Violette_FR
There are certain colours we instinctively associate with a healthy flush. Pink, peach, perhaps a warm coral or soft red. Purple doesn’t usually make the list. And yet, violet is quietly making a case for itself as the coolest colour to wear on cheeks right now. Now we totally get it: purple blush sounds a bit scary. Pick the right purple though and it’s the furthest thing from it.
It makes more sense once you see it on skin. Rather than reading overtly purple, shades of lilac, lavender, mauve and plum blend out to create a cool, slightly unexpected flush that feels fresher than your usual pink. There’s a brightness to it, too: violet tones can help counteract sallowness and bring a certain clarity to the complexion, which explains why a shade that looks intimidating in the pan can be remarkably flattering once diffused.
The other reason purple blush works? There’s a whole spectrum to play with — and finding the right shade for your skin tone makes all the difference. On fairer complexions, translucent lilacs and lavenders lend cheeks a soft, delicate flush, while mauves and cool berries tend to come into their own on light-to-medium skin. On deeper complexions, richer violets, berries and plums offer greater depth and saturation, showing up beautifully while retaining all that vibrant purple payoff.
As with any good blush, the aim isn’t to see where the colour begins and ends. Choose a purple with the right depth for your complexion and blend until the colour seems to melt into skin. The result is fresh, flattering and far more wearable than the colour in the compact would have you believe. Trust us, it’s worth trying.
Best Purple Blush Shades To Try, According To Your Skin Shade
For Fair Skin:
If you’re fair-skinned and a true purple blush feels like a big leap (major contrast there), YSL’s Make Me Blush Liquid Blush in Lavender Lust is an excellent place to start. The pastel lilac shade’s lightweight liquid formula blends in seamlessly, allowing you to sheer it out into a soft veil of cool-toned colour. Start with a single dot on each cheek and tap in with your finger or buff with a brush; the lavender hue brings a fresh brightness to fair complexions without overwhelming them. And because the pigment is buildable, you can keep the lilac soft and subtle or lean in a little heavier for a punchier pastel purple.
Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush Liquid Blush in Lavender Lust
$85 at Yves Saint Laurent
For Medium Skin:
Purple blush doesn’t have to mean going all in on violet. Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in Pink Lilac strikes a particularly flattering balance for medium skin, blending cool lilac with pink for a fresh take on a classic flush. The finely milled powder can be swept on softly for a subtle wash or built up when you want the purple tones to make more of an appearance. Either way, the effect is softly brightening, with the lilac lending an unexpected yet very on trend violet tinge to the cheeks. Consider it an easy way to venture beyond your usual pink and into literal cooler territory.
Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in Pink Lilac
$74 at Sephora
For Olive Skin:
Olive skin and purple blush make a particularly good pairing, especially when the violet itself carries some warmth. Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Spirited hits the sweet spot: the mid-tone violet has a warmer undertone that works beautifully with the golden and green tones in olive complexions, while still reading distinctly purple. As anyone who has met a Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush before will know, a little goes a very long way. Start with a single dot and blend it out, letting the pigment diffuse into a hazy, cloud-like wash of warm violet. The softly blurred effect only adds to the appeal, giving the colour a diffused quality on cheeks.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Spirited
$45 at Sephora
For Dark Skin:
Dark skin lends itself beautifully to richer violets, allowing saturated shades to show off their full intensity. Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Drama Cla$$ brings plenty of pigment to dark skin, with a vivid violet hue that retains its richness and vibrancy on the complexion. The powder itself has an airy, almost creamy quality, diffusing easily across cheeks rather than sitting heavily on top of skin. There’s also a subtle sheen running through the colour, which gives the violet extra dimension as it catches the light. Sweep it on softly or build it up for a bolder purple flush.
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Drama Cla$$
$42 at Sephora
For Deep Skin:
For deep skin, there’s no need to shy away from a true, striking violet. Violette_FR Plume Blush in Souvenir de Volubilis was created with deeper complexions in mind, with a saturated shade that shows off purple in all its glory. The texture brings softness to the colour, beginning as a silky cream before transforming into a featherlight powder that leaves behind a hazy, soft-focus matte finish. Tap on a little for a sheer wash or layer it until the violet is as bold as you want it to be. It’s purple blush at its most unapologetic, but the effect remains beautifully polished.
Violette_FR Plume Blush in Souvenir de Volubilis
$56 at MECCA
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