Best blush for fall: From rosy-pink powders to wine-stained cheeks, the Beauty Panel shares their top picks

Date November 21, 2013

Somehow when fall rolls through we’re so enamored by the deep-toned lipsticks and warm eyeshadows that we tend to neglect our cheeks. While we wish we could still embrace the bronze-y glow of summer, when winter comes calling nothing looks better than flushed, “just in from the ski slopes” cheeks.

As the colder months tend to dull our complexion, we thank the beauty gods for blush to highlight the cheekbones and brighten up our faces. Wine-stained shades ranging from rosy-pink to deep-plum provide the perfect complement to the berry and jewel tones that we’re also coveting for our clothes . That being said, it can be a challenge to decipher the right product for you—from finding the right colour to choosing between the creamy consistencies of cheek stains, polishes and powders, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to blush. But fear not: We’ve enlisted our Beauty Panel’s wealth of knowledge to help you achieve the perfect fall flush.

Challenge 37: What’s your blush must-have for fall? See the answers now! »

Switching up her blush routine for the fall is Shayna Wiwierski of A Pop of Colour who transitions from dewy skin to sharp features, but if you’re looking for options, Amy Mckissock of The Pretty Vain has you covered with her top five blushes for the season. And just because blush can be a tricky thing for deeper skin tones, we look to Jennifer Francis of Spiced Beauty who’s steering us from disaster with some go-to tips for choosing the right shade.

Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.

Shayna Wiwierski
Winnipeg | A Pop of Colour

As the seasons change from warm weather to cold, I find my blush routine gets switched up twofold. From fresh, dewy skin to sharp features, the pink and coral blushes get pushed to the back of my makeup drawer, and the tan-toned blushes get pulled forward.

Although berry and wine-coloured blushes are perfect for giving you that “I just came in from the cold” look, I love keeping everything neutral on the face, so I will reach for a nude/tan-coloured blush, making sure to still contour to bring everything together. I just love the way that this creates a sleek, pulled together look, perfect for these winter months ahead.

Products used: Nars Blush in “Madly”

Gerry Xun
Vancouver | The Bunnie Hole

In my world the colour of happiness is pink and therefore so is my daily blush of choice. For those who share my beauty philosophy, autumn is a great time to try layering your blushes to create subtle variations on the pink cheek. My current favourite combination is putting down a wash of a warm rose gold from the apples of the cheek towards the hairline and then top it with a bright yet translucent pink on the front of the cheek and sweeping across the nose. Keep the textures soft, more satin instead of shimmery for an autumnal take on your favourite pink blush look.

Products used: Benefit Rockateur Blush and Candydoll Blush in “Strawberry Pink” (which may be substituted for Nars “Desire” Blush)

Jennifer Francis
Durham | Spiced Beauty

A lot of dark/deep skin girls stay away from blush. I admit, if you don’t have the right colour it can be a disaster. But blush is definitely one thing that can tie your whole look together! For dark/deeper skin toned girls, we look great in oranges and fuchsias. It’s a colour that we can wear all year round.

For winter and fall, opt for cream/gel blushes because they last longer especially when they set into the skin. For high-end users I would suggest Make Up For Ever or Nars blushes. For drugstore users I would suggest E.l.f. Last week, I picked up E.l.f. Studio HD Blush in Encore, a gorgeous rich plum fuchsia mix. You can apply it with a stipple brush but I prefer to use my fingers for placement.

Products used: Almay color + care in “Lilac love,” E.l.f. Studio HD Blush in “Encore,” Cover Girl eyeliner in “Black,” Mary Kay Kohl Eyeliner in “Golden Illusion” and Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express

Genevieve Peeke
Montreal | Gen In The City

The cold weather is quickly approaching but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from beautiful blush shades! I am currently loving dusty rose, berry and caramel coloured blushes and think they are the perfect shades for the colder months. My current favourites are: NYC Blushable Creme Stick in “Berry New Yorker,” M.A.C Cream Blush in“Lady Blush,” Stila Convertible Color in “03 Peony,” Benefit Bella Bamba Blush, Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in “60 Coffee Cake,” Aerin Multi Color Duo in “Warm Gold/rich Nude, Wet N Wild Colour Icon Blush in “Heather Silk” and “Berry Shimmer.”

All of these shades are perfect for winter and will give you a healthy glow without going overboard! I prefer matte shades when it comes to blush but I think pretty shimmery colours also work nicely for the Holidays. I think using a nice matte bronzer is also important to keep that glow going year-round. Avoid shimmery bronzer during the winter and stick with a product like Benefit’s Hoola bronzer that you can contour with to give some extra dimension to your face.

Products used: Wet N Wild Colour Icon Blush in “Heather Silk”

Amy Mckissock
Burlington | The Prettyvain

With fall well underway and winter fast approaching, a change in season not only comes but also a change in makeup. During this time I find myself gravitating towards richer blushes with red and berry undertones that will complement my paler skin tone and the changing season. Today I’ll share my top 5 blushes for fall/winter as well as a brand new makeup brush from Make Up For Ever that is sure to completely revolutionize your beauty routine.

Benefit Boxed Blusher in “Dallas” is one of those blushes that works well during every season, but is especially gorgeous alongside the typical jewel tones we see for fall. This light berry shade almost works as a contour shade, but imparts the perfect amount of colour leaving you put together without going overboard.

Nars Blush in “Liberte” is my absolute favourite fall blusher by far. Not only does it have an obviously perfect Nars formula, this gorgeous apricot shade with red undertones always leaves my cheeks looking perfect and natural for fall.

At first glance Nars Blush in “Luster” looks more like a summer shade than a fall one, but once swatched it transforms to a slightly lighter shade of Liberte with a beautiful shimmer. Luster is the blush I choose on days when my face needs to appear a little brighter and more awake.

M.A.C Extra Dimension Blush in “Fiery Impact” appears to be a cross between Benefit’s Dallas and Nars’ Liberte and packs a serious punch of pigment. Anytime I use this blush I am sure to use a light hand because it imparts so much colour.

And finally, I am utterly obsessed with Smashbox Blush Rush in “Peony,” which is a bright pink shade. Paired with a simple cat eye and nude lips, this blush is sure to stand out and have you looking fresh and youthful for the fall season.

In order to achieve flawless application of any makeup product you need the right tool, and that is even true with blushes. Make Up For Ever’s 158 Double Ended Sculpting Brush is the perfect brush for applying blush and/or contouring the cheeks. It includes two different types of synthetic fibers, wavy or straight, that can be used based on the required task at hand. Wavy fibers allow for a lighter, freer application, while straight fibers allow for a more precise application. If you have yet to hear about this brush collection, then I suggest heading to your local Sephora to get a feel for how soft these brushes are. You will fall in love, just as I have.

Nisha Sawhney
Toronto | Your Favorite Nisha

Products picked: Lancôme Blush Subtil in “Aplum,” M.A.C Blush in “Desert Rose,” Maybelline Fit Me Blush in “Light Pink,” Annabelle Blush in “18 (Rosewood),” Nars Blush in “Liberte,” M.A.C Large Angled Contour Brush in “128” and Sonia Kashuk Small Duo Fibre Multipurpose Brush