Kayla Young
Makeup routines can get confusing when there are a lot of products to put in order.
Blush is an underrated yet important step in a makeup routine. It brings back a flush to your cheeks after you cover all pigmentation with foundation or concealer.
But where does it fall in your makeup routine? Should you apply finishing powder before or after blush? What if it’s a cream blush?
This article will cover all your blush concerns and more. You’ll never have to worry about how or when to apply it.
Contents
Do You Use Finishing Powder Before Or After Blush?
This depends on whether you’re using powdered blush or cream blush. Let’s break it down a bit.
Powder Blush
If you’re using powder blush, you can apply it after finishing the powder.
Once your foundation, concealer, and any other cream or liquid-based products have been applied, you can set your face with a finishing powder.
After that, you can apply your powder blush and bronzer.
If you’re using powder blush, you can apply it after finishing the powder.
Cream Blush
If you’re using a cream blush, you’ll need a different tactic.
Cream blush can’t sit on top of powder, as it will only highlight texture and rub your base away.
You’ll want to apply your cream blush with the rest of your liquid/cream products first. Then set it with finishing powder.
If you’re worried about it not showing up beneath a finishing powder, you can always set your cream blush with a powder blush.
No matter what you set it with, it will help your cream blush stay all day, keeping it from fading or budging.
Apply your cream blush with the rest of your liquid/cream products first. Then set it with finishing powder.
What Is The Difference Between Finishing And Setting Powder?
You’ve probably heard the terms “setting powder” and “finishing powder” used interchangeably. They are actually different products.
Setting powder does exactly what you’d imagine it to do: it sets your makeup.
They often contain ingredients like talc. This helps absorb oils from your skin or base products. It helps keep your foundation from sliding off your face or separating.
As a bonus, the setting powder also helps remove shine and can keep you looking matte throughout the day.
On the other hand, finishing powder is meant to be the finishing touch.
Finishing powder will help soften any harsh lines and hide mistakes. This includes going heavy-handed with the blush.
It’s meant to hide pores and texture, giving you an airbrushed effect like an Instagram filter.
Finishing powder is mainly meant to smooth your surface, not set it. If you’re looking for long-lasting makeup, a setting powder will be of more use to you.
If you’re thinking that they both have advantages and wish you could use them together, the great news is that you can!
In this scenario, you’ll want to apply your setting powder as usual. This is done after liquid and creams but before other powders.
Finishing powder will be applied very last, as always.
If you’re going to use both, make sure you use them sparingly. Tap excess powder off your brush (or if you’re baking, make sure to sweep it all away).
You don’t want to look too powdery or cakey. So aim to target the areas where you need them instead of covering your entire face with powder.
What Are The Biggest Mistakes When It Comes To Blush?
After covering your skin with a base of foundation and concealer, you’ve covered most of your skin’s natural color. Blush brings that flush back into your skin.
It can be easy to apply the wrong amount: either too much or too little. You don’t want to look like you’ve got a bad sunburn, but don’t want to be washed and pale, out either.
Here are the most common mistakes and the best tricks to avoid them.
1. Know Where Blush Should Lie On Your Skin
Face shape is an important factor when applying makeup products. This includes products such as blush, bronzer, and contour.
Blush is a way to help balance out your facial features. It doesn’t always belong directly on the center of your cheeks.
If your face is long or oval, placing the blush up high on your cheekbones will help carve them out.
People with a heart-shaped or square face should apply blush to the apples of their cheeks.
Lastly, if you have a round face, concentrate the blush on the sides of your cheeks instead of the apples.
2. You’re Too Heavy Handed
Too much blush is a mistake we have all made.
You apply what you think is the right amount, only to think you can’t see any color, so you apply more. When you pull the blush away, your cheeks are extremely pink.
Before you pull out the makeup remover, here are a few tricks to help calm the look.
Take a damp beauty sponge and lightly tap the area you applied your blush to help it blend.
If you need a little extra help, take a setting, finishing powder, or a powder foundation. Then lightly apply it across the blush.
Avoid applying cream/liquid foundation or concealer on top of the blush to blend it. This can only ruin your makeup and increase texture.
3. You Don’t Use Enough Blush
The fear of overdoing it is often compensated by underdoing it when it comes to blush! The best advice for the perfect application is to take it slow.
Get a little blush on your brush and tap away the excess. Lightly sweep it across your cheeks and step back to observe.
If you can barely see it, apply a tiny bit more. Layering blush will make it pop, so you don’t need much on your brush.
Some blushes are more pigmented than others, so it’s always best to start light and work your way darker.
