What Is the “Anti-Blush” Trend? Top Makeup Artists Break Down Fall's Hottest Beauty Look
Without a doubt, blush is in its It-girl era right now. As someone who has made it a personal journey to have the most extensive blush library known to man, I’ve been loving all the launches and, in particular, how nuanced so many of the color families have become. The beauty industry appears to feel the same way because the latest trend taking over social media is all about cheeks that look naturally flushed, almost as if you don't have any blush on at all.
Aptly called the “anti-blush,” the point of the trend is to get the sculpted definition that perfectly placed cheek color can provide, without opting for the typical pinks or reds that usually dominate the blush category. Instead, it's all about using neutral tones in muted colors that blur the line between bush and contour. “The ‘anti-blush’ is simply the next evolution of all of those sculpted, soft-glam trends that we’ve seen over the past few years,” makeup artist Theo Turner tells me. “It focuses on tones that add natural dimension to the face, in turn amplifying the natural highlights and contours that people already have via their bone structure.”
The anti-blush trend feels like it was made especially for me, as it has been my goal for well over a decade to find the best blushes that just add a natural-looking hint of color to the cheeks without completely taking over the look. As such, I am uniquely qualified to tell you the best “anti-blushes” on the market, and I’ve done just that with the list of my favorites ahead. Whether you want a blush that you can just throw on and leave the house or you want a color that won’t clash with your smokey eye, the options below will please everyone from the most experienced makeup artist to makeup novices.
How Do I Do the Anti-Blush Trend?
As with any makeup or beauty trend, how you decide to partake is entirely up to you. With this trend in particular, not much changes about the way you apply your blush; it’s more so the color you use and the intention behind the look that you’re trying to achieve.
“Anti-blush is the latest spin on tonal blush and is the inevitable pushback against the doll pink look that has had our timelines in a chokehold for months, maybe even a year now,” makeup artist Ehlie Luna tells me. “The common thread with the anti-blush trend is that it feels more subdued.”
To get the look, you can place your blush on the apple of your cheek as you would a traditional pink shade. Still, if you’re like me and prefer for your makeup to lift your features, I prefer to place the cheek color almost above my cheekbone, and I start applying it near my ear, kind of like I would with a bronzer. This allows me more room to blend the color into the rest of the look, while also leaving a little space on my actual cheeks for a transition blush, which can help everything blend together more seamlessly.
The Best Blushes to Try the Anti-Blush Trend
- Best Anti-Blush Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blush Blur in Pillow Talk Dreams
- Best Anti-Blush for Dry Skin: Merit Flush Balm in Fox
- Best Anti-Blush for Oily Skin: Dolce & Gabbana Cheeks & Eyes Match Powder Blush in Playful Rosewood
- Best Luxury Anti-Blush: Hermès Rose Hermès Silky Blush Powder
- Best Cream Anti-Blush: Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in Vital Beige
- Best Drugstore Anti-Blush: Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Diffused Blush in Drift
- Best Luminous Anti-Blush: MAC Skinfinish Colorstruck Blush in Antique Velvet
- Best Anti-Blush for Fair Skin: Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush in Hot Mauve
Best Anti-Blush Overall
She’s new to the market, but I say with my full chest that Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Blush Blur in Pillow Talk Dreams is the anti-blush of my dreams. Not only is this formula silky smooth, much like the brand’s traditional Airbrush powders, but the pigment doesn’t skip or get blotchy when applying, which is typically a pain point for colors this deep. Plus, the formula can be built up or sheered out to your liking, making it truly perfect for any skin tone.
Review: “Do you need a $50 blush? No. BUT if you can afford to buy it, then I believe it’s worth it. It’s very subtle but buildable. I was looking for an everyday blush! And it lasts my whole 8-hour shift too :).” — Sephora
Best Anti-Blush for Dry Skin
If you have dry skin and prefer a cream blush, Merit’s Flush Balm in Fox is a fantastic option, especially if you prefer a no-makeup makeup vibe. The warm, browny taupe color can be sheered out to provide just a hint of color on the cheek or built up to provide more of a punch. Either way you prefer to wear it, this balm will give you a sheer wash of color on the cheek that adds the perfect amount of structure to your look.
Review: “This blush is perfect for mature skin and the office. It is not as pigmented as some of the blushes that are popular right now, but they are so easy to blend. The light coverage is perfect for work, and because it is a satin finish, it is not overly shiny on the face.” — Sephora
Best Anti-Blush for Oily Skin
If oily skin is your ministry, then this long-lasting powder blush should be in your makeup bag. Not only does it actually stay on your cheeks for hours (blush is usually the first thing to disappear from your face, so this is a feat in and of itself), but the color Playful Rosewood is a perfect brown-based anti-blush, especially for deeper skin tones. Plus, the blurring effect that these blushes provide? Phenomenal.
Review: “Expensive for a blush but so worth it. I use this every day and most days just this, other than my skincare. This is very pigmented, and I love the smell of it. Weird, I know, but it does have a fruity smell that draws me in. And it’s silky soft. I’ll never be without this in my life. Lasts all day, and the color just never leaves. Love it.” — Sephora
Best Luxury Anti-Blush
If luxury is the only thing that you subscribe to, allow me to introduce you to the anti-blush for the one percent: Hermès Silky Blush Powders. The shade Rose Feu is particularly wonderful for medium-to-deep skin tones, but this entire blush range does anti-blush incredibly well. All the shades (in the matte finishes, in particular) are easily built up as needed, but no matter how many layers you put on, it’s like it’s impossible to really overdo it.
Review: “Another great product from Hermes! Amazing pigment-a little goes a long way and has a slight blurring effect that hides my pores. Lasts all day and I love that it is refillable too. Definitely going to buy a refill when I've finished it!” — Johnlewis.com
Best Cream Anti-Blush
Chanel’s Lip and Cheek Balm was popularized by Margot Robby during the Wuthering Heights press tour earlier this year, and I haven’t stopped using it since. The shade Vital Beige, a warm terracotta hue, quickly leaped to the top of my favorites list because of how versatile it is across a wide range of skin tones, and it’s the perfect anti-blush for light to deep skin tones alike. The balmy cream is just as pigmented on the lips as it is on the cheeks, and while it’s not the most ideal formula for oily skin types (especially if you don’t properly prime your skin), if you’re constantly chasing the glow like I am, this blush needs to be in your makeup bag immediately.
Review: “After a long day sightseeing in NYC, the Chanel Cheek Balm was still perfectly intact when we returned back to our hotel at midnight. After a long day of walking & constant rain, pleasantly surprised was an understatement. A dab of the cheek balm goes a long way; the cheek balm is easy to apply & to work with. I’d definitely purchase this lip & cheek balm again!” — Chanel
Best Drugstore Anti-Blush
Morphe has come out with quite a few products since its relaunch, but these Cloudlight blushes are, without a doubt, the best thing that the brand has come out with. The color Drift is a bronzey brown shade that is the perfect anti-blush for deep, dark skin tones, and it provides the most gorgeous, luminous sheen that can almost double as a highlighter.
Review: “Truly obsessed with these blushes! The way they are soft, give a little radiance, but stay on the skin so well is perfection! I use it in my pro makeup kit, and I have almost every shade!” — Ulta
Best Luminous Anti-Blush
While the viral shade that started it all, Film Noir Buff, is sold out everywhere (seriously), I have another MAC option for you: Antique Velvet. This bronzey plum shade adds the perfect wash of color to the cheek, and the pearl-infused formula also leaves behind a gorgeous luminous flush in its wake, allowing you to skip highlighter altogether if you prefer.
Review: “I am obsessed with the new blush formulation. I have almost every color now, and they are all absolutely stunning. A blush for every mood and vibe! If you're on the fence, just add to cart and check out. You will not regret it!” — Ulta
Best Anti-Blush for Fair Skin
If you have fair skin and can’t seem to find the anti-blush, may I introduce you to YSL’s Hot Mauve? The rosy taupe shade adds just the right amount of color to the cheeks for it to look like you’re naturally blushing from within, plus YSL has perfected its blurring-matte formula to the point where you will be actively looking for your pores.
Review: “Best. Blush. Ever. The color payoff, the finely milled powder, and the packaging are another level. This is my second YSL blush purchase, a very reliable and enjoyable product.” — Sephora
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