3 MUA-Approved Cream Blush Tips You Probably Haven’t Heard Before

With seasonal changes come makeup changes. And the on and off of cold and hot makes us want to to switch up our powders to more hydrating cream formulas. Swapping in cream blush for powder is a great place to start.

“The goal of blush is to add flush and warmth back to the skin, which you may have covered up with your foundation and concealer,” says Makeup Artist Kasey Spickard. “And cream blushes are fantastic because they are blendable and melt into the skin to give a true looking flush without drying the skin.” They’re ideal for the flippant, transitional weather happening this season.

Ahead, find Spickard’s three golden rules when it comes to applying cream blush.

Warm it Up

“Before applying to the face, I like to take my ring finger and swipe it into the cream blush in a circular motion, then swirl it onto the back of my hand to warm it up,” says Spickard. Warming up the product on the back of your hand will allow it to blend more easily into the skin and create a more natural finish.

Buff it Out

When applying your cream blush, it’s super important to blend it out onto your cheeks and into your temples. “Smile, then lightly tap the product with your ring finger to the apples of the cheeks and up the cheekbone,” says Spickard. Next, buff the product into your skin in circular motions; Spickard recommends the Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush.

Powder to Finish

“A great way to make your cream blush last throughout the day is to layer a powder blush on top of it to set it,” Spickard suggests. After you’ve applied your cream blush (Spickard loves the Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick), set it with a powder of the same shade using the Maybelline Master Blush Color & Highlight Kit. “It's the same idea as using a powder to set your foundation to make it last all day,” adds Spickard.