The right blusher can turn a lacklustre complexion into healthy, lively, ethereal skin with just one sweep - and with temperatures dropping fast, it looks like we're going to need all the glow we can get.

Like foundation and concealer, your skin tone plays a huge part in hunting down the perfect blusher. Thankfully, it's no longer a 'one-shade-suits-all' situation. But it also pays to take the texture and finish into consideration, not to mention your skin type, too.

Blemish-prone? We hate to break it to you, but shimmer is not the one.

Luckily for you guys, we're on hand to make achieving that post-spin flush a little easier - and there's no exercise involved whatsoever.

Astrid Stawiarz

How To Find The Right Blusher For Your Skin Tone

'Blusher is like the magic wand of make-up,' says Pixi Beauty Global Director of Training & Artistry, Amanda Bell, 'But only when it's the right colour!'

So if you find yourself being sent off with a standard doll pink every time you visit the beauty counter, we've got you covered.

The Best Blusher For... Pale To Light Skin

If you have pale skin, you might feel like you're limited to one shade of blusher - baby pink - but there's so much choice out there, and it all depends on the finish you want.

'Peach and soft rose hues are great options for paler skin, especially if you want to achieve a more subtle effect,' says Amanda. 'But for a little more of a statement, sheer plum (the key word being sheer) and soft coral both look great.'

Steer clear of anything too warm, though. It'll only make your skin look muddy.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Pale To Light Skin Cloud Paint in Puff Glossier US$18.00 SHOP NOW You know how your cheeks look after a minute or two in the cold? This pretty pink blusher is basically that in a tube. It may look dainty but the pigment inside is mighty. Expect vivid, non-budge colour that's on par with your favourite powder blusher. PurePressed Blush Jane Iredale £26.00 SHOP NOW Slightly rosy, slightly coraly, this iridescent blusher warms and revives light skin but never makes you look 'done up'. Cheek To Chic First Love Powder Blusher Swatch Charlotte Tilbury £30.00 SHOP NOW With a dusty peachy twist on the classic pink, this two-tone blusher has just the right amount of shimmer to give cheeks a healthy flush.

The Best Blusher For... Medium Skin

If you're in this camp, you suit most shades - YAS.

Your best bet? To invest in a blusher palette. That way you can tailor your make-up to the seasons - warmer in the winter when your skin needs a boost and softer and peachier in the summer. You can also play around with different finishes and textures depending on your mood.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Medium Skin Blush Trio Anastasia Beverly Hills £30.00 SHOP NOW Choose from dusky desert, bubblegum or peachy pink with this genius trio of blushers. Go casual, peppy or au natural - it's your choice! Endless Orgasm Palette NARS £46.00 SHOP NOW The legendary blusher is back in a six-part blusher palette of dreams. Featuring the original Orgasm shade plus five other highlighter-meets-blusher shades, you'll never be blusher-free with this baby. ZOEVA Coral Spectrum Blush Palette ZOEVA £18.00 SHOP NOW With warm, orange and pink undertones as well as both matte and pearlescent finishes, this suits-all palette is worth its weight in gold. P.S. The pigment is intense.

The Best Blusher For... Olive Skin

Thanks to both yellow and green undertones, olive skin can look a little sallow sometimes, so a wisp of blusher is key to perking it up - but you need to pick hues that are going to complement, not clash.

Orange-y peaches breathe life into both light and dark olive tones, but if you're after more of a pretty, pinched look, a vibrant rosy shade works wonders.

Alternatively, you can reach for a bronzer. 'A rich bronze adds a natural blush effect to olive skin tones,' says Amanda.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Olive Skin Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush Hourglass £24.00 SHOP NOW For that highlighter-meets-blush flush, it has to be Hourglass. This might look extra-pink in the compact but it lends cheeks a subtle, petal-like finish. Blush in Orgasm NARS £25.00 SHOP NOW 120 of these rosy blushers is sold every hour and it isn't difficult to tell why. It's the closest thing we've seen to a believable flush, suits most olive tones beautifully, and the subtle light-reflecting particles add a gorgeous glow, so there's no need to follow with highlighter. Powder Blush in Gingerly MAC Cosmetics £19.50 SHOP NOW Occupying a cosy space between bronze and peach this matte blusher warms up olive skin in a few swipes and doubles as a flattering eye shadow.

Check out the rest of the blusher and bronzer shades we love on olive skin tones.

The Best Blusher For... Dark Skin

Rosy hues and candy pinks might show up well on darker skin tones but they have a tendency to look a little frosty or doll-like. Instead, look for something with a warm undertone to enhance your skin's natural glow.

'Dark Asian skin pops with hot corals, warm reds with a rich undertone and deep neutral pinks especially,' explains Amanda.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Dark Skin Blush Colour Infusion in Rosé Laura Mercier £24.00 SHOP NOW Laura Mercier's seriously blendable matte blusher means you can add a hit of pink that looks seriously natural. Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush in Sayoko Shiseido £32.00 SHOP NOW This punchy berry pink shade works a treat on darker skin tones. Simply dab this genius cream-to-powder formula onto the apples of your cheeks for an instant flush. Terrybly Densiliss Blush Contouring in Rosy Shape BY TERRY £68.00 SHOP NOW We're still not over this quilted blusher compact. Two-tones of deep dusky pink swept across cheeks gives a velvety photo-finish thanks to the snazzy silky formula.

The Best Blusher For... Deep Skin

It can be difficult to get pinks and corals to show up on deep or ebony skin tones, but according to Amanda, something with a brick red tint will look epic.

'Other shades that complement deep skin are raisin browns or bronzed sienna hues,' she says.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Deep Skin Glow Oil Lip & Cheek Milk Makeup £19.00 SHOP NOW This genius cream blusher stick gives cheeks a sheer, balmy tint that says 'healthy and fresh'. Powder Blusher in Beg Illamasqua £18.40 SHOP NOW Illamasqua's cult powder blusher is somewhere in between russet, taupe and brick red and the pigment payoff is incredible. Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Blush Rose Bobbi Brown £22.50 SHOP NOW Loved by make-up artists all over the globe, Blush Rose complements the natural pigment in black skin and the subtle sheen gives it dimension.

Check out the best highlighters for darker skin tones here.

How To Pick The Right Blusher Formula And Finish

Cream, powder, gel, tint... The type of texture and finish you settle for is largely down to preference, but if you want to look f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s, your skin type should always be a factor.

Large pores? Go for a matte powder. Acne-prone? Avoid thick or solid textures.

Nicky J. Sims Getty Images

If You Have Oily Or Acne Prone Skin...

If you find that cream blusher slips off before you've even got to the office or that it contributes to your breakouts, swap it out for a powder version, especially if you want it to last and look smooth.

'Also keep away from blushers that contain mineral oils,' mentions Amanda. 'Formulations that are powder-based will work best - they just have to be blended well into the skin.'

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Oily Or Acne Prone Skin Mineral Blush Lily Lolo £12.60 SHOP NOW This loose blusher is oil-free and non-comedogenic, which means it won't clog your pores or lead to spots. The feather-light powder also absorbs any face grease that crops up during the day. Win-win. Powder Blush MAC Cosmetics £20.00 SHOP NOW Dermatologically tested and proven not to contribute to breakouts, every single one of MAC's powder blushers are buildable, whether you prefer a subtle wash of colour or a bold finish. If you're super-oily, go for the mattes to avoid extra shine.

If You Have Normal To Dry Skin...

You'll do well with most blushers (lucky you) but if you like the dewy, ethereal look, try a hydrating cream, gel or serum-based texture. To amp up things up, you can always layer a powder blusher in a similar hue over the top.

ELLE Edit: Blushers For Normal To Dry Skin Cheek Tint Jillian Dempsey £26.50 SHOP NOW If you want your glow to look au-natural, a few tiny dots of this highly pigmented cream blush is all you need. Yes, it feels super-silky, but it really sticks around. 101 Ointment Rose Gold Lip + Cheek Tint Lanolips £13.00 SHOP NOW Give your cheeks a hit of nourishment and colour with Lanolips rosy-hued balm. The best bit? It's 100% natural.

Top Tip: To make cream blusher look dewy all day, choose a product with natural oils and waxes in the formulation. 'This means that there is an existing rich base,' says Amanda. 'You can also spritz a hydrating facial mist on to the brush before blending it in to the skin for an extra glowy finish.'

And what about tints?

'Those with drier skin can use tints, but they have to ensure the skin is super-hydrated first,' says Amanda. 'Use a primer with humectants. It will trap moisture in the skin so that it doesn't just drink up the tint.'

We rate the Pixi Rose Flash Balm, £26. It leaves skin feeling quenched and soft so that any make-up you apply on top glides on seamlessly.

If You Have Large Pores...

Matte blusher is your best friend.

'If you're conscious of your enlarged pores, stick to blushers that have a velvety texture,' says Amanda. 'Anything with a sheen or too much lustre in the pigment will only accentuate pores, bumps and blemishes.'



ELLE Edit: Blushers For Large Pores Joues Contrast Powder Blush Chanel £16.00 SHOP NOW Minus any gaudy silver shimmer, the pigment, staying power and quality of Chanel's matte blusher compacts is second to none. Obsessed. Couture Blush YSL £32.00 SHOP NOW Sweep YSL's ultra-pigmented finely milled powder blusher across your cheeks and eyes for this season's take on monochromatic make-up.

How To Apply Blusher

We're all guilty of being a little slapdash with blusher but Amanda has a few top tips to pinpoint exactly how and where we should apply it to avoid the theatrical look.

'To know where you should apply blusher, imagine a line coming down from your iris to the end of your nose,' she says.

'Where it ends is the perfect spot which you should start applying your blusher. Starting from this point, sweep the blusher onto the cheek and blend outwards towards the hairline.'

Gotcha. But it's not just the technique - the tools matter, too.

Gregory Scaffidi

How To Apply Powder Blusher...



'When using a brush, sweeping movements give a much stronger blush application. For a pro finish, take a smaller-headed brush and blend outwards towards the hairline using use swift, circular motions. This will effectively polish the pigment into the skin,' says Amanda.

How To Apply Cream or Gel-Based Blusher...



'Creams and gels are the easiest to work with.' says Amanda. 'They can be applied to the apple of the cheeks with a nylon brush and then blended in with clean fingertips for a soft, fresh effect.'

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