The Ultimate Guide to Building a Blush Wardrobe

It’s hard not to love blush—believe me, I’ve tried. With every new trend, aesthetic and launch, I eagerly make an attempt to get the look. But between having the wrong blush placement and color, I could never get it quite right. So, I’d decided that blush just wasn’t for me. That was until a new approach showed up on my FYP. Enter the blush wardrobe. Instead of falling for every new product or trendy look, it proposes that you build a collection of blushes tailored to your skin. This includes various formulas, finishes and shades. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine when it comes to blush. After all, finding your perfect combo isn’t easy. However, creating a blush wardrobe can be the key that unlocks the wonderful world of blush. Ahead, we chatted with two makeup artists about how to build a capsule blush wardrobe, including shade selection and the benefits of embracing a range of blush styles instead of sticking to your tried-and-true formula.

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The benefits of a blush wardrobe

It’s a well-known fact that blush can enhance your makeup look and facial features. We often focus on finding the perfect shade, but there’s beauty in variation. Celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris shares that owning several colors of blush means you can create a cohesive makeup look. “Having a variety of blush shades makes it easier to find a hue that will complement the other makeup that you may be wearing. For example, a softer tone works well if you’re wearing a red lip, whereas a richer shade of blush is best when the rest of your makeup is neutral,” he says. Like everything makeup-related, it’s all about balance. A collection of shades can also be helpful for creating seasonal looks—think sun-kissed colors for summer and bold hues for fall. Celebrity makeup artist Natalie Dresher adds that a blush wardrobe is necessary when adjusting your makeup to your current complexion, be it tanned or natural from sun exposure.

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The experts say the same ethos holds true for formulations. “When you have different blush formats, such as creams and powders, you can layer your products and get a multidimensional finish,” says Harris. Layering formulas also helps with the longevity and overall look of your blush. Adding a layer of cream or liquid blush to a traditional powder pumps up the intensity of the color and locks it in place.

How to build a blush wardrobe

According to Harris, selecting the shades of your blush wardrobe should depend on two things: depth of color and tonality. “Assessing how light or dark a shade is and being able to determine whether it’s cool or warm is essential for choosing a shade that best fits your skin tone,” he says. Understanding the nuances of your complexion is just as important. Dresher suggests using your undertones as a baseline while shopping for new shades. “The goal is to choose tones that complement your makeup look and skin tone,” she says. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative. “Pairing your makeup with varying blush tones is an unexpected way to tie the look together and make it your own,” adds Dresher.

The blush shades to add to your wardrobe