Up until recently, I had never put too much thought into the way I applied my blush. It wasn’t a product I reached for often, and when I did dab some on, I still followed the age-old trick: smile and apply it directly on the apples of your cheeks.
However, much like skinny jeans and side parts, TikTok is causing me to rethink my ways. Over the past few months, users have been sharing their preferred blush placements and showing how the product can be used to sculpt your face in different ways. It’s sparked something of a debate on the app, and my For You page is full of makeup pros and amateur beauty lovers alike declaring their allegiance to different blush techniques.
While some of the application methods offer similar benefits (a single product, after all, can really only do so much), two blush looks in particular really piqued my interest: a lifted, sun-kissed technique that promises a sculpted, glowy face and a full, flushed cheek technique that offers a rosy, youthful look.
Curious to learn more about the different methods, I asked two expert makeup artists to weigh in on their preferred blush placement—and it turns out, their favorites differ as well. Keep reading for their pro application tips and my honest review of both TikTok-famous techniques.
Meet the Expert
Ariel Tejada is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles. His clients include Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Shay Mitchell.
Lauren D’Amelio is a makeup artist, a licensed Cosmetologist, and bridal beauty expert based in New Jersey.
The Lifted, Sun-Kissed Technique
The origins of the blush debate can be partially traced back to Madison Beer’s much-discussed Vogue Beauty Secrets video. The tutorial immediately went mega-viral on TikTok when released back in February, with the #MadisonBeerMakeup hashtag racking up over 37.2 million views. But of all the tidbits the singer shared in the video, her go-to blush technique was the one that really sent the app aflame.