How to Chose the Best Blush Color for Your Skin Tone
Nothing elevates a look quite like the perfect blush. Whether you’re going for a natural flush, a sun-kissed glow, or full-on 80s glam, there’s a blush shade out there for you that not only complements your unique skin tone beautifully, but also matches your energetic vibe.
Blush has come a long way from its messy, powdery origins. Time to put away the misconception that blush = your grandmother’s “rouge” powder blush. At Keys Soulcare, we vibe with lightweight, radiant cheek tints that enhance the high points of your face and the apples of your cheeks, breathe dewy new life into your look, and take a “less-is-more” approach to application.
That’s why we worked with dermatologists to develop a skincare and makeup hybrid cream blush — a pigmented cheek tint that’s creamy, buildable, and swipeable — perfect for busy people who want to make a statement and easily apply a pop of color without compromising healthy-looking, glowy skin.
Not sure what blush shade to wear? We got you. Read on for your perfect Sheer Flush Cheek Tint color match.
FINDING THE BEST BLUSH FOR YOUR SKIN TONE
No two people have the exact same aura, so why would your blush shade be any different?
One of our favorite things about cream blush is that there are no complex rules to where or how to apply. Simply dab onto the skin with your fingers, or use the Natural Flush Complexion Brush for a more precise application.
Now, let’s demystify what blush shades work best for different skin types.
A NOTE ON COOL TONED VS WARM TONED BLUSH
If you’re obsessed with color analysis TikTok videos like us, you’ve probably fallen down the rabbit hole of finding your personal color season by now. Essentially, color analysis helps you figure out what colors pop against your skin tone. Here’s a short primer on cool tones versus warm blush tones to get you started:
- Cool tones lean pink, rosy, apricot, or peach. You might have a cool undertone if the veins on your wrist are primarily blue or purple, and you might be drawn to how silver jewelry looks on you.
- Warm undertones live in shades of olive, gold, or yellow — and you’ll find gold jewelry just pops on you. Your veins might appear more green in hue.
Not sure if either of those fit you quite right? You might have a neutral undertone, which means you can flex into warm and cool colors. Both silver and gold jewelry tend to look good on you.
When it comes to finding your perfect blush shade, cool skin undertones will gravitate toward those pink colors — start with shades like Awakened (a peachy pink) or Grace (a rosy hue). Warm toned blushes will bring the drama with shades like Undeniable (a deep, warm red wine color) or Enigmatic (a reddish brick shade).
BEST BLUSH FOR FAIR SKIN
Light skin pops against peachy, rosy, and pink blush shades that highlight your cool undertones (more on that in a minute). One hack is to match your blush to the natural shade of your lips, but fair skin tones can easily go bolder by gravitating to shades that look good against cool undertones — shades like Magnetic(a soft coral tangerine), Awakened (a bright peachy pink), or a classic light pink.
BEST BLUSH FOR MEDIUM SKIN
Medium skin tones can pair with pretty much any swatch of cheek tint — they often have neutral undertones that play well with either warm or cool shades. Seek out shades like Powerful (a raspberry red) or Grace (a classic rosy pink). Blushes that add a bit of bronze to the face look stunning on medium skin as well.
BEST BLUSH FOR DARK OR DEEP SKIN
Dark skin and deep skin tones can really go bold with their choice of blush — think rich plums, classic reds, and highly pigmented orange — because these shades effortlessly add dimension and depth to deep skin tones.
Dark skin tones can pull off nearly any shade of blush, but to help you narrow things down, you’ll want to pay attention to your undertone. If you’re warm toned and generally dripped down in gold jewelry, you’ll want to lean toward warm and rich shades, like Sensual (a deep berry) or Undeniable (a warm wine color). Blush shades with notes of chocolatey brown and burgundy will sing when paired with darker skin tones. If you’re more cool toned, you’ll want to reach for mauve or light berry shades like Grace or Powerful.
BEST BLUSH FOR OLIVE SKIN
Shades of nearly-nude blush, mauve and warm rose complement olive skin tones beautifully — they bring out the natural warmth and green undertones of olive skin tones and will give you a sun-kissed, barely-there blush look. Taupe, deep red clay, and plums will all capture your essence.
Olive skin tones will want to avoid pale pink and super cool shades of blush, as they can play into a yellowy-green undertone that can leave the skin looking washed out instead of glowy and radiant.
Bright red pigments and hot pink? Yes, please. Olive skin makes a beautiful canvas for classic reds, melon and pops of orange, like Sheer Cheek Tint’s Magnetic (a summery tangerine) or Liberation (cherry red).
HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT SKIN TINT SHADE TO COMPLEMENT YOUR CHEEK TINT
Before dabbing on your cheek tint, you’ll want to apply It’s Like Skin 2-in-1 Concealer + Tint to blur, brighten, and conceal dark spots. Its lightweight formula leaves a radiant finish that makes it a perfect canvas for the right blush. Niacinamide balances the skin’s tone over time while squalane boosts hydration, so your blush will glide over supple, smooth, well-hydrated skin.
(Pssst…Not sure what skin tint shade is right for you? Take our Shade Finder quiz to find out which of the 40 shades suits your uniquely-you skin.)
Once you’ve got your perfect skin tint match, you’re ready to add blush to your makeup look. Sheer Flush Cheek Tint is formulated to provide buildable, natural-looking color so you can create a look that fits any type of vibe
Dial up the drama with a cherry red or lean into romance with dark berry shades. Go bright tangerine if you’re feelin’ it. Or, apply Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum before your chosen shade of blush for extra glowiness.
The important thing to remember? Have fun with it! Experiment with shades that match your energy, your personal style, and feel like you.
Found the right blush to complement your glowing-from-within aura? Let us know in the comments.
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