Should you be wearing cool-toned blush?
If you prefer a fresher flush, consider this your sign.
Image credit: Instagram.com/ninapark; Instagram.com/aimeetwistartistry; Instagram.com/misha212
If we haven’t already reached peak blush, we can’t be that far off. We’ve layered two or three of them in a single look across colours and finishes. We’re contouring and ‘blonzing’ with them, taking them out of their traditional applications to shape the face. And many have come to the point of ‘blush blindness’, applying blush with delightful abandon — or, if you’re talking to a blush blindness convert, applying the exact amount.
But even in the midst of all this blush hype, there’s one factor that many still aren’t considering: the use of a cool-toned blush. You may already be using one without realising, which is all the more reason to deep dive into the category.
First question, what exactly is a cool-toned blush, and what is the difference between it and its warmer counterpart? According to Sydney-based makeup artist, Caro Rojas, when it comes to blush “cool tones have more blue, pink, red and lilac hues, while warm tones have more peachy, orange, yellow and golden hues.”
Colour theories aside, Rojas explains that a cool-toned blush is the one that “gives that beautiful freshness to the skin.” She adds: “A clear example is when you’re outside on a very cold day and your hands naturally become pink. That is a beautiful example of the kind of cool-toned flush we recreate with makeup — that blue-pink colour coming through the skin.”
Read on for your complete guide to cool-toned blushes, including how to apply them differently to a warm-toned blush, and an expert-approved guide to the best cool-toned blushes to buy.
Who suits cool-toned blush best?
Unlike foundations and concealers, Rojas explains that skintone and its undertones aren’t so prescriptive when it comes to blush. “I think the makeup market is so diverse now that every complexion can find a beautiful cool-toned blush,” she says, noting that it’s more about finding a blush with the right tone, depth and intensity for your skin.
Should I be wearing a cool-toned blush instead of a warm-toned blush?
The short answer is that it really comes down to the type of look you’re trying to create. Take a wider lens to the entire face and all the products you’re using to figure out whether a cool-toned blush is the one to reach for. If you try both a warm and cool toned product within that look, you should immediately see which will suit best. “It’s important to train the eye to see how all the elements work together, so everything feels balanced and enhances your beauty rather than the makeup taking over,” Rojas explains.
If it’s fresh, youthful and naturally flushed you’re going for, cool-toned blush is the way to go. Why? “It can really enhance the cheeks and bring that freshness back into the complexion,” says Rojas. You can really up this effect by bringing your application up towards the cheekbones, Rojas explains, blending it into your base to add highlight and brightness.
But Rojas says that, above all, the key here is to just go for it and have fun. It’s not that serious. Try the blush.
How do I apply a cool-toned blush?
You’ve already picked up your cool-toned blush, but before you apply any product, you should decide what you’re trying to portray. To bring it back to the most basic blush rules, Rojas explains that “a higher cheek application can lift the face, while placing blush too low can sometimes draw the face down.”
The most natural approach here is what Rojas calls the “boyfriend blush technique”, similar to the natural flush you get after being outside or exercising. Here, the placement is mainly across the lower cheek. “I personally love the look of a natural flush — when you’ve been running, you’re out in the cold, or your skin naturally starts to flush and you see that colour coming through the cheeks. I think that is one of the most beautiful forms of blush. It’s almost like nature’s doing your makeup for you.”
If you’re going for a more romantic look — she references Zendaya’s blush looks on The Odyssey press tour — bring your blush “more across the centre of the face to create that beautiful, almost cherub-like feeling." Another factor Rojas considers is hair. “If you have a fringe or bangs, for example, you might want to bring the blush placement slightly lower so everything feels balanced.”
What are the best cool-toned blushes to buy?
Recently, Rojas has been loving muted cool-toned blushes, which still have those signature blue, pink or lilac undertones, but are “softer and less saturated”. Instead of a bright, strong pink, “they’re a little grey, beige, mauve or brown, which makes the colour look more dusty, soft and sophisticated on the skin.” This way, Rojas explains, “you get a softer colour on the skin” without the blush looking too obvious and without your face looking too made up. “I love when the blush looks like it belongs to the skin rather than sitting on top of it.
Having said that, Rojas still has a big place in her heart (and kit) for classic cool-toned blushes. “There are so many variables, and I think that’s what makes makeup so much fun. It really depends on your features, your mood, your outfit and the overall look you want to create. There are no strict rules. You can play with the placement and see what makes you feel the most beautiful.”
Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink
Dior Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in Berry
Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre N03 Voile Corail Blush
M.A.C Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush in La La Lavendar
YSL Beauty Make Me Blush Bold Blurring Blush in Pink Voltage
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Riri
Bobbi Brown Skin Enhancer Multi-Stick
Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip Tint in Rose
Chanel N°1 De Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm Enhances Colour Nourishes Plumps
