10 Blushes Made for Filipina Skin
I've tried hundreds so you don't have to!
Welcome to Pearl, a newsletter dedicated to Filipinas and their beauty journeys. Read more about its mission here.
I learned in the last issue while interviewing beauty editor Belle Rodolfo that Filipinas love blush. They love it so much that there’s almost no such thing as too much. Recent-ish TikTok beauty trends inspired by makeup artist Paul Unating has everyone applying blush on their noses, too – it almost looks like you’re slightly sunburnt!
Blush is a pretty magical product. If you’ve got a round face and round features, like me, it can add dimension and have a lifting and sculpting effect (even without contouring). If you want healthy-looking, glowy, dewy skin –blush is more important than highlighter, IMHO.
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I’ve been disappointed by enough blushes out there to know that finding a shade that complements morena skin can be difficult. Too peach or orange-toned, and you can look like Dorito chip. Too baby pink, and it can look dull and ashy on tan skin. Too light and powdery of a formula, and you get no color payoff. As a beauty editor and content creator who has tested hundreds (maybe over a thousand!) blush products over the last 12 years, I’ve built up a reliable collection of blushes I know will make my cheeks pop, every time.
My blush picks:
Patrick Ta Double Take Blush in She’s Blushing
This is the first blush I reach for when I’m getting ready everyday. Not only is it super pigmented (a little goes a long way!) but it includes both a cream and powder formula. I like applying the cream first and layering the powder on top for a long-lasting effect.
Pat McGrath Labs Divine Blush Colour Balm in Fleurotique
Whatever Pat McGrath makes, I’m buying. This is a beautiful deep rose that comes in a stick for easy application (you can use your fingers and won’t mess up). It melts into skin beautifully. I shared some PMG-approved blush tips here:
Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder in Rosé n Brunch
The original blurring balm powder is one of my favorite primers ever – and the blush version has that same almost mousse-like, whipped formula that creates the prettiest lit-from-within flush.
Tower 28 Beach Please Lip + Cheek in Office Hours
I love that Tower 28’s entire makeup line is sensitive skin-friendly (even for those with eczema)! The blush was my introduction to the brand five years ago and has been a staple for me ever since. It’s a dense cream, with major color payoff – I like to apply it with the bottom of a wet Beautyblender.
Sunnies Face Airblush in Girl Crush
This cream-to-powder formula achieves a gorgeous diffused, “aura” kind of finish on your cheeks.
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush in Nearly Neutral
The liquid Rare Beauty blush is a little TOO intense IMHO. This less popular formula creates the nice blurred finish. It feels airy and weightless, and you can’t overdo it.
Goop Colorblur Tinted Glow Balm in Velveteen
I don’t use Goop products often, so I was pleasantly surprised by this amazing blush! It is very hydrating (so good for dry skin) and has a sheer formula that creates the most natural-looking glow. It’s great if you want a subtle rosiness, and not full-on BLUSH blush.
Nudestix Blush Stick in Cherie
I love how convenient this dual-ended blush is. Sometimes I’m getting ready in the back of an Uber, or on the subway, and that brush at the end comes in clutch! Cherie is a bright pink that looks as pretty on the lips and eyes as it does on the cheeks.
Saie Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Highlighting Blush in Mauve Glow
This is like a highlighter and blush hybrid formula – a dewy cream that adds a lot of radiance to skin!
Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush in Hibiscus Haze
In case you can’t tell…I love cream blush. I find its staying power superior. BUT, if I had to choose a powder blush, I would choose this Haus Labs one. It is talc-free (something I’ve been seeking out since I found out talc can worsen acne), has a great color payoff, and goes on with zero chalkiness (my biggest qualm with many powder blushes).
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I could literally talk about blush forever but would love to know your favorites, too! Let me know in the comments 💜
Links I’m Loving:
“Scream-Crying With Olivia Rodrigo at the GUTS World Tour” – This is an essay written by Filipina ELLE editor Erica Gonzales where she reflects on experiencing racism as an Asian woman, refusing to shrink, and how liberating it can be to have the space to let out her rage with Olivia (who is also Filipina, btw!) Reading this resonated with me so much – and made me wish I was at that MSG show.
This t-shirt that says “Don’t Let Tita Ruin Your Mental Health.” Which of you is brave enough to wear this to a family party?? LOL. PS – if you missed it, in a past issue I wrote about how to navigate “toxic Titas” here.
This breakdown on “utang ng loob,” a uniquely Filipino phenomenon. There’s a lot to celebrate in our culture, but I think there’s also room for critique!
Here’s a TikTok emphasizing the innate sustainability rooted in the Philippines – I’ve never thought of this perspective before.
I had no idea there was a Filipino walking tour in Brooklyn! It’s called Blood and Water and is hosted by historian Dr. Michael Menor Salgarolo. The tour revolves around the Filipino community in Brooklyn from the 1910s to 1960s. I haven’t attended yet, but I’d love to!
How can I support Pearl?
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With Love,
Kristina
So useful thank you.