As for the best blush to top your cheekbones, well, that’s up to you to discover The One. But this year, a slew of beauty fans have uncovered the secret to that effortless, wind-swept glow: a majestic purple. Plum, lilac, violet, berry—the people are turning toward the color family for a cool, wintertime beat. Dare we call it a royal flush? He’s not the only one to find the color family intimidating at first glance. “People don’t ‘blush’ and turn purple when their crush walks by,” says makeup artist Alexandra Compton, product development manager at Credo. “It’s usually a soft pink or red tone, which are tones we gravitate toward in makeup.” So you might brush off a pan of royal purple, leaving it to the more avant-garde consumers to create intricate, editorial works of art. For example: “Some [purple blushes] have a lot of pink or red tones, giving them a pink blush-like appearance,” says makeup artist Naseeha Khan, co-founder of CTZN Cosmetics. These are your magentas and violets, and they work best on those with warm and olive undertones. For those with fair skin with cooler undertones, a lilac or lavender is your best blusher—a warmer shade can make your complexion appear a bit ruddy. Cooler purples can also flatter deeper skin tones with yellow or olive undertones, says Compton, but there’s a fine line here; if your purple leans way too cool, you might wind up with a gray-looking finish. Not all purples are created equal—know and love your undertones, folks. As for the actual application, apply the blush as you would any other pigment: A C-shape from the temples inward for lift, a dab on the apples (directly under the pupils) to create a youthful fullness, on the eyelids for a monochromatic moment…blush techniques run the gamut. To blend, Compton recommends opting for a flatter buffing brush to soften the concentration of color and slowly build, especially if your purple is much more pigmented than blushes you’re used to. She then suggests topping your blush with a sheer purple highlighter, like Olio E Osso’s Tinted Balm in No. 7, to give the look an icy, holographic glow—it practically sings winter glam, in my humble opinion. A final caveat: If you have cool undertones and are dealing with dark circles, Peña actually recommends staying away from a cool purple blush. “If you’re putting a blue or purple tint next to a [dark] under-eye, then it’s going to enhance that a little bit,” he says. A hit of concealer can quickly make this a nonissue, but just something to note in case your makeup look is more of a blush-and-go (as someone who considers blush her desert island makeup grab, I appreciate the flag). Regardless, purple is arguably the most versatile blush product out there: Name another pigment that can nail a natural-looking flush, a vampy, moody vibe, and a cool, jewel-toned beat. All are divine for the wintertime; these picks below will surely make an impact at your holiday soiree. Vitamin-Infused Cream Blush in Flirty, Tata Harper ($42) Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Rare Beauty ($20) Color Drops Serum Blush, EM Cosmetics ($25) Supercheek Cream Blush, Beauty Pie ($30) Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick, Milk Makeup ($20)
