Makeup Artist Tells Us The Best Blush Placement For Your Face Shape

Blush can make or break a makeup look, and apart from ensuring you're picking the right shade of blush for you (which may not be the trendy option) and avoiding any blush blindness (aka embracing rosy cheeks without overdoing it), your face shape also plays a major role in the outcome. Of course, the first step is determining your face shape once and for all. To take us from there, we enlisted the help of makeup artist Amber Renee. Exclusively for Glam, Renee shares the dos and don'ts of blush application based on your face shape.

"Some face shapes share similarities in blush placement," she tells us. "Oval and oblong faces can both pull off a variety of blush placements." On the other hand, those with a triangular or square face will "benefit from softer, more blended blush looks." And anyone with a round or heart-shaped face shape "requires more precise blush placement to create the illusion of longer or shorter cheekbones." Learning exactly what blush placement looks best on your face will help instantly make you look more youthful and alive. "Ultimately," Renee adds, "the key is to find a blush placement that makes you feel confident and beautiful." And she helped us do just that.

If you have an oval-shaped face, consider yourself blessed in the blush department, as you can experiment with numerous blush placements, and most of them will look great. "Oval faces can pull off a variety of blush placements," Amber Renee shares exclusively with Glam. "Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend upwards and outwards for a natural look." Why stop there, though? "For a more dramatic look, apply blush slightly higher on the cheekbones," Renee adds.

Apart from the placement, Renee explains that oval-shaped faces can also get away with a heavier hand, so blush blindness isn't as much of a problem for them. And since blush can be the focal point of their look, folks with this face shape can also go for bolder and more dramatic shades. Of course, ensuring that the edges are blended and that there's no patchiness is still crucial, but going for a more defined blush look is more than okay for this face shape.

If you have a triangular-shaped face, one specific blush placement will help you elevate your makeup look. "For triangular faces, apply blush to the apples of the cheeks (the areas just above the corners of the mouth) and blend upwards and outwards towards the hairline," Amber Renee explains exclusively to Glam. "This helps balance the narrow forehead and temples."

Renee adds that the harsher lines of your face will benefit from a softer and blended blush look, which means you'll need to ditch the heavy hand. The key is ensuring that your blush is placed just above the corners of your mouth and blended seamlessly into the rest of your makeup. This technique helps balance your face shape and ensures you're not left with awkward blush patches that scream "oops."

If your face shape is round, blush is your secret weapon for adding some length and dimension. "For round faces, apply blush to the upper apples of the cheeks (closer to the nose) and blend upwards and outwards towards the temples," Amber Renee explains exclusively to Glam. "This helps create the illusion of longer cheekbones."

Renee adds that going for a "neither too strong nor too subtle" blush is key, as you want your rouge to pop but not steal the show. Avoid adding too much blush to the sides of your face, as that tends to widen it, which is something you want to avoid with this face shape. The goal? Lifted and lengthened — and blush alone can work wonders. But don't forget: Every step in your makeup routine plays a role, and here's how to apply makeup to a round face.

Those with a square-shaped face can easily add some softness to their angles by strategically applying blush. "Square faces can benefit from a softer blush look," Amber Renee tells us exclusively. "Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend upwards and outwards towards the hairline, making sure to soften the edges." And since you want the look to be soft, always start off with the tiniest amount of blush, no matter if you're using liquid, powder, or both. You can always add more, but you can't always take blush away.

When it comes to this face shape, Renee stresses that the goal is to achieve "ultra-blended blush." In other words, when you think you're done blending, blend some more. Blending makeup flawlessly isn't as hard as you think, but it does take a bit of time and practice. Trust us — your cheekbones will thank you!

Those with a heart-shaped face should use a technique similar to those with a round-shaped face, as the blush application is focused on a more central part of the visage. "For heart-shaped faces, apply blush to the lower apples of the cheeks (closer to the mouth) and blend downwards and outwards towards the jawline," Amber Renee explains exclusively to Glam. "This helps balance the broad forehead."

Renee explains that the goal is "more precise blush placement to create the illusion of shorter cheekbones." Of course, everyone else is secretly jealous of your stellar cheekbones, but hey, the grass is always greener, right? So, to add more balance to your face, avoid applying blush too high on your cheekbones, as this can accentuate the shape of your face even more. Instead, keep it low and blended for that perfectly soft look.

Similar to oval face shapes, oblong ones can also rock a stronger blush look with ease. "Oblong faces can apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend upwards and outwards towards the temples," Amber Renee shares exclusively with us. "This helps create the illusion of shorter cheekbones." 

Renee adds that even though this is the ideal placement, folks with oblong-shaped faces can also experiment with "a variety of blush placements." To add more dimension and soften the face, don't be afraid to go a little heavier with your blush — it's a perfect way to make it a standout feature of your makeup look. The more drama, the better!

Now, if you're ready to level up your blush game, check out the biggest mistakes you're making with blush, according to our makeup artist. Spoiler alert: You're about to have a blush glow-up!