on the skin, and it’s buildable, so you can tailor your flush to your liking.
For powder blushes, we recommend lightly sweeping a fluffy brush over your blush to pick up product. Then, lightly dust the blush onto your cheeks, blending it out in circular motions.
For a sun-kissed look, we recommend hitting the tops of your cheekbones and blending the blush out toward your temples. You can also sweep a little bit onto your nose to amplify the beachy effect—just take it slow so as not to overdo it.
If you need more tips on where to apply blush, we recommend heading over to our article How To Apply Blush and Flatter Your Face Shape.
4. Add warmth with bronzer
As far as we’re concerned, no beachy makeup look is complete without a bit of bronzer. Thankfully, we’ve got that covered. Just snag your favorite Buttermelt Bronzer hue and use a bronzer blush to apply the soft matte formula anywhere you’d like some extra warmth, such as the bridge of your nose or top of your forehead.
5. Set your look
As soon as you’re satisfied with your look, you can set your makeup. To help ensure your blush stays put, mist your completed look with The Face Glue Setting Spray for a vibrant, long-lasting finish.
Next Up: Seasonal Color Analysis for Makeup: How To Find Your Perfect Makeup Colors.
We want to see how you wear your favorite NYX Professional Makeup blush! Share a pic on social and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
Fat Cheeks Juicy Liquid Blush
Get juicy, hydrated cheeks with a 24H hydrating liquid blush for a healthy, dewy glow.
THE FACE GLUE SETTING SPRAY
Up to 24h makeup lock and shield, waterproof setting spray
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Buttermelt Bronzer
High pigment, true-to-skin buttery powder bronzer. Fade & transfer resistant with up to 12HR wear.
BUTTERMELT GLAZE SOFT GLOW SKIN TINT SPF 30
A skin tint with a soft glow glazed finish in ten flexible shades
THE FACE GLUE GRIPPING PRIMER
Up to 24h hydrating and gripping makeup prepping glue
Buttermelt Blush
High pigment buttery soft powder blush. Fade & transfer resistant with up to 12HR wear.
