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This article was originally published in March 2023. It was last updated in December 2025.
If I could choose one makeup product to take with me on a desert island, it would be blush. 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. When I first started getting into makeup, I scoured Sephoras and other high-end department stores in search of the perfect blush for my medium-olive skin. However, back in 2017, there wasn’t the plethora of blushes that there is now on the market. Now we have 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 color.
It’s been amazing to see how blush has become a statement in the last few years, especially on TikTok 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 foregoing.
I spent hours and hours at Sephora trying out different blushes, like the viral TikTok Dior’s Backstage Rosy Glow, but the shade was too pinkish for medium skin. 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 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. 🙂
Here’s a roundup of the best blushes for medium/olive skin!
Saie Dew Blush
Recommended shade: Dreamy
Saie’s aesthetic reminded me 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 Sephora 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 using this blush every day for the last two years, and I don’t see it being replaced by a new one anytime soon! Not only is it a showstopper (I always get compliments on it), but the lasting power and pigmentation are incredible. The picture below was taken at 8 am. At 8 pm, I walked into a Sephora and an employee asked me what blush I was wearing. It really lasts all day and I’m on my second tube!
Besides the beautiful color, I love how it blends into the 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.
Like almost everyone this year, I couldn’t get enough of The White Lotus Season 3. Did you know that the makeup artist used Saie’s blushes in all three seasons? For the final episode of Season 3, Chelsea wore the Saie blush in the shade Poppy!
“This blush in the color Poppy was an obvious choice for Chelsea’s finale look. It’s sheer enough to be a natural tint but can be buildable for a more dramatic look. Its hydrating formula gives the perfect amount of glow to the cheeks for that dewy vacation look,” said Rebecca Hickey.
It’s the best!
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. This was 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 became a viral sensation. It didn’t matter if masks were mandatory and your makeup couldn’t be seen; people gathered in the Rare Beauty display section sharing their experiences with the products they purchased from the brand.
It’s already been five years since the release of Rare Beauty, and some of their Soft Pinch Liquid shades continue to be sold out at Sephoras and online.
After trying out all the shades, Love (matte finish), was the one that suited my skin color the best. It’s a beautiful terracotta color and is the one I highly recommend if you have medium/ olive skin.
In order to apply it, 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 with your fingers 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.
Physical retailer: Sephora
Patrick Ta’s Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo
As far as high-end blushes go, the Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo has reigned supreme at Sephora since its release in 2020. According to an article by Glossy, the Blush Duo ranked as the second best-selling blush in Sephora last year, preceded by the record-breaking Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush.
Patrick’s expertise in his cream-over-powder technique became a viral sensation on TikTok. Since then, this blush has been prominently seen in celebrities and influencers get ready with me videos.
The blush, which comes in a luxurious compact case, features a cream with a satin-like finish and a finely milled powder for that perfect finishing touch. I tested the shade She Left on Red and I loved how buildable yet insanely pigmented it is. They’re stunning!
For now, I’m very loyal to my Saie liquid blush as I love the packaging and how easy it is to use with the doefoot applicator. However, if you want to splurge on a luxurious blush where you get both cream and powder, this is the perfect product for you!
Patrick Ta: Website and Instagram
Physical retailers: Only at Sephora!
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. This was one of the very few mauve/plum blushes that you could find at Sephora back in the mid-2010s. During this time, Bare Minerals was also one of the very few clean makeup brands on the market.
With this powder blush, a little bit will go a long way. I love it so much that I purchased it a second time last year. I truly hope Bare Minerals doesn’t discontinue this color!
Physical retailers: Sephora, Ulta Beauty
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 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: the user-friendly packaging that mimicked watercolor tubes and the insane pigmentation set the internet ablaze.
A few years later, many brands have followed suit by adapting the same packaging: Maybelline Cheek Heat, YSL NU Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint and the MILK Makeup Bionic Liquid Blush.
My first Glossier Cloud Paint purchase 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.
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 doesn’t look clownish.
Other than their liquid eyeliner, I’ve never gravitated towards Too Faced 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, I shared with the employee 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 their 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. If you’re looking for a bang for your buck, the Sephora Collection blushes are a nice option!
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 brand’s advanced technology in their product formulation, combining science and nature. It’s called Haus of Labs for a reason!
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 have blurring effect, providing you with 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
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 TikTok approved. My friend got one at Ulta and when we met and two weeks later, she said she was really surprised by the formula! 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 buy blush. Depending on what your skin type is, your budget, or what formula you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone!
