How to Apply Blush Based on Your Face Shape

While applying blush seems like it should be pretty simple, finding the right way to apply it to complement your face shape can take some trial and error. Whether your face is round, square, oval, or heart-shaped, it can be hard to lock down the best method for how to apply blush with all the techniques, tips and tricks out there. 

TikTok seems to have a new blush hack or technique to try on the weekly and it’s starting to get to a point where there are too many choices. To help you master your blush application for your face shape, we’re removing all the noise and making it easy. Inside, we’re breaking down how to identify your face shape, blush placement for every face shape and our favorite blush formulas to add to your makeup bag.

How to Identify Your Face Shape 

Grab your mirror and take a good look at your face. Here are six of the most common face shapes and how to identify them. 

Square

If you have a square face shape, you have pointed angles around the perimeter of your face and a defined jawline. Your face is as wide as it is long.

Round

If you have a round face shape, your face is wider than it is long. Your visage has a softness to it and you may have plump cheeks.

Oval

If you have an oval face shape, there’s a good chance your face is longer than it is wide and there is a soft roundness to it. 

Long 

If you have a long or oblong face shape, your face is longer than it is wide. You may have a prominent forehead or chin. 

Heart

If you have a heart-shaped face, it’s widest at the top, near your eyes and tapers in at your chin, just like the shape of a heart.

Diamond

Like an oval face shape, a diamond face shape is wider than it is long. There is a good chance you have angular features, like prominent cheekbones if you’re diamond-shaped.

How to Apply Blush If You Have a Square Face

If you have a square face, it’s best to keep things basic by applying blush on the apples of your cheeks. This can also help to soften angular face shapes, like a square face. When you apply blush, focus on the apples of your cheeks and blend outward for a soft wash of color. Make sure not to stipple the product too far out horizontally to avoid a wider-looking face. 

How to Apply Blush If You Have a Round Face

When you have a round face, your goal should be to make your cheekbones pop because it will help to create definition. Applying blush to the apples of your cheeks can give your face a rounder appearance and soften your cheekbones. Give your face an angular, sculpted look by applying blush slightly lower and toward the outside of your cheeks, starting at the outer corner of your eyes, moving outwards and upwards. Avoid blending the blush toward your nose since that can make your face look rounder.

Editor’s tip: Swap out shimmery blush formulas for matte options to help prevent your cheeks from looking overly cherubic. 

How to Apply Blush If You Have an Oval Face

If you have an oval face, you’re in luck because when it comes to where to apply blush, you can pretty much get away with anything. Just make sure to avoid applying blush under your cheekbones, as that’s actually where you should apply contour. When you apply blush under your cheekbones, you can end up looking like you have windburn instead of a rosy glow.

To slim an oval face, apply blush just above where you applied your contour and blend outwards.

How to Apply Blush If You Have a Long Face

Having a long face means you have more room for blush. Start under the eyes (in line with your nose) and blend to the middle of your cheeks. Apply it in a slight semicircle or a straight line to make your face appear shorter (if that’s the goal).

If you have a long face shape and you want to use blush to sculpt your face, apply it in the middle of your cheeks, sweeping it upwards to create a lifting effect.

How to Apply Blush If You Have a Heart-Shaped Face

Since heart-shaped faces can appear pointy, you’ll want to soften your features. To do so, apply blush in ‘C’ shapes from the top of your cheeks to just above the tail of your eyebrows. You can also add a bit of blush to the center of your forehead to create balance between your forehead and chin. 

How to Apply Blush If You Have a Diamond Face

Knowing where to put blush in order to flatter a diamond-shaped face can help draw attention upward and soften your features. Simply apply blush to the tops of your cheekbones and blend outward toward your ears. Avoid blending inwards as this can make your face look plumper.

How to Pick the Right Blush Formula

When it comes to blush, you have the option between a cream, liquid or powder formula, and the best way to decide on the right one is to consider your skin type and what kind of makeup look you want. Whether your skin is dry or oily will impact the type of blush you choose — a powder blush may call attention to dry spots, whereas a cream formula will blend seamlessly overdry skin. 

As for those with oily complexions, cream blushes will need to be extra long-wearing to avoid an oily makeup meltdown. Because of this, people with oily skin may want to opt for powder blush. 

If you want a dewy makeup look, a cream or liquid blush formula is going to be better at achieving that because it has a wet consistency that typically stays wet. If you want a matte makeup look, then powder blush is the best choice because powder can mattify the skin.

How to Pick the Right Blush Color

For your best blush application ever, you’ll need to take your skin tone into account, too. In terms of tone, look for blushes that mimic your skin’s undertones, so if you have a warm tone, pick warm-toned blushes and if you have a cool tone, opt for cool-toned blushes. If you have neutral tones, then you can pick a blush with warm or cool tones. 

Shade-wise, if you have pale skin, stick with lighter shades of blush, like baby pink or coral, whereas those with deeper skin can get away with a rich burgundy or berry shade of blush. If you have skin redness, you’ll always want to opt for a cool-toned blush to avoid enhancing your already-rosy skin.

4 Best Blush Products to Use

Now that you know how to apply blush based on your face shape, it’s time to start applying it. Here are four of the best blushes to keep in your beauty arsenal.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Blush

This blush comes in 12 skin-flattering shades with options that have cool, neutral, and warm undertones. The matte powder effortlessly blends in with your natural skin tone and texture, so you can flaunt a natural-looking flush of color with every use.

Editor’s tip: While certain makeup products can be applied with your fingers, powder blush isn’t one we recommend smudging on with your hands. Instead, use a fluffy brush to sweep the product onto your face.

L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint

This multi-purpose product is perfect if you’re looking for a natural-looking, dewy blush to finish off your makeup look. It’s infused with aloe and rose extracts to hydrate the skin, and it comes in six universal shades. You can also wear it on the lips for an easy monochrome makeup look.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil

Made with mature skin types in mind, this blush offers a creamy, satin formula that gives cheeks a natural-looking wash of color. Since it’s formulated with hydrating camellia oil, there’s no need to worry about any caking or drying.

L’Oréal Paris Summer Belle Makeup Blush Please!

Formulated to give your cheeks a delicate shimmer, you can achieve a sun-kissed glow every time you reach for this powder blush. And it’s not just for the summer — use it year-round for a flush that warms up the face just right. 

Next: How to Create Natural-Looking Fake Freckles With Makeup

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Digital Tech: Katy Andrascik, Photo Assistant: Sam Kang, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Melina Kemph, Wardrobe, Assistant: Kayla Martinez, Model: Adrianne Kiara