Blush is your answer to a pretty, healthy glow. Read our pro tips on where to apply blush to suit your face shape, shade selection, and why a powder formulation is your blush bestie. 

Blush instantly perks up and brightens your entire face. With hues ranging from barely-there peach to warm reds, every skin tone can benefit from blush.

Blush, highlighter and bronzer - what’s the difference?

Bronzer: Gives you a subtle sun-kissed glow so your skin looks healthy and tan. Apply it to the areas the sun naturally hits the skin - cheekbones, jawline, temples, and nose. Bronzer is also a good choice for heavier contouring.

Blush: Adds a flush of colour to the cheeks for a bright, fresh-faced look, usually in pink shade with plum or peach undertones. Blush is applied along the cheekbone and apple of the cheek.

Highlighter: Shimmery and lighter than your natural skin tone, highlighter adds a subtle, shimmery radiance to the skin and gently accentuates your features.

Applying makeup when your skin isn’t clean results in an uneven, patchy look that won’t stay put. Makeup slides off oily skin and doesn’t sit well on a dry, flaky complexion.

With that in mind before we get started on how to apply blush professionally, let’s begin with skin prep for a clean, healthy base.

Step 1: Cleanse your skin to remove all impurities and excess oil.

Step 2: Gently exfoliate if necessary.

Step 3: Apply a hydrating serum to help plump and hydrate your skin.

Step 4: Moisturise with a light face oil (suitable for use under makeup) or moisturising lotion.

Step 5: Smooth on a priming product. Primer creates a no-slip canvas for your makeup - it won’t slide off your skin. A mineral BB cream and tinted moisturiser are both good choices for primer.

Once your skin is prepped you can either apply foundation before blush or, if you’re having a great skin day, simply use blush on your natural base.

Your blush shade goal is to choose a hue that matches your cheek colour when you flush naturally. For a pop of colour, you can go a little more dramatic.

Use our handy guide to help you find the right shade of blush for your skin tone.

Fair skin tone

• Peach - natural look
• Soft pink - natural look
• Coral - pop of colour

Medium skin tone

• Deep peach - natural look
• Warm mauve - natural look
• Rich pink - pop of colour

Olive skin tone

• Rose - natural look
• Apricot or bronzer - natural look
• Berry - pop of colour

Dark skin tone

• Warm reds with brown undertones - natural
• Plum - natural
• Ruby pink - pop of colour

PONi Unicorn Candy blush is an innovative ombré blush with a sunset spectrum of pink hues from soft shimmery peach to bright matte pink. Shades of peach and pink are universally flattering so it's easy to find the perfect match for your skin tone.

Picking the right blush formula

Blushes come in 3 formulas - powder, cream and stain. Picking your perfect blush formula depends on your skin.

Powder: Great for all skin types (especially oily ones) easy to apply and achieve ‘poreless’ airbrushed finish. PONi Unicorn Candy blush is a silky powder - meaning it is not too drying or too oily - ideal for all skin types.

Cream: Cream blushes offer a natural dewy finish but steer clear if you have oily skin.

Stain: Suited to all skin types for long lasting wear. Beware; stains dry super fast and can be difficult to blend out or correct a heavy handed application.

How to put blush on the right way starts with the right brush!

Choose a dome-shaped blush brush with long, super-soft bristles that splay out nicely. The fluffier the brush, the less product it will pick up which, in the case of blush, is a good thing.

Brushes with tightly packed bristles can pick up a lot of product and transfer a clown-worthy amount of colour to your face. Stick with a fluffy brush for a gentle wash of colour without harsh lines.

We recommend Crown Brush’s selection of cruelty free brushes for blush application.

To apply the blush, simply swirl the brush in the product and tap off excess powder. Removing extra blush means you won’t end up with a slab of colour on your cheeks.

Where to Put on Blush

Exactly where to apply blush depends on your face shape. Use our guide below for the most flattering blush application methods for different face shapes.

If you have a round face shape, the sides of your face curve slightly outward, rather than being straight. Cheekbones are the widest part of your face and your chin is also rounded.

Applied correctly, blush can help a round face look more angular and lifted. Apply blush slightly lower than the apples of your cheeks and extend the line of colour up, towards the hairline using a swirling motion to blend.

High cheekbones and wide forehead that strongly tapers toward a narrow chin is the key characteristic of a heart-shaped face. Blush can help accentuate your high cheekbones.

Start by applying blush on the low part of the apples of your cheeks. Then take the colour in a semicircle towards the hairline and finish at the temples.

In terms of length and width, your face is very equal. Your chin is square and the forehead and jawline and similar width. Basically, when you look at your face straight on, the curve of your jawline and sides of your forehead will form a square shape.

Apply blush directly to the apples of your cheeks in a circular motion which will help soften the edges of your jawline.

If you have a diamond face shape, your forehead and jawline are a similar width, cheekbones are high and angular with a pointed chin.

Where to apply blush for a diamond face? Your goal is to draw attention upward and soften your features. Do this by applying blush to the tops of your cheekbones and, with a swirling motion, blend outward toward your ears.

Have an oval shaped face? Lucky you! Often considered the ideal face shape, the oval face is already in proportion. It’s very versatile for a blush application.

Start at the apples of your cheeks and sweep the blush backwards towards your temples using a circular motion.

Now you know how to apply blush professionally, get the only blush you’ll ever need! Click through to purchase PONi Unicorn Candy blush