I didn’t used to understand nude blushes. Why would I want to wear a blush that barely looks like anything?
But somewhere along the way I started to get it. Sometimes I’m wearing a darker or more colorful eye and don’t want to add another color to my cheeks. Other times I just can’t find a blush that feels harmonious with the rest of my makeup. That’s when I started reaching for what I think of as my “nothing blushes.”
Apparently they have a trendier name now. Anti-blush is having a moment, with muted, barely-there shades that give the cheeks some color without looking like obvious blush.
The funny thing is that these are probably some of the least exciting blushes in my collection when you look at them in the pan. Lots of beige, nude and muted rose. But once they’re on, they’re so pretty and incredibly easy to wear.
These are four of my favorites. They all give me that barely-there blush look, but the colors are actually pretty different once they’re swatched and on my skin.
RMS Crystal Slipper
Crystal Slipper is a desaturated rosy nude. This is one of those colors that looks like almost nothing in the pan but is so pretty once it’s on. I especially reach for this when I’m wearing purple eyeshadow. It complements those tones so well without competing with them.
Patrick Ta Not Too Much
Not Too Much is the pinkest of the four, but it’s still neutral enough that I consider it a nude blush. The cream pulls more of a soft neutral rose on me, while the powder adds a little more peach and warmth. Together they give me more of a flush than the other blushes in this group, without looking overly pink. I usually apply the cream first and then layer the powder over it, which is actually the opposite of how the brand recommends using them.
NARS Madly
Madly is definitely the most neutral of the group on me and probably the closest to a true “nothing blush.” It’s a warm beige-brown with a little peach, and doesn’t give me an obvious blush look. I like this one when I’m wearing a darker or more colorful eye because it keeps the cheeks really neutral. I also love that the formula has a little shimmer, so it gives my skin a healthy sheen.
MAC Glow Play in So Natural
So Natural is the lightest and most peachy of the four. It gives me just a hint of warmth when I want a minimal blush look. I also love the blurring quality of this formula. It makes my cheeks look really smooth and plump.
Now that I finally understand the appeal of a “nothing blush,” I want more of them. 🙃 What are your favorites? I’d love to discover a few new shades to try.