For Oquendo, two blushes he’s loved using this year include the e.l.f. Cosmetics Cheek Stain and Estée Lauder Futurist Blushmaker Dewy Cheek Tint Liquid Blush. With the e.l.f. Stains, he loves to underpaint with them to give a natural-looking lift and glow. If a stain intimidates you (they can often come with a lot of pigment and leave little to no room for error), he says the Estée Lauder tint is great for blush novices.
And if you’re looking for a cool blush hack, Eldridge loves using her Insanely Saturated Lip Colours lipstick for her blush needs. “They’re intensely pigmented, available in the most vibrant shades, and perfect for that almost powdered cheek effect.” Pro tip: She says to mix highlighter into your lipstick for a luminous blush-like finish, then blend it in an upward motion from the apples of the cheeks to the temples for best placement. “You can create a bespoke, luminous blush that will instantly give you a fresh flush of color,” she says.
The Future of Blush
Blush is here to stay, and experts say that it will become an essential step in all our makeup routines. “This is going to be one of those trends that’s around for a long while,” says Oquendo. “I think blush is this generation’s road mapping.”
“I don’t think blush is going anywhere, at least not for me,” adds Shahzada. “It’s become such an integral part of how we shape, lift, and bring life back into the face.”
But no matter how you wear your blush or what trend you’re particularly drawn to, all that matters is having fun. “You should cherry-pick what you want from [blush trends] and make them work for you,” says Eldridge. “Whether you want to sculpt, volumize, slim, plump, or lift your face, there are so many styles. It’s about making it work for you and your face shape.”