How To Actually Apply Liquid Blush Despite What Social Media Says
Liquid blush might be viral among beauty creators online, and a hot-selling makeup item flying off store shelves, but that doesn't mean it’s easy to use. A product that comes in many forms, it also requires a bit of an instruction manual vis a vis its usage. That also means it’s likely that many apply it incorrectly, thus not getting the finished look they might desire. If you want to avoid liquid blush mistakes, read on!
The different types of liquid blush in the market
Knowing the formulae of different types of liquid blushes helps us predict how each of those will interact with our skin type, other products like foundations, and general wear and tear throughout the day.
Gel-based blush inks and stains
Many tints and watery cheek stains qualify as gel-based liquid blushes. Typically, they have water as the first listed ingredient instead of silicone.
These tints work best when applied directly on bare skin as they may not react well with most silicone or oil-based foundations. It’s essential that they are blended out quickly with the fingers because they can stain the skin and set fast if they have a high amount of alcohol in them.
It’s also worth noting that many of these gel-based formulations are on the sheer side of the pigment spectrum, and may not show up on the skin. Since these types of liquid blush tend to have a thin consistency, they mesh with the skin seamlessly, making for a more natural blush look.
Benefit’s Benetint, the Huda Beauty Creamy Lip And Cheek Stain, and the NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush are some popular gel-based blushes.
Oil-based liquid blushes
Oil-based liquid blushes are extremely nourishing, and would be great for those with dry skin or those living in arid regions. But these don’t last long on oilier skin types and can make the skin look too greasy and shiny.
What’s more is, an oil-rich blush can make your foundation separate if you over-apply it.
The DIAM BEAUTY Cheeky Affair Liquid Blush is an oil-based blush, because the first ingredient in it is Sweet Almond Oil. It also contains jojoba oil, shea butter, avocado oil, squalane, and rosehip oil, making it quite moisturising.
Silicone-based liquid blushes
Most popular liquid blushes today are silicone-based formulas which are a happy cross between a matte texture and a glow-y finish. Since silicones are known for giving skin a smooth finish, these work well for those who want to minimise the appearance of skin texture and pores. Silicone-based blushes also often claim to be long-lasting.
So, silicone-based liquid blush is ideal for those with oily skin as it provides more longevity.
Selena Gomez’s brand Rare Beauty’s ultra-popular Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is the most viral version of a silicone-based liquid blush thanks to its rich colour payoff. The affordable e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Blush is another impressive silicone-based formula known for its longevity. More recently launched, the Huda Beauty Blush Filter is another silicone-based liquid blush that has got a lot of love online for its dewy finish.
Liquid blush application mistakes
If you’ve attempted to use liquid blush but didn’t end up with the makeup look you had in mind, it might have happened due to any of the following application mistakes.
Direct application
The most common faux pas is applying those dots of liquid blush directly onto the face. This is common on social media, but almost never done by professional makeup artists. While convenient for understanding blush placement, it makes you apply too much product, stains the skin, and also makes blush hard to blend out. The excessive blending that is then required ends up breaking down the foundation underneath as well. So, direct blush-application onto the cheek can make things messy.
Over-application
Over-application is another thing that’s pretty common with liquid and cream products. Due to direct application, you might end up trying to blend out a cheek soaked in too much blush. This is especially true while using pigmented formulas like the Rare Beauty liquid blushes.
Using oversized brushes
The third rookie mistake is using large and fluffy brushes for application. Such huge brushes are for powder blushes, and when used with liquids, spread the product around too much.
Not understanding which liquid blush formula does what
Every liquid blush works differently. Here are some mistakes we make when we don’t factor in the formula of liquid blushes and how they interact with the skin and other makeup products:
-
When we expect a gel-based cheek tint to deliver a lot of pigment on top of a foundation-laden cheek, we set ourselves up for failure. Designed to work by staining bare skin, these are quite sheer and ideal for a natural look.
-
When we apply an oil- based liquid blush on top of silicone or water-based foundations and concealer, it’s a surefire way to make our base-makeup separate.
-
Not only that, but not picking the right liquid blush for your skin type is a common liquid blush mistake. As tempting as it might be to use a dewy oil-based blush because everyone on social media seems to be doing so, it’s not meant for oily skin.
Incorrect brush strokes
The way we deposit or blend out our blush is as important as the kind of blush we buy or brush we use. If you try to blend liquid blush with back and forth motions, it ends up looking streaky and patchy, and removes your foundation. So, it’s best to softly pat liquid blush on.
Plus, because liquid blushes are runny, they don’t stick to where they have been applied till they set, so you don’t want to keep spreading the product around by swiping your brush everywhere.
How to use liquid blush
The techniques for liquid blush application are different from how one should use powder blush, but not too different from how one should use cream blush.
-
It’s best to take some liquid blush on the back of your hand or on a palette, and then load up your brush with it. Priming it on the back of the hand helps reduce the pigment payoff of liquid blushes which are too saturated.
-
Applying in thin layers is also better because some liquid blushes set quickly.
-
Liquid blush also needs to be applied on the cheeks with a light hand, using patting motions, with a medium-sized blush brush. You get a lot more control by using a small or medium blush brush, and are unlikely to apply an impossible-to-blend amount of product using these.
-
If a liquid blush is oil-based, it’s important to set it with a powder.
-
If you plan to layer a powder blush on top of your liquid blush, it’s key that the liquid be set and dry before you apply the powder, so as to avoid patchiness.
The best liquid blushes to try
If you want to experience liquid blush firsthand, here are some to try.
Homegrown liquid blushes
Fae Beauty Lush Blush
Price: Rs 599
A pigmented, stain-like blush, this lasts quite long on the skin. While it’s lightweight on the skin, it can be tough to work with if you overapply or apply it directly onto the skin. So if there ever was a time to follow our application guide for liquid blushes, it’s while using a blush like this!
Buy it here.
Rufa Beauty Beyond Heaven Tint’d Blush
Price: Rs 899
A pigmented product, this blush has a matte, shine-free formula. Not the most natural-looking or subtle, this is easy to overapply a bit hard to sheer out. It does, however, last a decent amount of time, and is therefore best for oily skin, especially in hot weather.
Buy it here.
Diam Beauty Cheeky Affair Liquid Blush
Price: Rs 749
Ideal for those who want a soft matte finish, these blushes set pretty quickly so they need to be blended out fast. That’s also why these should not be dotted onto the cheeks directly with the applicator, as they will set in those spots. However, they do adhere fairly well to the skin and are unlikely to mess up your base makeup.
Buy it here.
Kiro Afterglow Lip & Cheek Tint
Price: Rs 800
A buildable product, one layer of this can give a soft and sheer dewiness to the cheeks. But it can also be layered for more intensity. So, even though the shades look punchy in the tube, they are less opaque and pigmented on the skin. This is a great thing for beginners or those who prefer a natural blush look.
Buy it here.
Viral bestselling liquid blushes
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Price: Rs 3,200
The Rare Beauty blushes come in two finishes, radiant and dewy, and matte. The matte shades called Grace, Bliss, Love and Faith, are more silicone-rich and set into a shine-free finish, making them ideal for oily skin in humid weather. The dewy shades, called Believe, Encourage, Hope, Joy, Happy, Lucky, Grateful, Virtue, Worth, are more emollient and have a shiny finish ideal for dry skin.
Both the variants are extremely pigmented, though, and should be applied sparingly. One dot of this product is more than enough for the entire cheek.
Buy it here.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Blush
Price: Rs 950
This entire range of blushes is often compared to the Rare Beauty blushes, because the shades are similar, and because both blushes are richly pigmented. But even though this offering from e.l.f. costs less, it actually lasts longer on the skin and wears better overall, as compared to the one from Rare Beauty. Given the price difference between the two, the performance of the longwearing e.l.f blush is even more impressive!
Buy it here.
Huda Beauty Blush Filter
Price: Rs 2,250
Not to be confused with the Huda Beauty Creamy Lip And Cheek Stains, this Blush Filter is a hot favourite online thanks to the subtle sheen it gives the skin without looking over-the-top glossy. What’s best is that it provides even coverage, and somewhat self-sets, which makes it slightly easier to work with.
Buy it here.
NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush
Price: Rs 3,300
A hyaluronic acid-infused blush with vegan collagen, this serum-like gel-cream blush gives a dewy finish to the skin. On the more buildable and sheer side of the spectrum, this is for those who either want a natural finish or are intimidated by intense blushes and would rather apply additional layer as needed. As not every shade of this blush is equally pigmented, it’s best to try it on the skin before committing to the purchase.
Buy it here.
So, are you all set to try liquid blush now?
