Purple Blush Is the Surprising Reddit + Makeup Artist Favorite for Making Mature Skin Look More Radiant — Here’s How To Use It

Ranging from soft lavenders to bold violets, purple blush is making waves on social media platforms like Reddit, TikTok and Instagram and among makeup artists. Breaking away from your typical rosy-hues, purple blush is the perfect beauty product for those looking to add a pretty pop of color to your makeup routine. While you might initially view purple as a bold and unconventional blush shade, it’s surprisingly flattering on all skin tones. Here, all you need to know about purple blush: how versatile it is, application techniques and the products that make it easy to nail the look. Read on for how to look pretty in the stunning shade. 

How purple blush flatters women over 50

Despite being initially perceived as perhaps a childish makeup color choice, purple actually has great benefits for skin. It counteracts sallow skin tones, resulting in a brighter and more radiant complexion. This makes the shade suitable for more mature skin as well. ”It’s a versatile shade that’s complimentary to all skin tones, especially if you have more yellow or warm undertones,” says Steve Kassajikian, Urban Decay’s Global Makeup Artist. “Purple adds light and brightness to the face while giving a youthful appearance to the skin. Also, it’s flattering by making the skin look glowy and fresh.” 

If you go back to color theory, purple is on the opposite spectrum as yellow, which is why this cool tone counteracts sallow or dull skin. Celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder attests to this saying, “ It has a way of counteracting any sallowness in the skin by neutralizing any yellow in the skin.” The cool undertones of purple also help offset any redness and create a more balanced complexion, providing a youthful flush and a rejuvenated appearance. She adds, “It mimics some of the purple undertones that tend to get more predominant as you age and your skin thins, so it can look very natural and cohesive on older faces.”

Related: Celebrity Makeup Artists: The 8 Best Blushes for Mature Skin That Give You Glow

How to apply purple blush

Applying your blush upward toward the cheekbones gives your face a more lifted look, explains Kassajikian. “Purple blush can be applied just as any other shade of blush,” he says. “I like to apply on the apples of the cheeks for a youthful pop of color and then blend upward.” Since purple blush tends to be quite pigmented, it’s best to start with a small amount and add more as needed. Blunder likes to layer blushes by starting with “a pinky blush on the areas the sun would hit you, and then pop just a bit of purple on the highest points of the face to add extra depth and color to the face.”

Dani Kimiko Vincent, celebrity makeup and brow artist and founder of KIMIKO, also believes in the less is more approach and advises to begin with a sheer application and build from there. For a soft and natural look, Vincent recommends to “gently sweep color slightly upward and outward. I like to aim for slightly above the tragus or that little nub where your ear begins.”

As far as what tool to use to apply this blush shade, Emmy-nominated makeup artist Bruce Grayson advises to choose a blush brush appropriate for the size of your cheeks. He says to aim for “a fluffy brush for a soft application.” Grayson says in order to achieve a natural, diffused finish, you need to remember to blend well to avoid harsh lines. Finally, using the same brush, Grayson suggests using translucent powder to, “tap off the excess and brush over cheeks concentrating on the edge of where the blush ends and the skin begins.” 

To see purple blush in action, watch the below video from @Zabrena on YouTube.

Related: Makeup Artists: The Strategic Way to Apply Blush to Accentuate Your Best Features

Tips for wearing purple blush

All four makeup experts we spoke to agree that since purple blush is such a standout on its own, you should keep the rest of your makeup pretty neutral. Kassajikian says, “the skin should look fresh and natural.” So stick with your go-to foundation and concealer — and if they have a luminous or dewy finish that’s even better.

For the eyes, our pros recommend wearing neutral browns, soft pinks, silvers, rose-toned shades, or any nude color. Similarly, they say to stick with soft pinks and berry tones or nudes for the lips. Blunder suggests another option for your eye makeup by applying the purple blush to your eyelids. “This brings so much unity and cohesion to the face and will prevent the blush from looking too stark on its own.”

Related: No-Makeup Makeup Trend: Pro Tricks to Get That Natural Look With Little Effort

The best purple blushes

Now that you have all the information you need on how to wear and apply purple blush, you need the products to actually wear it. Below we’ve rounded up the best lineup of products from velvety powders to light liquid and creamy formulas. Whether you are all about bold statements or wearing purple blush in a more subtle way, we’ve got you covered.

Best drugstore purple blushes

Best splurge purple blushes

Best liquid purple blushes

Best cream purple blushes

Best gel-to-cream purple blush

Best purple blush stain

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