The Newest Blush Trend Can Hide Pores and Brighten Skin

Blush trends have dominated the beauty space in the past few years, with #sunsetblush, #glazedblush, #boyfriendblush, #blushtouring, and #blushsmoothie (to name a few) all over our feeds and faces. Innovation in the category has also ballooned, with so-called blurring blushes offering a way to nail the look of smooth skin, diffused-looking pores, and a natural-looking flush in one fell swoop. Although it feels like every beauty brand has a new blush launch, we’re big fans of this specific trend since it’s easy to apply without the skills of a professional makeup artist. 

What Is a Blurring Blush?

According to Krupa Koestline, a cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Innovation Labs, a few key ingredients are responsible for the diffused look of a blurring blush. Among them, silicones and silicone polymers are used to “fill in fine lines and pores and create a smooth even surface on the skin,” Koestline says. Mica, known for its shimmery properties, also reflects light, which, according to Koestline, “can help diffuse the appearance of pores and give a more radiant finish.” Kaolin and silica, meanwhile, help absorb oil and sweat, and an ingredient commonly used in pressed powders, nylon-12, is used for its “spherical shape that helps to diffuse light and reduce the visibility of pores and fine lines,” Koestline explains.

Unlike other mattifying products (think: liquid lipsticks, pressed powders, and diffused lip products), blurring blushes don’t dry out skin or leave a matte finish. Instead, the aforementioned popular ingredients are paired with others that boost radiance for a dynamic flush.

Who Should Try a Blurring Blush? 

“If you have texture or large pores, a blurring blush can be a game changer for making your cheeks look smoother,” says Elyse Reneau, global beauty director and Face of Artistry for Too Faced Cosmetics. Created in gel, liquid, cream, cream-to-powder, and powder formulations, blurring blushes truly offer something for everyone and are best applied like traditional blushes: tapped on cheeks and blended with fingertips, sponges, or brushes. Whatever your preferred method of blending, Reneau recommends making sure you blend products thoroughly. “You shouldn’t be able to see where your blush starts or stops,” she says.

Shop the trend:

1. Lawless Pinch My Cheeks Soft-Blur Cream Blush

This innovative cream-to-powder formula is a blurring powerhouse thanks to several light-diffusing ingredients (such as silica and nylon-12) that help reduce the visibility of pores and fine lines. It also contains silicone polymers, which smooth the skin’s texture by filling in fine lines and pores, and mica, which adds a natural shimmer and reflects light. The formula blends well with other makeup and stays put all day, even through sweat when applied over or under powder.

2. Rhode Pocket Blush

Finding a blush that balances oily skin but still delivers a radiant finish isn’t easy, but that’s exactly what you get with this cream formula. Inside, kaolin absorbs excess oil, silica diffuses the look of pores, and dimethicone smooths the skin’s texture. The six shades all deliver a natural-looking flush, and though the packaging is a bit chubby to be considered pocket-sized in our book, we absolutely love its touch-free applicator.

3. Half Magic Cheek Fluff Soft Blur Blush

In addition to a trifecta of diffusing ingredients (silica, silicone polymers, and mica) found in many blurring blushes, this bouncy, cream-to-powder formula also contains polymethylsilsesquioxane, which Koestline says creates a silky, smooth texture on the skin.

4. Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed

This versatile pot is made to brighten eyes, lips, and cheeks — and does the job with longevity often absent from cream blushes. Though it contains hydrating ingredients (such as vegan squalane and hyaluronic acid), the formula doesn’t make skin look or feel oily, thanks to a magnesium carbonate powder called upsalite that absorbs oil and sweat. This balancing act helps quell oily skin without drying it out, a feat matched only by its all-day staying power. 

5. Huda Beauty Blush Filter Liquid Blush

Looking for a blurred look with a touch of sheen? This liquid formula, made with micro pearls, nails both effects. It’s also incredibly easy to use: The doe-foot applicator dispenses just the right amount of product, making it easy to dot, blend, and go without overdoing the application.

6. Too Faced Cloud Crush Blush

Reneau says this silky, cream-powder hybrid was named “cloud crush” because of the airy and diffused look it provides. Sure enough, the formula seems to suspend over skin instead of sinking into fine lines and pores. Reneau suggests applying the buildable formula to the apples of cheeks, up toward the temples, above the arch of the brows, and across the nose for a sun-kissed effect.

7. Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Blush

A great option for those with dry skin, this hydrating gel-like blush also includes niacinamide and pomegranate peel extract to reduce inflammation and minimize free radicals. The needle-nose applicator dispenses the teensiest dot of product, making it easy to build the quick-set blush to whatever intensity you wish.

8. Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint

This delicate water-in-oil emulsion creates the thinnest veil of color on the skin, yet packs the staying power needed to last through onstage performances and the most demanding of red carpets. It’s no wonder celebrity makeup artists keep it in heavy rotation. To wit, Carolina Gonzalez created a sunset blush effect on Sabrina Carpenter, who wore shades 53 and 62 when performing on SNL and at Coachella this year. Carpenter, Camila Mendes, and Sydney Sweeney also all wore the formula for their garden-inspired Met Gala looks this year.

9. Make Up For Ever Artist Blush Longwear Skin-Fusing Powder Blush

Want the blurring effect from a powder blush? Look no further. Rather than the patchy effect that can come from some powder blushes, this one slides on velvety smooth, thanks to included dimethicone, and leaves a blurred finish to boot. 

10. Morphe Huephoric Rush 3-in-1 Silk Blush

Those with dry skin will benefit from skin-plumping hyaluronic filling spheres, vegetable collagen, and vitamin E packed inside this blurring blush, which is swirled in the pan with a smoothing skin primer.

11. Peripera Ink the Velvet Longwear Lip Tint

Made for lips, eyes, and cheeks, this affordable liquid formula also includes an ingredient made to cushion fine lines for a smoothing effect.