TikTok’s latest Cherry Blush trend is taking plant-based makeup to a different level. People are taking bites out of actual cherries and dabbing the brilliant red juice onto their cheeks for a natural-looking flush. But let’s be honest here, reaching for a real cherry as a blush substitute is literally a sticky situation, and cherries are only in season from May to July.
Luckily, Milk Makeup has fun red blush options to achieve the same plump, fruit juice effect—all year long. Plus, our Bionic Blush and Lip + Cheek formulas last a lot longer than cherry juice and are spiked with equally as clean, plant-based ingredients, like hydrating mango butter and skin-plumping snow mushroom.
If the mention of red blush sounds too daring, have no fear: “Red tones are universally flattering and can make your teeth look whiter and your eyes brighter,” Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry Sara Wren says.
Plus, cherry red doesn’t always have to look as vivid on cheeks as it does on lips. Our blushes are effortlessly buildable and blend out seamlessly, so you can easily take your cherry blush from a hint of fruity color to a bold splash of sweetness depending on your look.
Need some cherry blush inspo? Here are three of our favorite ways to wear cherry blush.
Soft Cherry"Bionic Blush in Fly has that sheer-yet-vibrant syrupiness of Maraschino cherries. Lately, I’ve been pairing it with caramel tones for major fall vibes. Cherry Pie Girl makeup, anyone? I start off by focusing on my eyes, buffing Color Chalk in Jump all over my lids with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. Next, I pat Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Quest on top for a non-sticky glossy lid look. Then, I draw Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner in Limitless along my lower waterlines and sweep on a couple of coats of KUSH Waterproof Mascara. For cheeks, I put Bionic Blush in Fly on the back of my hand before dotting an equal amount onto each cheek with a clean fingertip. Then, I blend it out and keep adding a tiny bit more until I get the desired pigmentation I want for the day. I love bringing my blush all the way up to the outer corners of my lower lash lines and adding some faux freckles with the same brown Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner for a super playful, vibrant cherry moment. Finally, the cherry on top is my new favorite lip combo: Lip + Cheek in Flip with Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Buzzed on top."
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Bright Cherry"There are few makeup looks, in my opinion, that Lip + Cheek in Flip doesn’t suit. It's one of my go-to blush colors. Besides the fact that it goes with everything, I also like it for when I put on a shade of blush that’s not fully complementing my makeup. Once I add a little Flip, it hides a multitude of sins. |
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Dark Cherry"Lip + Cheek in Muse has a deeper cherry hue reminiscent of a fresh-picked Bing. It also reminds me of sipping on Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry Soda at the local Jewish deli as a kid, so I decided to create a sparkling ode to that. This time, I went cheek-first into my makeup routine. I stamped Lip + Cheek onto the center of my cheeks, directly below my pupils. Next, I melted the pigment into my skin with my fingertips, continuing these steps until I built up a stunning dark cherry haze. Then, I spot concealed with Future Fluid and made sure to get around my nose. (This keeps your cherry blush looking less like you have a cold.) Next up: the eyes. I created a subtle veil of silver glitter all over my lids and under my lower lashes with Color Chalk in Freeze. With a fluffy brush, I buffed it out toward the tops of my cheekbones to give them a twinkly highlighter effect. Then, I tightlined my lower lash lines with Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner in Outer Space before dragging the pigment on the outer corners out into horizontal flicks. I went on to blend Color Chalk in Trampoline below it for a reverse liner effect. And last, but not least, I smudged Muse onto my lips and layered Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Voyage on top to really round out the dark cherry vibes.”
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Meet the Expert
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.