With the arrival of warm spring and TikTok emphasizing the face-transforming power of a hint of rouge, there’s a renewed interest in how to apply blush. When it comes to making it look like your own natural, rosy glow, it has to look like you’ve “just left SoulCycle,” insists makeup artist Sir John, who’s Beyoncé’s equal parts glow and bulletproof makeup behind the scenes. From creating a supercharged canvas to choosing an easy-to-melt formula, Sir John and other popular pros share their secrets on how to apply blush and flush from the inside out.
CREATES A HYDRATED CANVAS
All experts agree that smooth, dewy skin is essential when preparing for an HD camera of. Massaging in your moisturizer or hydrating primer is a non-negotiable first step if matte is a priority. For “maximum hydration,” makeup artist Naoko Scintu recommends starting with a mask as another option. But Sir John likes to take it a step further and layer moisturizer on his face after foundation so the blush really fades into the in the skin. “The best time to apply blush is when the skin is still damp,” he explains. “The extra layer of hydration makes it softer.”
La Mer Hydrating Brightening Cream
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream
Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Glow Serum Primer
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew drop
choose Smooth, shade-matching formula
“Use blush no more than two to three shades darker than your natural [reddened] shade; otherwise, you’ll find it difficult to blend, said Scintu. For even more dimension, she likes to use a darker shade on the inside of her cheeks, then work her way outward with a lighter complementary color. In terms of color, fair and cool skin tones should opt for a more muted shade like baby pink or peach pink, while darker, warmer skin tones can go for a brighter shade. In terms of texture, a cream (like Rare Beauty’s Melting Cream) or a liquid tinted blush (like Benefit’s Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain) are often the best options—as long as the skin is primed to be smooth and soft—skin look. “They provide the most natural non-cosmetic finish and add an awakened quality to the skin,” says makeup artist Romy Soleimani, whose clients include Tracee Ellis Ross and Cara Delevingne. However, for Beyoncé’s “Teflon face,” Sir John always adds a layer of powder for extra color payoff and staying power.
Rare Beauty Melting Cream Blush
Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Rose Lip & Cheek Tint
Westman Atelier baby lip + cheek cream blush poke
mix, mix some more
“I like to start by painting my fingers Apply a cream blush so you can really feel your cheeks, with the added bonus of creating a natural flush with circulation,” Soleimani explains, adding that she uses a small, fluffy brush, Like Westman Atelier’s Baby Blender brush, to blend the edges in a circular motion. Once applied, she recommends hiding the area around the sides of the nose to further spread the discoloration. “It makes you look like you’re blushing naturally, rather than on your skin,” she says. For a “sunburned blush” effect, you can also dab a touch of blush on the bridge of the nose. “It gives that relaxed summer vibe, like you lay out for a few hours and then quickly change to dinner,” says the makeup artist behind Hailey Bieber’s signature sun-kissed flush Nina Park said. To take advantage of a glassy complexion, Sir John uses a plush sponge blender, such as L’Oréal’s Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, then gently strokes the skin with a brush, “kissing” the skin with powder, from the apples of the cheeks outwards, Then work towards the temples, down to the center of the chest for full body warmth.
Westerman Studio Baby Blending Brush
Charlotte Tilbury Bronzer Blush Brush
L’Oréal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender
Merit Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush
Finish With Lustre
takes blush to the next level because of the creamy highlight, and when Soleimani uses the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer face on the highlight side, she also infuses skincare emollients like Weleda Skin Food for added shine. Scintu mixes dewy elixirs like Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Dew Drops onto cheekbones and the bridge of the nose for a shimmery shimmer. For a fresh finish, Sir John sprays on Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir, a cocktail of conditioning rose extract, revitalizing rosemary oil and hydrating orange blossom water. “You want the skin to be as soft as possible,” he says. “It adds more luster.”
Rare Beauty Melting Cream Blush 
L’Oréal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender
