19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (2025)

Table of Contents

1. Use this handy chart to figure out how to best apply blush for your face shape. 2. And use this chart to figure out what blush shade is most flattering for your skin tone. 3. Use a small dome-shaped brush to concentrate the color on just your apples and then use a clean, fluffier brush to gently blend outward into your temples and jawline. 4. In terms of formula, cream blush is best for drier skin and has a higher color pay-off than powder blushes. 5. If you have oily skin, try applying a translucent powder to your cheeks before putting on powder blush, so the color will last way longer. 6. Don't be afraid of wearing blush if you have redness on your face! Just make sure to apply a good makeup primer with color-correcting properties that will even out all your bumps. 7. Switch up your application order and apply blush either before foundation or after highlighter to nail that ~glowing from within~ look. 8. The most basic tip for applying bronzer is drawing a three shape on both sides of your face. 9. If you want to cover a little bit ground, here's a slightly more comprehensive chart to follow. 10. Powder bronzers are best for beginners because they give you the most control. 11. Use a big, fluffy brush (like a powder brush) for a natural, tanned flush. 12. If you want super precise application, try a cream formula in pen form and make little hash marks underneath your cheekbones, on top or below your jawline, along your hairline, and around your nose. 13. Blend out any sharp edges of your bronzer with a damp sponge. 14. Shimmery bronzers are great for illuminating skin and giving off that fresh ~sun-kissed glow~, but not so much for contouring and shadowing. 15. Use this handy chart to find out what areas you should be highlighting. 16. Use a fan brush for a concentrated swipe that gets *right on top* of the cheekbones. 17. Strobing has been touted as "the new contouring," but it's really just intense highlighting that targets your face's highest points rather than defining through shadowing. 18. As a last step, use a finishing spray to really lock in your chiseled, glowing face without disturbing the amazing work you've already laid out. 19. And of course, there are always multitasking kits that combine highlighter, bronzer, and blush. 🎵 All the right ~makeup~ in all the right places 🎵 Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides here!

Posted on Oct 18, 2016

Shine bright like a naturally flushed and perfectly bronzed diamond.

by Sarah HanBuzzFeed Staff

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (3)

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (4)

1. Use this handy chart to figure out how to best apply blush for your face shape.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (5)

2. And use this chart to figure out what blush shade is most flattering for your skin tone.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (6)

3. Use a small dome-shaped brush to concentrate the color on just your apples and then use a clean, fluffier brush to gently blend outward into your temples and jawline.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (7)

4. In terms of formula, cream blush is best for drier skin and has a higher color pay-off than powder blushes.

Emily Resling / Via julep.com

You can use a stippling brush, but clean fingers work just as well. Just be sure to start off with a really small amount and pat/build up the color as needed to avoid looking like a murderous clown. But if you do go a little overboard, use a damp sponge to pick up some of the excess color.

Drugstore: NYX (available on Amazon for $5.99+) and L'Oreal Visible Lift Color (available on Amazon for $5.98+)

High-end: Glossier (available on Glossier for $18) and Stila (available on Amazon for $25), and NARS (available on Nordstrom for $39)

5. If you have oily skin, try applying a translucent powder to your cheeks before putting on powder blush, so the color will last way longer.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (8)

6. Don't be afraid of wearing blush if you have redness on your face! Just make sure to apply a good makeup primer with color-correcting properties that will even out all your bumps.

bit.ly, amazon.com

Drugstore: e.l.f (available on Amazon for $5.79) and NYX (available on Amazon for $9.74)

High-end: Make Up For Ever (available on Sephora for $37) and Smashbox (available on Sephora for $39)

7. Switch up your application order and apply blush either before foundation or after highlighter to nail that ~glowing from within~ look.

Miki Hayes / Via bustle.com

Apply your cream blush with a slightly heavier hand, so a natural amount will peek through the powder foundation (which also helps set the blush).

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (9)

8. The most basic tip for applying bronzer is drawing a three shape on both sides of your face.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (10)

9. If you want to cover a little bit ground, here's a slightly more comprehensive chart to follow.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (11)

10. Powder bronzers are best for beginners because they give you the most control.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (12)

11. Use a big, fluffy brush (like a powder brush) for a natural, tanned flush.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (13)

12. If you want super precise application, try a cream formula in pen form and make little hash marks underneath your cheekbones, on top or below your jawline, along your hairline, and around your nose.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (14)

13. Blend out any sharp edges of your bronzer with a damp sponge.

Tyler Joe / Via elle.com

The Beautyblender (available on Amazon for $20) is always a trusty option; the Real Techniques sponge ($8.99 for two) is a good dupe for it.

14. Shimmery bronzers are great for illuminating skin and giving off that fresh ~sun-kissed glow~, but not so much for contouring and shadowing.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (15)

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (16)

15. Use this handy chart to find out what areas you should be highlighting.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (17)

16. Use a fan brush for a concentrated swipe that gets right on top of the cheekbones.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (18)

17. Strobing has been touted as "the new contouring," but it's really just intense highlighting that targets your face's highest points rather than defining through shadowing.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (19)

18. As a last step, use a finishing spray to really lock in your chiseled, glowing face without disturbing the amazing work you've already laid out.

Dana Rae / Via hbfit.com

Drugstore: NYX (available on Amazon for $5.99)

High-end: MAC (available on Nordstrom for $23)

19. And of course, there are always multitasking kits that combine highlighter, bronzer, and blush.

19 Blush, Bronzer, And Highlighter Tips Every Beginner Should Know (20)

🎵 All the right ~makeup~ in all the right places 🎵

Disney / Via giphy.com

Or this is probably a more accurate version, tbh.