Blonzing 101: Everything you should know about this viral make-up trend

The blush era continues!

Nov 19, 2024 | by Surina Sayal

Phrases like ‘blush era’ and ‘blush blindness’ have taken over the beauty world; such is the love for this nifty make-up product. Now, we love a good make-up trend, and one that makes life easier is welcomed with open arms. This is why ‘blonzing’ has already found a special place in our hearts! It helps cut down on a make-up step while giving you that same fabulous sunkissed look. But let’s back up a little bit—what is blonzing exactly and what does it have to do with blush?

Shradha Luthra, luxury bridal make-up artist and educator, breaks it down for us, “Blonzing is a trending make-up technique that combines the effects of both blush and bronzer to add warmth and a natural flush to the skin. The goal is to achieve a sun-kissed, sculpted look by using a blush that not only brings colour to the cheeks but also enhances the contours of the face, similar to what a bronzer does.”

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So, ‘blonzing’, a portmanteau of the words ‘blush’ and ‘bronzer’, essentially uses a deeper, warmer shade of blush that doubles up as a bronzer, thus eliminating the use of the latter. But how is the look achieved? Blush can be applied to parts of the face where you’d usually apply both blush and bronzer. “Like the cheekbones, nose, temples, and forehead,” says Luthra. “Some people even add a bit on the outer corners of the eyes and lips to pull the look together,” she shares, adding “For most face shapes, I’d say apply it just above the hollows of your cheeks and blend up towards the hairline. This gives a lifted, sculpted look. You can also add a little on your forehead, nose, and temples, like you would with a bronzer, for an all-over warmth that feels very natural.”

Now, the key to successful blonzing is perfect blending. “Using your fingers to blend really helps, as the warmth from your hands makes the product melt into your skin for a seamless look, with no harsh lines—just a soft, glowy finish,” says Luthra. Also, when it comes to formulation, she suggests opting for cream or liquid blushes over powder blushes, as these are easier to blend and look more natural.

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We’re beginning to understand why this blush-bronzer hybrid trend is suddenly such a hit—one, you can ditch the bronzer, and two, you don’t even need to invest in a new blush product, it’s probably already in your make-up vanity! Luthra points out, “Blonzing has gone viral due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Influential brands like Rhode and Huda Beauty, led by trendsetting founders, have embraced this technique, making it even more appealing to the Gen Z audience. It lets you achieve a warm, effortless look while streamlining your make-up routine by combining two steps into one.”

But while this trend has taken off in the West, will it suit Indian skin tones, we wonder. “Yes, I think blonzing would look amazing on all Indian skin tones. The warmth from the blush really enhances our natural complexions, whether you’re on the fairer side or have a deeper tone. Warm, earthy colours are flattering on Indian skin, so this trend is a perfect match.” While Luthra suggests blonzing with warmer shades like browns, nudes, or even deeper pinks for Indian skin tones, she also reveals a great tip, “If you don’t already have a warm blush, you can even blend your favourite cream blush with a hint of cream contour to create your own custom blonzer shade. Just experiment until you find what works best for you!”

Take a look at some deeper blushes that will work beautifully for blonzing on Indian skin tones.

Huda Beauty Icy Nude Blush Filter—Latte, ₹2,250