Blush may not be a must-have product for everyone, but when used properly, even the simplest look can well glow. The problem is, for people with dark skin, it's not always easy to find a blush that works. It may be too pale, too pearly, or not suitable for the skin. The key to using blush correctly is to create a warm, natural glow. You don't need super white skin to get the effect, all you need is to choose a brighter shade than you think you need.
"With people of color, you can have a lot of fun." says makeup artist Sir John, who works for Beyonce. Some blush may look intimidating, but once you put it on, it shows muted colors as if you've just come from somewhere cold. In fact, the more vivid it looks in the box, the more likely it is to give dark skin a vibrant, healthy glow. (Some blush packaging is deceptive, of course). Fiery pink, fiery coral, berry, and wine tones work best for melanin-rich skin.
We've searched through user reviews and expert advice for the best blush for dark skin, and our testers have selected the top 10 blush options for you. If you haven't used any of these before, give them a try and they will surprise you.
NO.1
Mented was founded to provide suitable beauty products for every woman, no matter what skin tone she has. Whether its nude lipstick, eye shadow palette or blush, Mented always meets the needs of women with different skin tones. Make You Blush has 4 shades, among which the burgundy Berried Away is suitable for dark skin. Packed with superfine and tightly pressed powder, it will scarcely cause fallout, delivering a comfortable feeling. What’s more, it is highly pigmented. You’d better sweep gently with a brush, to contour the cheeks well, presenting a plump look. Brimming with vitamin E, this long-lasting blush can moisturize the skin. In addition, it comes with a small mirror, but contains no brush, so you need to buy it yourself. This blush is deep in color and is not suitable for people with light skin, otherwise it may give an unnatural effect. Mented claims that its products are safe without harmful ingredients such as preservatives, so are suitable for most skin types.
NO.2
The high-end luxury brand Dior is well-received and professional in its makeup products with good quality. Rouge Blush is inspired by the legendary Rouge Dior lipstick. This blush has 10 shades in the official website, to meet the need of most people, among which the Rouge Blush in 999 is suitable for dark skin. Packed with refined and tightly pressed powder, Rouge Blush will scarcely cause fallout. This product is highly-pigmented with the intense coral, and you’d better apply multiple layers with a small amount. You can use a brush to take the powder, then sweep it on your cheeks gently with multiple layers. This shimmer blush can make your cheeks look plump, delivering a natural and shiny finish. Besides, it is long-lasting for 9 hours after using setting products, which is enough for daily makeup. The classic black packaging is very exquisite with a brush and a built-in small mirror, convenient for carrying around. What’s more, Dior will provide a soft velvet belt to avoid the abrasion of the packaging. Rouge Blush in 999 is deep in its color, so it’s not recommended for people with light skin. People with this skin tone could choose other shades.
The drugstore brand Maybelline has always been very popular. Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush won the Best of Beauty Awards on Allure in 2020. It has 6 shades, among which Berry Flame is suitable for dark skin. This water-based and oil-free product delivers a comfortable and smooth feeling, presenting a moisturizing and seamless look. In addition, it has excellent pigment and bendability. You only need to squeeze a little on your fingertip, then gently pat it on your cheeks and other parts. The finish will still keep natural, glossy and healthy even if you apply multiple layers. This small blush is packed in a tube, which is convenient to carry around. However, many users complained that too much liquid flows out when squeezing. It’s hard to control the amount, resulting in waste. Overall, this blush is cost-effective.
Milk Makeup is a popular makeup and skincare brand in New York, with unique and fashionable style, featuring no-fussy beauty. Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek can be used on lips and as a blush. This product has 5 shades, among which the berry-colored Quickie is suitable for dark skin. The cream-like and moisturizing Lip + Cheek in Quickie is easy to spread, presenting a matte finish. What’s more, it is moderately-pigmented, and you may smudge with your finger, which is convenient and quick to apply. The official website said: “Swipe onto lips, cheeks, or both and blend with fingertips for an instant flush. No mirror required.” The small and light packaging of Quickie is similar to that of mini lipstick, which is convenient to carry around. Infused with avocado oil and other fruit extracts, it can moisturize the skin, leaving a natural and seamless finish. However, many people complained that it will cause a sensation of burning and even breakout after using. Therefore, it is not recommended for people with sensitive skin. In addition, this blush has a strange smell, so people who are picky about scents should consider carefully before buying.
The skincare brand Clinique is not outstanding in makeup field, but Cheek Pop Blush is well-received as one of the must-buy products for many blush lovers. The burgundy Cola Pop is suitable for people with dark skins. Cheek Pop Blush is unique in its texture with refined powder and a cream-like surface. Its powder is pressed tightly, so it will scarcely cause fallout. With moderate pigment, even if you smudge multiple layers, the finish will still keep natural. The powder of Cheek Pop Blush is not very glossy, but there is shimmer when you even it out, giving a multi-dimensional look. Formulated with moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and squalane, it can brighten the areas like cheeks, delivering a seamless finish. The shape and appearance of this blush are very exquisite, like a small blooming daisy, cute and beautiful. What’s more, its packaging is also simple and beautiful with the transparent acrylic material. However, it comes with neither a mirror nor a brush, so you need to buy it yourself. It’s inconvenient for on-the-go touch-ups. It is not recommended for people with light skin for its deep color.
Fenty beauty has been popular since its launch. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Cream Blush has a total of 10 shades to meet the needs of users with different skin tones. Among them, Summertime Wine is suitable for people with dark skin. The cream-like and soft Cheeks Out Cream Blush is easy to spread and can enhance the complexion, giving a lightweight and comfortable feeling. It can also blend well with the foundation, and will not make the pores too visible, presenting a natural finish. Some customers said, “I bought it in the shade summertime wine which also has shimmer. It is my absolute favourite blush and a must for natural makeup, dewy skin with a natural shine.” This blush is highly-pigmented so you can apply multiple layers with a small amount. You can smudge with your finger or Face Shaping Brush 125 recommended by the official website. It can be used on areas of cheeks, eyes and lips, leaving a natural and multi-dimensional finish. Besides, it is officially claimed that Cheeks Out Cream Blush is waterproof and sweat-resistant, to enhance its staying power to a certain extent. However, it’s not recommended for people with light skin.
Chanel produces many kinds of blushes, which can be divided into regular edition and limited edition. Joues Contraste Powder Blush, as the star product of Chanel, with the classic black packaging and good quality, is well-known to the public. Powder Blush in 320 Rouge Profond is deep in shade, suitable for dark skin. With delicate and soft powder, this highly pigmented product is easy to smudge and can enhance the complexion, blending well with the skin and leaving a comfortable feeling. Besides, it is easy to pick up powder. You can apply one layer to make your face plumper, delivering a natural finish, or apply multiple layers to create bold and personalized makeup effect. The packaging of Joues Contraste Powder Blush is exquisite, with a built-in mirror and a small brush, which is convenient to carry around. In addition, it has a light and pleasant rose fragrance. However, although it is a baked blush, many users complained that it still causes fallout while using.
NO.8
The blush of Nars is very famous. The shade Orgasm was once very hot, and won the Allure Readers' Choice awards in 2020. Many people with dark skin will choose it. Blush in Exhibit A, with soft texture, is suitable for dark skin, delivering a comfortable feeling and a seamless finish. It’s highly pigmented, and you can smudge with your finger or a brush. You’d better apply multiple layers with a small amount, to avoid taking too much powder to cause an unnatural finish. Exhibit A is bright in color to create a natural and vibrant finish. However, some people said that the the texture of its powder is average, which may cause dryness. Therefore, it’s recommended for people with dry skin to moisturize the skin before use. The packaging of this blush is black and matte with good quality. However, the matte film on the surface is prone to be dirty due to grease and dust after a period of use, so you need to clean it in time. This blush is equipped with a mirror but contains no brush, so you need to buy it yourself, which is a bit inconvenient to touch up.
NO.9
Featuring plan extracts, Glossier is favored for its safe ingredients. Cloud Paint has 8 shades. The slightly purple Haze is suitable for dark skin. The gel-like and moisturizing Cloud Paint is easy to spread, blending well with your skin. It’s also good for people with skin concerns because it will not make the pores visible. Besides, this highly-pigmented blush can deliver a natural and glossy finish if you apply multiple layers with a small amount. What’s more, the long-lasting product will not melt down after a day of wearing makeup. You’d better smudge it quickly because it dries quickly after being squeezed out. Cloud Paint in Haze can be used as not only blush but also eye shadow and lipstick. Besides, the small and light tube packaging is easy to carry around. In addition, the official website claimed that the blush contains the exclusive blurring pigments, to present a soft mist finish. Without any flavors, this dermatologists-tested blush can be used by most skin types. However, many users complained that its tube packaging is not good because too much liquid will flow out when squeezing, and it is not easy to control the amount, causing waste.
NO.10
MAC is a creative makeup brand. Mac powder blush has a total of 29 shades. The Coppertone is the most suitable one for people with dark skin, with matte and dry texture. People with dry skin should better moisturize your skin before applying, otherwise it may make your skin dry. With moderate pigment, it’s easy to smudge. You can take the powder with Mac makeup brush. It’s recommended to apply multiple layers with a small amount and smudge patiently, presenting a natural and vigorous finish. One of the consumers said after use: “This is my favourite blush that I have ever purchased. It is lightweight and sheer just the way I like it and it is worth spending money on." However, MAC powder blush is oxidizable. The color of the powder may get deeper and the surface will whiten after a long period of time. It’s also possible to become hardpans, then you should deal it with a hard knife or a brush, which may cause waste. Therefore, you’d better put the blush in a dry environment and close the lid after use.