Ok, I’m not one to usually gate keep as a rule and normally I love nothing more than sharing all the beauty tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years testing thousands of products and having access to some of the best MUAs in the world, like Mario Dedivanovic and Lan Nguyen-Grealis. However, there is one of my go-to makeup tricks that I use pretty much every single day, but rarely share and that’s red blush.
Yep, if I need a quick zshush or boost I will always reach for a red blush and apply across my cheekbones and over the top of my nose. It gives that fresh, “just played out in the freezing cold” flush that I adore, it’s natural, youthful and so easy to do as it doesn’t need any skills to execute. The reason I’ve never really thought of it as a makeup look, or trend, is because this tends to be my go-to when I’m in a rush and opting for a low-key day, a bit like a messy bun. But just as this hairstyle has made it out of the shower, it appears red blush is breaking into the mainstream too.
The reason this shade of blush has started popping up on my FYP page is thanks to RMS Beauty Founder and Makeup Artist Rose-Marie Swift, best known for working on the Victoria’s Secret shows, as well leading the move into clean beauty, with her products at RMS. During this clip Swift explains how red offers “a bit more depth than pink” to ensure the colour and tone looks a lot more natural.
Swift also says you shouldn’t be scared of red as it really does work for giving skin a hint of ‘sophistication’ and I have to agree. I find red gives skin a glow, which doesn’t look like makeup, in comparison to pink which tends to look like blush on the skin. Whereas “blonzing”, another technique I really love, gives skin an overall sunkissed glow, the use of red blush looks like your skin has spent all day in the sun and has a hint of sunburn. The kind that doesn’t give you skin damage, obviously. One of the first red blushes I was ever introduced to was in fact RMS Lip2Cheek in Beloved (£35). This bright red can look quite daunting when you first unscrew the lid, but as you apply the cream formula across the skin you will see how it seamlessly melts and blends into the skin. I also like to use a dab on my lips to add a hint of colour that all chimes together.
Another favourite red blush has to be Merit Flush Balm in Sheer Red (£32). When I say I have this in every handbag, I am not kidding. It is so easy to apply you simple swipe it across your cheeks direct from the bullet and then blend out with your fingers to give skin a really natural looking, glowing flush.
If you prefer a powder then Haus Lab Colour Fuse Talc Free Powder Blush in Watermelon Bliss (£28) may be for you. It is highly pigmented so ensure you tap off the excess colour from the brush before applying across your cheekbones and over your nose. It is also slightly pinker than the other options, but as it’s powder you need this slightly softer hue to ensure it stays looking natural.
Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.