There are some beauty trends that seem to keep on giving. We've been rocking trendy glazed skin and, of course, glazed donut nails, courtesy of our unofficial Queen of Glaze Hailey Bieber, but now glazed cheeks are taking center stage, and that sheen shines on the cheeks. It's time to work your way up to the top.
“With the 'polish' trend already dominating skin and nail looks in 2023, it's no surprise that we're obsessed with how to recreate it with our makeup bags.” , says Amy Connolly, MUA and founder of Sculpted By. Amy. “Glazed blush is meant to create a super flushed, luminous finish to lift and brighten your face. Think glossy, fresh, and glowing. And anything other than minimalist Anything! And the best part is that it can be used on any tone and skin type.”
We started noticing this trend on our social media feeds, with top makeup artists like Patrick Ta and Pat McGrath showing off their serious blush makeup looks. On the red carpet, 'Saltburn' actor Rosamund Pike added bold blush under a black veil, following in the footsteps of 'Barbie' director Greta Gerwig, who opted for bright, glowing cheeks at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. Ta.
Now, we're all looking for glowing skin to combat the gray winter months, but is a glowy blush the answer? We speak to experts about what could soon be the biggest beauty trends of 2024.
What is Glazed Blush?
Often overlooked when it comes to makeup trends, as most focus on the lips and eyes, there's nothing subtle about glazed cheeks. It's bright, bold, and finished with an impactful gloss. At the moment, most of the trends center around pink blush, but there's no reason this wouldn't work with orange and brown tones as well.
“Glazed blush is shifting the trend away from all-over glow and towards cheeks for a youthful, sculpted glow,” explains Ruby Hammer MBE, founder of Ruby Hammer Beauty. “It's meant to catch the light, and it's much easier to wear than an all-over glaze, which ends up looking tacky rather than shiny.”
Makeup artist Melissa Harkan takes Ultra Glaze Blush even further for Patrick Ta Beauty, creating the ultimate example of the trend and proving that Glaze Blush is the answer to brightening dull winter skin .
How to achieve the glazed blush trend?
Blush is designed to be shimmery, so the highlight is added on top of the color, rather than sitting on top of it as is traditional. “As MUAs, we've always known the benefits of getting blush and highlights right can really make your skin pop,” says the celebrity makeup artist, who counts Ray and Paloma Faith among her clients. Lan Nguyen Grealis says. “However, until recently, creating this finish without stickiness required a lot of skill. Thanks to improved textures and products, there are now many options available and you can create the look you want at home. You can now create.”
According to Gwen Grealis, this is not a trend for your fingers. “Concentrate the color on your cheekbones and build it up with a brush to avoid looking messy,” she says. “A brush with a beveled edge, like the Beauty Face Shaping Brush 125 (£23), can be used to sweep along the cheekbone line and up to the temples for a firm, sculpted finish.” Make sure to add highlighter directly on top. “It's a change from how you might have previously applied highlighter. The key is that the blush catches the light, creating a more pigmented and brightening effect.” Adjust the intensity,” Hammer says. “Then add a liquid highlighter that leaves a shine rather than a shimmer to create a soft, shiny, glossy finish.”
glazed blush products
There are many products on the market that can help you achieve the shiny blush look. Both can be played with as separate products, but as the trend continues to grow, hybrid blush and highlighter combinations are also emerging to help streamline your makeup bag. Key? Practice makes perfect. Whether you're looking for a subtle glazed blush or want to create a statement colored glow, we've selected the best glazed blush products available today.