Cream v/s powder: How to find the right blush for you

The first rule of thumb of make-up is that there are no rules. While we love that it allows for our creativity to soar, the second rule of thumb is that you need to invest in the right products. You can use social media as a tool to discover what these might be but blindly following trends and purchasing products that have gained virality doesn’t serve your purpose. Besides, let's be honest, some of those trends are better left dead and buried. Unfortunately, there is no perfected handbook and it takes years worth of experimentation to fill your vanity with the kind of products that work for you rather than making you work for them. And we know from personal experience how difficult it can be. So, we are here to solve at least one of your conundrums—should you be using a cream blush or a powder blush? 

This is a debate that has been going on for years. A lot of us have grown up watching our mothers and grandmothers use pressed powder blushes. And while these instill a sense of nostalgia, the beauty universe has expanded by leaps and bounds. We now have cream blushes that come in the form of twist-up sticks, wands, and the classic compact. Does that mean the powder is obsolete? At the risk of skipping ahead, no. To crack the code, we made a list of pros and cons for both. Read on to know which one should be a part of your vanity and why. 

Powder blush  

Powder blushes have extremely simple formulations that are easy to work with if you want to create a naturally-flushed look in a matte (sometimes glittering) finish. These are buildable and play well with all the other products to tie your whole look together.  

There are numerous pros to this classic form of blush. Not only do powder blushes leave a more natural-looking flush, but they are also generally more pigmented and easier to blend. A few swipes from the apple of your cheeks going upwards should do the trick on almost all face shapes. Lastly, thanks to their veteran status in the make-up world, you are more likely to find a larger shade range in powder blushes. 

However, it's not all colourful rainbows. Powder blushes come with a few cons on their own. It’s difficult to control application and if these aren’t applied properly they can look quite patchy or chalky. And while it's easy to achieve a simple flushed look with a powder, anything more nuanced will take a lot of effort on your part. Not to mention, these aren’t the ideal choice for people with dry skin as they can draw further attention to your enlarged pores, even clogging them. 

Cream blush 

Cream blush gives your cheeks a rosy flush in an emollient format. Whether you wear make-up every day or not, applying just a little bit of cream blush to your cheeks can add a slight warmth and colour to your complexion. You just have to be very delicate with the application. And, if you choose the right ones, they also come with a host of skincare benefits as a bonus. 

There are a lot of ways to apply a cream blush, but the best one is to just use your fingers. If you’re doing this though, remember to blend using a taping motion instead of a rubbing one. These are easy to maneuver when you need a more targeted application and leave behind a gorgeous dewy second skin-like finish. You can also easily blend numerous shades to create the one you want. The biggest perk of a cream blush is that most of them can be used as lip tints (and on the eyes if you’re doing your make-up on the go) as well.  

On the other hand, cream blushes aren’t suited for people with oily or acne-prone skin. Not to mention, if it isn’t blended to perfection, it can look overdone (not in a trendy way). Cream blushes can take a bit of trial and error on your part to achieve the perfect balance between flushed and sun-burnt.  

Powder blush v/s cream blush 

Before you decide on one, take your skin type and the occasion into consideration. Both these products function similarly and the only major difference is how they feel and the finish they leave behind. Also remember that as the season changes, so does your skin. You might want to use a cream blush in the winter for that cold-girl-dewy look and a powder blush in the summer for a flushed-tropical-paradise look. The best thing to do is to keep them both in your vanity and use whichever feels right for your skin. And if you can’t decide, you can always layer them both for some OTT radiance.