Our latest obsession? Red blush, which we’re forever grateful to Rose-Marie Swift for. In a viral TikTok video, the makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty revealed that the pretty pink cheeks of Victoria’s Secret models are in fact, wait for it, red!
If you live and breathe for blush, you won’t need convincing to try this cheeky trend. If not, red blush may seem out of your comfort zone, but it actually looks more natural on the skin.
Keep reading to find out why you should switch teams and the best red blushes to try.Â
The Case For Red
Since Swift’s TikTok revelation, red blush has remained one of the biggest beauty trends of 2025 for beauty lovers looking to achieve a natural summer-kissed flush.Â
The benefit of red blush goes beyond its vibrant colour. Deeper tones add facial definition, lending dimension much like a bronzer, while softer hues like pink often lack contrast — particularly on darker skin tones.
Red blush also stands out for its staying power, adhering well to the skin and lasting longer than lighter colours, keeping your flush fresh throughout the day.Â
If you’re now convinced to jump on the rogue revolution, these are the best red blushes to try.
Best Red Blushes For Natural, Rosy Cheeks
Merit Flush Balm - Rouge
With 5667 positive reviews (and counting), the Flush Balm by Merit is one of the best red blushes to jump on this trend with. The creamy tint melts onto the skin with microfine pigment powders for a splash of colour that won’t hide your natural skin texture – just like blushing IRL wouldn’t. Rouge is a sheer red with a satin finish, but extremely buildable if you want to spice it up.
Glossier Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush - Black Cherry
This deep burgundy effortlessly warms up any look. It also hits it off with Spark, a poppy red, if you’re feeling boujee and want to create a custom shade. The OG Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush contains blurring pigments to smooth out imperfections and collagen to keep things tight and dewy. Cherrilicious.
Chanel N°1 De Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm - Red Camellia
Red Camellia is a fierce crimson that demands attention. The head-turning lip and cheek balm is enriched with oil from the signature flower, which strengthens the skin barrier and provides antioxidant protection for healthier skin with every use.
Ilia Multi-Stick Blush - Dear Ruby
The stick application of this multi-purpose blush makes it easier than ever to chisel those cheekbones with a vibrant tangerine red. Spread the love on your cheeks, lips, and even eyelids. Infused with orange peel wax, shea butter, and avocado oil, the buttery formula effortlessly swoops across the skin without tugging or lifting makeup underneath – a major win for stick blushes everywhere.
Nars Blush - Exhibit A
Perf for oily skin types, Nars Blush will leave you feeling hot to trot as it livens up your cheeks and mattifies excess oil for up to 16 hours. No touch-ups needed. A little goes a long way with Exhibit A, a beautiful blazing red, with its pure pigment blend for a high-impact colour payoff. Case closed on why you need to add it to your shopping cart ASAP.
Tips For Using Red Blush
Start Light
Always start with less than you think when applying red blush, slowly but surely building it up afterwards.
When using a cream blush, you should apply it with your hands, as your fingers will warm up the product and make it much easier to blend. For powder blushes, swirl the brush in the pan, then tap off the excess powder.Â
Set Cream Blushes in Place
If you’re happy with the intensity of your blush and it’s matte, set it with a translucent powder. To maintain a sheer finish, use a light reflective powder instead. But if you fancy adding fuel to the fire, you can set it with a red powder blush.Â
Topping Up
When reapplying, use a stippling motion to avoid disturbing the previously applied blush. Never go in with the circular movements, as this will separate the pigment and cause it to become patchy.Â
Make sure your brush is clean so you don’t also apply leftover product, especially when using red blush. If you’re out and about without access to a clean brush, you can remove most excess by brushing it against the back of your hand first.
Blush Placement
For a subtle facelift, apply it to your upper cheekbones, midway towards the tops of your ears, and blend upwards towards your temples.
If you’re lacking volume in your cheeks, try applying the blush to the apples of your cheeks for the illusion of fullness.
When contouring with a red blush, place it slightly above where you’d apply bronzer for double the definition. We’d recommend using the same texture for both for a seamless blend, either cream or powder, to avoid it looking muddy.
