Avon, Bourjois and Elizabeth Arden: The best blushers in rosy pinks and corals

I admit I am late to the blusher game. Past attempts had made cheeks – already prone to redness – look uncomfortably flushed and patchy, so instead I stuck to bronzers and highlighters. But applied correctly, blusher is one of the quickest and easiest ways to perk up tired-looking skin, give it a pretty, youthful glow and even make the whites of your eyes look brighter.

My problem, I realise now, was twofold: firstly, I was using the wrong shades. Your blusher should mimic the colour your cheeks naturally go, so cool skin tones should opt for pale, bluey pinks, while warmer skin tones can pull off peaches and corals. Darker skins look gorgeous in plummy shades. Secondly, I had been applying it to the wrong place. Confused about what the “apples” of my cheeks were, I’d just aimed the brush somewhere towards my cheeks and hoped for this best.

It’s worth investigating what works for your face shape (see Smashbox’s offering above), but a good general tip is to envisage a line out from the base of your nose and down from the middle of your eyes, and start at this point then sweep up and out towards the hairline. And don’t forget to blend well.

From left to right:

While the colour looks vibrant in the pot, Stila Aqua Glow Watercolour Blush in Shimmering Lotus (£20; 020 8912 5325) actually glides on as a sheer splash of colour, and the water-based gel consistency also gives a pleasant cooling effect to cheeks. Use from the inside of the lid, rather than the pot – the clever design dispenses just the right amount of product, so no worries about getting messy.

Colour-coordinate your whole face with Yves Saint Laurent’s two-in-one Kiss & Blush in No 5 (£28.50; 0800 5870 820). The silky, highly pigmented formula leaves a matt stain on both lips and cheeks that won’t budge. This one is, admittedly, a strong colour, but there are more subdued shades available for creating a flawless flush. 

From left to right:

Avon Glow Bronzing Multi Stick in Blushing Coral (£8; 0333 234 5678) is a little handbag-sized twist-up tube in a shade that suits all. It has a balm-like consistency and gives a hint of shimmer – perfect for sweeping across cheekbones in a hurry. 

Givenchy Mister Radiant Blush (£25; 01932 233824) contains bright-pink microbeads suspended in a vitamin E serum that burst into a highly pigmented tint when rubbed into the skin. The result is a pretty flush with a hint of sparkle thanks to crushed pearl, and a little goes a long way – you’ll only need one bead per cheek. 

Bourjois Aqua Blush 12hr in Nude (£8.99; 0345 070 8090) is a lighter-than-air gel that gives skin an instant refresh and a natural colour that stays put all day. One for blusher phobes, this light peach shade gives an imperceptibly healthy glow to skin, and one pump will do both cheeks. If a fresh, pink glow wasn’t youth-enhancing enough, 

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cream Blush (£25; 01618 132608) contains vitamins A, C and E along with advanced skincare technologies that lift and smooth the skin. Available in four shades, the soft cream blusher gives a dewy wash of colour to the cheeks. 

The perfect summer compact, Kiko Milano Desert Dunes Trio Baked Blush in Gypsy Pink (£16.90; 020 7439 8213) is made up of three shades, which create a warm coral-pink when blended together – ideal for complementing a light tan. It’s also, peculiarly but not unpleasantly, vanilla-scented. 

Top right:

Smashbox LA Lights Blush & Highlight Palette in Malibu Berry (£25.50; 0800 054 6072) contains two rich, plum-pink powder blushers plus a gold-tinged highlighter for expertly shaping the face. It also comes with application instructions for every face shape, so you’ll never make the mistake I did.