Watercolor blush is having a moment and no one should be surprised. The style gives your cheeks a gorgeous, etheral flush that somehow still looks kind of natural. And you don’t have to look far to find a good blush formula to achieve it—our Cooling Water Jelly Tint happens to be perfect for the job.
With a quick few swirls and a little bit of blending, your cheeks will look as if they’ve been touched by actual watercolor paints. Best of all: You don’t have to be Georgia O’Keeffe to nail this versatile technique that coordinates with any look—even a bare-faced moment.
Watercolor blush also looks great when you use it to underpaint, says Milk Makeup’s Global Education and Events Manager Ari Adams. “This technique emphasizes using the blush first and diffusing the edges with a concealer, like Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer,” he explains. Below, Ari shares the easiest, most effective way to do watercolor blush and how Cooling Water Jelly Tint is the best product for making the magic happen.
What is watercolor blush?
Just as the paints do on paper, watercolor blush appears on skin as a sheer wash of a color with a dreamy see-through effect. “It blends seamlessly into the skin and appears more natural, in the application, than traditional blush looks,” Ari says.
Liquid, cream, and water-based blushes are the best formulas to reach for when creating a watercolor-like flush. These types of blush have a more transparent finish that allows your skin to shine through. Powder blush, on the other hand, is better for blush looks with a more opaque, velvety vibe.
How does Cooling Water Jelly Tint give you a watercolor blush look?
Cooling Water Jelly Tint has the perfect translucence and weightless texture for achieving a watercolor blush look. The bouncy, water-based formula glides onto skin with a refreshing sensation and sheer burst of color, leaving a natural finish that’s neither matte nor shimmery. It’s also non-comedogenic, suitable for all skin types, fade-resistant, and rub-proof. You can rest assured that your watercolor blush artistry is sure to stay put and last all day when you use Jelly Tint.
How to Apply Water Color Blush With Cooling Water Jelly Tint1. Coat Your BrushThe key to watercolor blush is to “start sheer and build,” Ari recommends. The best way to do so is by sweeping Cooling Water Jelly Tint on with a fluffy brush, which will help you better control the amount of product hitting your cheeks. With that in mind, start off creating your look by swiping a fluffy brush onto your Cooling Water Jelly Tint to coat the bristles in color. 2. Add Color to SkinNext, swirl your pigment-covered brush onto one of your cheeks to impart a thin layer of color and diffuse the edges. Alternately, you can skip the brush step and lightly dab Cooling Water Jelly Tint directly onto your skin—straight from the stick—then blend the color in with your fingers or a sponge. 3. RepeatBecause Cooling Water Jelly Tint dries down fast, we highly recommend working one cheek at a time for an even, seamless application. Plus, you can easily build up the color to your desired intensity by repeating the steps above. When you're done, you can swipe the stick onto your lips too to complete the look. |
Meet the Expert
Ari Adams (he/him) is the Global Education and Events Manager for Milk Makeup. Boasting over 10 years of experience as a makeup artist, Ari got his start watching drag performers do their makeup backstage. It sparked a passion for beauty that fuels his work at Milk. Ari channels his expertise to train Milk Makeup field team members on how to apply, hack, and talk about our products in Sephora stores and beyond.