How to Find the Best Blush Color for Your Skin Tone

The right shade of blush is a must for any makeup look — whether you’re creating no-makeup makeup or a full face of glam. Blush does a great job at bringing your entire look together and it helps to give your complexion a natural flush and your cheekbones a radiant lift. 

But with shades ranging from peach to plum to pink and beyond, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the choices, especially when you’re trying to figure out which hue will look the best on your skin tone. To make the process a bit easier, we’re breaking down how to find the right shade of blush for your skin tone, so take notes as we share how.

What Is Blush Makeup?

Blush is a makeup product that is applied to the cheeks, typically in a shade of pink, red, coral, and sometimes purple, to give the skin a flushed appearance. Blush comes in different formulas including powder, cream and liquid. It also comes in different finishes like matte, shimmer and satin. 

Blush is typically applied to the apples of your cheeks, but it can also be placed higher on the cheekbone to lift and sculpt your face. It can also be applied on the nose to fake a sun burnt flush. BeautyTok has even used it to contour, a process aptly dubbed blush contouring, for a softer, rosy-hued take on face sculpting.

How Do I Find the Right Blush for My Skin Tone? 

When searching for the right blush for your skin tone, the first thing to look at is the color and how it pairs with your skin tone. Lighter shades of pink blush and pastels will flatter pale skin tones while vibrant shades like deep berry, purple and red will look better on darker complexions. If you’re not starting off with the right shade of blush in terms of depth, pigment and hue to complement your skin tone, then focusing on the undertone isn’t helpful. 

Once you’ve identified the right color of blush for your skin tone, then you want to make sure to keep your undertones in mind. If you’re not sure what those are, flip over your wrist and look at your veins. If they’re green, you have warm undertones. If they’re blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If you see a mix of green and blue, then you likely have neutral undertones.

This means that if you have warm or yellow undertones, you’ll be looking for an orange or red-based blush. If you have cool undertones, then you’ll be looking for a blue or pink-based blush. If you have neutral undertones, this means both cool and warm undertones suit you most blush colors will flatter your skin tone. That said, if you do have neutral undertones, stick to softer, warmer shades as opposed to bold, bright hues. Brighter hues with blue tones may look gray on a complexion with neutral undertones.

If you’re still unsure about picking the right shade of blush for your skin tone, test it on the apples of your cheeks and see how it pairs with your natural lip color. If it clashes, it’s the wrong undertone, if the two complement each other, you’ve found the right one.

The Best Blush for Fair Skin 

A light pink or peach blush is the best choice for fair skin with warm undertones because it mimics the skin’s natural flush. If you have fair skin with cool undertones, try a baby pink shade. The contrast with both of these hues is just right for fair skin and it’s really hard to overdo it. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try a coral blush or another vibrant shade, use a light hand to apply a sheer layer of color. 

If you have fair skin with warm undertones try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil in Peony or the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Bare Honey.

If you have cool undertones try the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint in Pink Serenity or the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Baby Blossom. 

If you have neutral undertones, try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Tender Rose.

The Best Blush for Medium Skin 

For those with medium skin, pink, peach and bronzy tones are going to be a great option. As opposed to those with fair skin tones, medium skin tones have a little more freedom when it comes to delving into richer colors because they often have a mix of warm and cool tones to play it off. 

Peach tones are very flattering for medium skin with neutral undertones because they share a mix of warm and cool tones. A mauve or berry shade can help to provide a youthful and healthy pop of color for those with medium skin and cool undertones.

If you have warm undertones try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Barely Blushing or the L’Oréal Paris Summer Belle Makeup Blush Please! in Blushin' in Saint Tropez. 

If you have cool undertones try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil in Mauved or Berry.

If you have neutral undertones, try the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint in Everlasting Coral.

The Best Blush for Olive Skin 

If you have olive skin, your rich skin tone calls for deep shades of blush, like plums, bright corals, vibrant pinks and lush brown hues. Like medium skin tone, olive skin has warm and cool undertones so the only color you want to avoid is pale, cool-toned shades, like baby pink if you want the most flattering look. 

If you have warm undertones try the L’Oréal Paris Summer Belle Makeup Blush Please! in Blushin' in Rivera or the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil in Amber.

If you have cool undertones try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Innocent Flush or the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint in Ethereal Blush.

If you have neutral undertones, try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil in Rosewood.

The Best Blush for Dark Skin 

Because dark skin tones tend to have warm undertones, the best blush for dark and deep skin tones are richly pigmented shades of red, magenta and orange. Warm shades of brown and bordeaux are also gorgeous picks. If you have dark skin with cool undertones, try a purple or berry shade of blush with blue undertones. Be wary of cool-toned, pale blush shades like light pink as they can wash out the skin.

If you have warm undertones try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil in Marigold, the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint in Rosy Bliss or the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Apricot Kiss.

If you have cool undertones try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Spiced Plum.

If you have neutral undertones, try the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint in Eternal Rose. 

Should I Pick a Blush With Warm Undertones or Cool Undertones?

Deciding between warm and cool-toned blushes can be difficult so look at the shade and figure out what colors you see mixed throughout. A coral shade of blush will likely have yellow undertones because coral is a mix of peach, pink and orange. A berry shade will likely have blue undertones because it’s a mix of blue, purple and pink. A peachy shade will have a mix of warm and cool undertones, which is why it’s a sound pick for those with neutral undertones.

What’s the Best Blush Formula for My Skin Type?

Once you know your best shade of blush based on your skin tone and undertones, then you can decide on the formula and finish. Mature skin should try the aforementioned Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil. The nourishing formula melts into the skin and doesn’t emphasize fine lines or texture. 

If you have dry skin, try a cream formula, like the Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint. And if you have oily skin, a powder formula, like the one in True Match Blush is a great, long-wearing pick.

Next: The Best Makeup Products for Glazed Donut Skin

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn