When it comes to mastering how to apply blush on a round face, the goal is always to celebrate your features. So customising the placement of your blush should simply make a difference to the overall feel of your makeup look, not compress your face shape.
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Round face shapes typically have equal proportions, in that they tend to be as wide as they are long. They are characterised by gentle curves, with the cheeks being the fullest part of the face. As with all face shapes, there's not just one prescriptive way to apply your cream or powder blusher, nor should the focus just be on sculpting, although there's nothing wrong with that either.
“I think there’s a real danger of falling into ‘trend traps’," says makeup artist Lisa Eldridge MBE. "There are trends in blush placements, but not every trend suits every face. For example, at the moment there’s a trend for having blush really high up on the cheeks and, on me, because I have quite a long thin face, if I blush up there, my face looks even longer! Find out what fits and flatters you. Whether you want to sculpt, volumise, plump or lift your face, there are so many different styles. It’s about making it work for you and your face shape.”
For stunning visual references, look no further than Jamie Janejira – a multi-hyphenate makeup artist, model, photographer and writer with over 200K followers – whose Instagram account is full of makeup tips for how to embrace – rather than fight – “soft features” on round faces, especially when it comes to blush.
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What should you be aware of when using blush on a round face?
Blush placement allows you to play with different effects:
For Vieve’s lead artist, Katrina McLeod, the ideal blush application on a round face should "enhance the beautiful natural softness in the cheeks while adding lift.” So for a diffused ‘watercolour’ effect, she recommends "applying blush with a light hand slightly above the cheeks, blending seamlessly to create a sheer wash of colour.”
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Even if you do lean into a more sculpted look, how to apply blush to round faces shouldn't be about slimming the face or going to the extreme of trying to create sharp, angular contours. There is a sweet spot: what Lisa calls an “upward sweep” by lifting the colour higher.
"An upward sweep creates a subtle ‘lifted’ effect rather than width, adding structure by sculpting and emphasising the cheekbones, without adding any volume at the front of the face,” she notes.
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What should you avoid when applying blush on a round face?
“A round face already has fullness in the centre, so only placing blush on the apples can emphasise roundness,” says Lisa.
Whether you choose a soft wash of colour or more of a sculpted ‘draped’ blush look, the same rule applies: “Makeup maximalism is very much still trending, but if you want a natural look, blush should balance the rest of your makeup, not dominate it,” says Lisa. “Always step back as you’re applying and check your face and look as a whole.”
How to apply blush on a round face: A step-by-step guide
Step 1: Choose your brush
“For a more sculpted finish, I tend to go for a slightly smaller brush or something more tapered so you can really control the placement,” says Katrina. For a diffused look, try a fluffy brush with a rounded tip to “hug the cheeks and soften everything out seamlessly while keeping that placement elevated,” she adds.
Step 2: Apply your chosen blush
Either: Apply the colour slightly above the cheekbone then blend it upwards, softening any hard edges with a foundation brush.
Or: For a contoured flush,“place the blush in a big, soft C, starting on your cheekbones and sweeping up to your temples," says Lisa. She recommends using your fingertips and tapping her new Velatura Balm Dewy Lip and Cheek Stick onto the skin. "Keep placement strategic and the finish diffused and skin-like, building gradually so you get that ‘blushing from within’ look.”
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What are the best blush formulas for a round face?
“I love a liquid blush for giving a flush of colour that’s dewy and fresh,” says Katrina. “A finely-milled, soft matte powder is perfect if you want to add a bit more structure or build intensity while keeping everything really refined.” Read more on how to apply liquid blush here.
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