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This article was originally published in March 2023. It was last updated in June 2024.
If I could choose one makeup product to take with me on a desert island, it would be blush. Not only does it make all the difference in your makeup routine, but it’s so versatile. You can also apply it on your eyes and your lips. After I apply my bronzer, I need blush in order to bring more dimension to my face — it makes all the difference in the world, especially if you have medium/olive skin like me. Bronzer alone is not enough.
The placement of the blush is also very important. I’ve tried the beauty trend of applying it on the tip of my nose to achieve that sunburnt look, but it just didn’t work for me. The way I like to apply my blush is by smiling. I start on the outer apples of my cheeks and then spread it upwards towards my sideburns so that it blends with the bronzer.
Just like my foundation, I’m extremely picky when it comes to blushes. If I like a blush, I’ll stick to it for years to come. When I was first starting to get into makeup, I scoured Sephoras and other high-end department stores in search of the perfect blush for medium skin. Back in 2017, there wasn’t the plethora of blushes that there is now on the market. You can now find creams, liquid formulas with matte finishes, an incredible array of mauve/berry/plum hues, and blushes with a blurring effect that mimic your real flushed cheek colors.
It’s been amazing to see how blush has become a statement in the last two years, especially with Tik Tok and Instagram reels.
I tried many ‘universal’ blushes, those that claim to work for all skin tones. But these were either too rosy, the pigment didn’t show up that much, or they had shimmer, which I personally prefer forgoing.
I spent hours and hours in Sephora trying out different blushes, like the viral Tik Tok blush Dior Backstage Rosy Glow, but the shade was too pinkish for medium skin. Brands like Saje and Laura Mercier also caught my eye, but upon trying them, these were way too sheer for my liking. Other brands like YSL and Milk recently came out with cream blushes that provide a dewy finish – which in my opinion were too dewy, almost like a lipstick stain.
Another example is Fenty Beauty, a brand that I love. Unfortunately, the cream blushes don’t fully convince me. The only mauve shade has a shimmer finish and the rest of the color shades don’t pique my interest. I hope they release a powder formula in the future!
If you have medium/olive skin, then coral/berry/mauve/plum tones are your best choice.
Note: I have medium tan skin with olive undertones. The shade suggestions below are based on what works best for me. I’ve seen plenty of girls with medium skin on Youtube and IG reels who can pull off rosy colors beautifully. Everyone is different! What works for me may not work for you. 🙂
Here’s a roundup of the best blushes for medium/olive skin!
Saie Dew Blush
Recommended shade: Dreamy
When I first saw photos of this brand, the aesthetic reminded me a lot of the “no makeup makeup look” by Glossier. To say that the clean girl makeup trend has taken the beauty world by storm is a huge understatement. Even though the brands are very similar, the employee told me that Saie really hones in on the clean aspect. There are many vegan brands out there, but not all of them formulate their products in the way Saie does.
I’ve been trying using this blush for the last two months and I love the formula. I’ve also gotten so many compliments! Besides the beautiful color, I love how it blends into your skin so seamlessly. Other blushes can look patchy and are harder to blend. With this blush, all I need is two dots on each cheek, a few pats to blend it, and voila!
Saie Dew blushes can be considered the softer version of the Rare Beauty liquid blushes. They have a dewy finish (not matte), and the formula is very buildable and forgiving.
As of June 2024, this is my favorite blush right now.
Bareminerals Gen Nude Powder Blush
Recommended shade: You had me at merlot
Since I found out about this blush in 2017, it’s been a staple in my makeup routine. It’s so pretty that even Priscilla Ono, Rihanna’s makeup artist, complimented it when I met her at the Sephoria event in 2019! “Your blush is so pretty,” she said. It melds seamlessly into the skin and lasts all day! This was one of the very few mauve/plum blushes that you could find at Sephora back in the mid-2010s. During this time, they were also one of the very few clean makeup brands on the market.
A little bit goes a long way and it will last you for ages! I love it so much that I purchased it a second time last year. I truly hope Bare Minerals doesn’t discontinue this color because it’s truly the best!
Physical retailers: Sephora, Ulta Beauty
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid blush
Recommended shade: Love
In 2017, when I was a makeup rookie, Nars liquid blush in the shade Torrid was my go-to until i noticed that it was breaking me out. It was also hard to blend, which is why I deviated from liquid blushes for a while.
When Rare Beauty launched in 2020, their liquid blushes caused a frenzy and went viral across all social media platforms. It didn’t matter that masks were mandatory; people gathered in the Rare Beauty display section sharing their experiences with the products they purchased from the brand.
It’s going to be almost three years since the brand launched and some of their Soft Pinch Liquid blush shades continue to be sold out at Sephoras and online. Their shades have either a dewy or a matte finish.
After trying out all the shades, Love (matte finish), was the one that suited my skin color the most. It’s a beautiful terracotta color and is the one I highly recommend if you have olive skin.
Just like the Bare Minerals blush, I loved this one so much that I bought a second one two months ago.
In order to apply it, it’s best to take off the excess product from the applicator and then dot it on your cheeks — that’s all you need! Make sure the applicator doesn’t have any excess product. If you can’t get the hang of it, then apply it on the back of your hand and work it from there either with your hands or a brush.
Because of the matte finish, it blends amazingly with the rest of my powder and cream products without being overpowering or disturbing the rest of the formulas.
The formula from the Liquid Soft blush is unmatched, and in my opinion, it’s the best on the market when it comes to liquid blushes.
Physical retailer: Sephora
Glossier Cloud Paint
Recommended shades: Haze and Spark
There was a time between 2017 and 2018 where Glossier was my favorite brand in the entire world. I loved the brand so much and I wrote about it extensively on this blog.
The problem with Glossier was that they didn’t know how to adapt to the new trends. Some of their current packaging looks the same as it did in 2017.
But, if there’s one must-have product that I could choose, it would be their best-selling Cloud Paint cream blushes. At the time when these came out, they were revolutionary. No one had done anything like this in the beauty industry: from the user-friendly packaging that mimicked watercolor tubes to the insane pigmentation, the hype was real. Even if you apply a lot, the product is very forgiving and blends really easily.
There are brands on the market that have since adopted the same packaging. A few examples are the Maybelline Cheek Heat, YSL NU Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint and the MILK Makeup Bionic Liquid Blush.
The shade that I first purchased was Storm, a beautiful dark plum shade that I wore on no makeup days. But whenever I did a full face of makeup, the color clashed with the rest of the products, so I switched to Haze, a cool-tone berry shade. In November 2020, Glossier released two new shades: Eve and Spark. I have yet to try the latter!
The only con with Cloud Paint is that it’s hard to control how much product comes out of the tube (you only need two dots). Even if you gently squeeze it, a lot of product will come out — so there’s a little bit of a learning curve.
Physical retailers: Glossier and Sephora
Too Faced Cloud Crush Blurring Blush
Recommended shade: Watermelon Rain
I thought no other blush could ever rival my love of Gen Nude by Bare Minerals, but in 2023, Too Faced came out with these beautiful powder blushes. The texture is very silky, velvety, and I love the blurring effect with the matte finish. They’re so beautiful! The best shade for medium/olive skin is definitely Watermelon Rain.
As opposed to the burgundy hue of the Bare Minerals blush, this one is a fuchsia pink, which can be intimidating. Nevertheless, the color blends beautifully on medium skin tones and it doesn’t look clownish.
Other than their liquid eyeliner, I’ve never gravitated towards Too Faced products because some of them are very childish to me, like their heart-shaped palettes and other scented products. However, to say that I was surprised by this blush is a huge understatement. It’s definitely worth it if you’re looking for a new powder blush to add to your arsenal!
Physical retailers: Sephora, Macys, Ulta Beauty
Sephora Collection Colorful Face Powders
Recommended shade: Hey Jealousy
While I was at Sephora in Studio City, I told the employee Jennifer (@jjennifersara) that I was in the process of writing this article. To my surprise, she was nice enough to give me a blush tour and told me about the best-selling blushes! She took me to the Sephora Collection display section and said that these were selling very well. While I was testing them, I realized that Hey Jealousy is a dupe for Watermelon Rain by Too Faced!
I used a light hand to swatch Watermelon, which had a smoother pigment and was softer to the touch.
Where to get it: Sephora’s website or at any Sephora’s physical location.
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga — Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush with Fermented Arnica
Recommended shade: Acai Sky
Two weeks before this post went live, Lady Gaga’s makeup brand, Haus Labs, released five powder blushes! So of course, I went to Sephora and tested them. I tried the shades Acai Sky and Watermelon Bliss on each cheek. While I was strolling through the aisles, the manager noticed my cheeks, “OMG your cheeks are so pretty, what product did you put on?” I told her about Haus Labs, and asked her which shade looked better on me. She pointed at my right cheek, where I had Acai Sky.
I’ve tried Gaga’s brand before, and impressed is a big understatement. I was blown away by the advanced technology of the brand. It’s called Haus of Labs for a reason! The brand’s logo is “The Future of Clean Makeup” and they pride themselves on combining science and nature for the formulation of their products.
The powder blush has the same blurring effect technology that more brands are using nowadays for powder formulas. But Haus Labs took it further by making them talc-free with fermented arnica. This herb has been used for centuries to ease pain, heal bruises and reduce inflammation.
In an interview, Gaga said: “I use regular arnica on my body all of the time for fibromyalgia. I used to take prescription medication to take down inflammation, and I actually found that it didn’t really work and that arnica was much more powerful. I wanted to explore the healing powers of arnica on the face.”
At first sight, the colors are very intense, but once you swatch them on your skin, they blur and leave you a delicate wash of color. A little bit goes a long way, so be gentle on the application. This isn’t the most affordable blush, but the compact mirror and the great amount of product you’re getting make up for the steep price point.
Physical retailer: Sephora
Danessa Myricks Beauty – Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed (Matte Color for Cheek & Lip)
Recommended shade: Dancing Queen
While I was browsing blushes, the employee Jennifer (@jjennifersara) told me about these blushes by Danessa Myricks, which had only come out six days prior! I had heard about this Black-owned brand before and knew that their pricey eyeshadow palette was always sold out. I dare say that their shimmers surpass Pat McGrath!
The blurring balm blush is based on their award-winning signature product, the Blurring Balm Powder.
I tried the cream blush on at the store and I was mind-blown. Talk about pigment! The first thing I noticed was the buttery texture and the creamy feel. They look very intense in the pan, but once you apply them they sheer out. After trying it, I noticed that it was easier to spread the product with a sponge than with my hands. If you decide to use your fingers, make sure to use a very light hand on the pan! These balms are multipurpose and can also be applied on the lips and on your eyes, which will make for a beautiful monochromatic look.
Overall, for an industry that’s already so saturated with cream blushes, Danessa Myrics has taken their blushes up a notch with their formula.
Highlighted ingredients: (content taken from the Sephora website)
– Upsalite: Supports and absorbs excess sebum and sweat while maintaining skin hydration.
– Olive-Derived Squalane: Known to support oil production and diminish visible signs of aging.
– Hyaluronic Acid: Promotes skin hydration
Physical retailer: Sephora
Mented Cosmetics
Recommended shade: Berried Away
This Black-owned brand has my favorite powder bronzer of all time. Since Mented Cosmetics is now available at Ulta Beauty, I tested the shade Berried Away, a burgundy shade that is very reminiscent of You Had Me at Merlot from Bare Minerals. A plus from this blush is that it’s formulated with vitamin E! If you’re not familiar with Mented Cosmetics, they’re known for their ultra-pigmented formulas and smooth powders.
Note: The brand is cruelty-free and vegan.
Physical retailer: Ulta Beauty
e.l.f. Putty Blush
These $6 putty blushes have been Tik Tok approved. My friend got one at Ulta and when we met two weeks later, she said she was really surprised by it! If I were to pick one up, I would definitely choose the shade Tahiti.
Physical retailers: Ulta Beauty, Target
As you can see, there’s never been a better time to choose a blush. Depending on your skin type is, your budget, or what formula you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone!
