Purple blush is at once intense and playful. It makes you think of wine-flushed cheeks on a hot night, or a face stained by a raspberry popsicle. For people with dark skin like mine, purple blush is particularly nice because it blends so well with shades of brown. But across all skin tones, there are hues of purple to flatter any complexion. Lilac, orchid, indigo—you’ve got options. “It’s one of those shades that we all finally tried and had an aha moment [with,]” says Sara Wren, Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup.
The first time I flirted with purple blush was a few years back when I repurposed a purple lipstick of mine. I wanted an electric violet tint to my cheeks, but knew the actual blushes I owned were too red, orange, or rosy to fit the bill. The lipstick, dotted on then carefully blended out, lent an edgy amethyst sheen to my face—I loved it.
Purple blush is nothing new, though. “Ancient makeup wearers used minerals and fruit to create the perfect shade of rouge,” Sara explains. “[They] crushed blackberries to create a natural purple stain on the cheeks.” With this in mind, you can think of purple as one of the OG blush shades.
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How to choose the right purple blush shade
The key to finding a purple blush that suits you, Sara explains, is finding a buildable formula, especially in bold, bright shades, which tend to suit a wide range of skin tones. “I gravitate toward sheer and buildable creams or liquids in brighter shades for a client that is new to purple blush,” she says. She often reaches for Bionic Blush in Beyond and Lip + Cheek in Quickie for this reason.
That said, while rich, bold purples can work for a wide range of skin tones, if you’ve got fair to medium skin and you want something a little softer, Sara cites lilac as a good hue to start with.
How to choose the right purple blush formula
For purple blush newbies, choosing the right one can be intimidating. Sara suggests looking for something that comes in a cream or liquid formula. Those melt into your skin and leave a dewy finish.
They also happen to be super versatile, too. “The benefit of using a cream or liquid for the perfect purple cheek is you can cocktail it with other similar textured products,” Sara explains. “Try mixing Bionic Blush in Beyond with Bionic Glow in Virtual, or layering our Highlighter in Lit over Lip + Cheek in Quickie.”
Powder blushes can be a useful option when you want to cocktail your makeup and experiment with textures. Color Chalk is a multi-use pigmented shimmer stick that can be applied on eyes, cheeks, and lips. Bounce is a vibrant plum shade that is wonderful as a powered blush. Mixing Bounce with liquid illuminators like Bionic Glow in Reality or Virtual intensifies the glow and allows for smoother application.
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How to apply purple blush
Sara’s got a few blush application tips that depend on the texture of the product. “With cream and liquid, I always recommend working off the back of your hand,” she says. “This gives you much more control when applying. You will never apply too much if you work slowly with small amounts of product.” Sara likes to use her fingers or a brush to blend it into her skin. Don’t have a cream or liquid blush on hand? No worries. Powder formulas are great, too. Sara’s tip: “I would recommend applying with a fluffier brush to get a soft wash of color.”
If you decide to experiment with purple blush, remember what the color asks of you: to be bold, playful, and maybe a little bit royal. However you choose to wear it, the most important component of your look, as always, is confidence.
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.
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