How do you feel about using cream blush? For me, I know that Black women and blush in general have a sort of complicated history.
The question of “is it for us or is it not” has been leading the conversation on whether or not blush belongs in any of our makeup bags.
The short answer to this age-old question? Yes, of course wearing blush—of any kind— is for black women!
Blush isn’t just some chalky red or pink powder with no concern for complexion or undertones anymore.
There’s layers to it now.
Cream blush in particular can be a melanated woman’s best friend. It’s smooth and silky in its application; the color absorbs into your skin so beautifully that it works with your complexion and not against it; and it’s way easier to rub off if you apply too much.
What’s not to love about it? Well, a lot if you don’t pick the right one. That’s why this $18 cream blush from Glossier is to die for. Never heard of it? Well let’s get into the deets, sis!
$18 Glossier Cloud Paint—The most user-friendly blush under the sun.
Glossier Cloud Paint is a seamless, buildable gel-cream blush that can be effortlessly worked into the skin for a natural, complementary finish.
The best thing about this blush is that it’s so sheer, that it’s really hard to go overboard.
You don’t have to worry about the clownish look that so many powdered blushes give you because it’s all glow instead.
Cloud Paint is also pretty thin which means it’s super buildable, and can easily be layered with moisturizers, foundations, and even other blushes without it caking up on your face.
Remember the saying “makeup is meant to enhance your beauty, not cover it”?
This blush is a poster child for that. It uses a soft-focus effect to blur out enlarged pores and overly textured skin, while also leaving a natural, flushed-from-within glow.
Our favorite? Dawn: The sunny-coral shade.
While Glossier has many different Cloud Paint shades to choose from that’ll complement diverse skin tones, Dawn is by far the best.
It’s a warm, sunny-coral shade, so it’s a bright orange with a pink undertone that mimics the vibe of a chill day on the beach.
Now it’s a no-brainer that a warm color such as this will obviously work best on complexions with gold, pink, and red undertones.
However, Dawn also works well with cool and neutral undertones, as it balances out the hues in your skin instead of clashing.
Quick tips for applying cream blush the right way
Different from powdered blushes, Cloud Paint by Glossier isn’t applied with a big fluffy brush.
Instead, you work it into your skin with your fingertips or a small, flat foundation brush that has soft yet firm bristles. Other than that, just follow the general rules of applying a cream-based blush:
- Moisturize beforehand so that the product can absorb in your skin instead of conflict with the consistency and wear of the blush.
- Instead of just covering the apples of your cheeks, try going along your natural bone structure with a shallow “C” shape.
- Don’t forget your setting spray! Even if blush is sheer, it still has a bright pigment to it and can transfer onto your clothes if not set or rubbed in properly.
All in all, cream blush is not so bad, huh? Give this $18 Cloud Paint by Glossier a go and let us know what you think about it in the comments.
