The big day has officially arrived and we have our sights set on the red (or blue and green) carpet at the Met Gala in New York City.
As the stars of stage and screen walked the carpet we naturally had our trained eyes on the beauty looks and noticed one particular trend among the style set.
With the theme of the night being Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, we expected to see fresh faces, floral appliques and plenty of pastels to go around – however, the standout beauty trend we noticed was bold, statement blush that highlighted the cheekbones and created a striking and vivid base.
If you’re feeling bitten by the beauty bug and want to emulate the look for yourself, below we’re breaking down how to achieve the statement flush across the cheeks – as well as our top products we’re reaching for to nail it.
How to apply bold blush
To nail the look we want to change the placement of the blush to the regular rosy look we get when we apply it to the apples of the cheek.
Instead, aim a touch higher and focus the colour on the high points of the cheekbones, sweeping the colour up to the temples and even towards the outer corner of the eye. It makes for a particularly stunning look blending it into a similar toned eye look.
Although if you like the youthful fullness blush can add to the apples of your cheeks, take a note from Sofia Tilbury’s work on Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor for the night that highlights the cheeks but takes it up to the cheekbones too.
What blush should I use when going for a bold look?
It depends on the final look you’re aiming for. At the Met Gala, we witnessed a variety of stunning makeup choices. Some celebrities, like Dove Cameron, opted for bright matte shades, while others, such as Cynthia Erivo and Ayo Edibiri, chose illuminating bold fuchsia tones. Gigi Hadid, for example, complemented her bold red lips with a candy-red flush on her cheeks.
When selecting colours and tones, consider what suits your skin tone best. Bright, bold colours like red, fuchsia, and even purple can be particularly striking on darker skin tones, while pink often complements fair skin beautifully.
In terms of formula, cream and liquid brushes allow you to build the colour to that bright and bold statement flush without looking too cakey, however finely milled powders can also give that illuminating glow to the cheeks.
The best products to nail the bold blush trend in 2024
Try the look out for yourself with our top picks to the best cream, liquid and powder blushes that give off big colour payout for the bold blush look.
Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double Take Creme and Powder Blush in She’s Wanted
$68 at Sephora
Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta has nailed the brief when it comes to versatile base products, This expert compact comes with both a creme and powder blush in corresponding tones so you can build the colour and set for longevity. We love the deep, rich matte cherry red colour of the shade She’s Wanted, which would suit a variety of skin tones from super dark to very fair.
Beauty notes:
- Available in 10 shades
- Can create an ombre effect with the products
- Radiant finish
Saie Dew Blush in Baby
$39.60 at Cult Beauty
This viral cream blush delivers high pigment colour to the cheeks and a little product goes a long way. The creamy texture gives off a slight dewiness to the skin and is easy to apply with minimal tools needed, in fact, use your fingers to melt the product into the skin for an extra natural finish.
Beauty notes:
- Available in eight shades
- Includes skin-loving ingredients like elderberry, primrose and mulberry extract
- Nourishes and protects the skin
Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm
$60 at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury herself took to the steps of the Met wearing a stunning bold cheek look which is how you know her products deliver when it comes to pigment. For a particularly radiant and glowy finish, try out the Beauty Light Wand which reflects the light without looking glittery or accentuating skin texture. The Pinkgasm tone is a stunning baby pink with gold shimmer.
Beauty notes:
- Available in 10 shades
- Soft-focused glow
- Glow Gel increases luminosity and blendability
Cloud Paint in Spark
$41 at Glossier
If you loved the Snow White-esque, poppy red colour of Gigi Hadid’s red carpet makeup then the Glossier Cloud Paint in Spark is the product to reach for. With a semi-matte finish that doesn’t shimmer but certainly doesn’t fall flat on the skin, helps to create that sun-kissed look with buildable colour.
Beauty notes:
- Available in 10 shades
- Blurring effect to the skin
- Collagen infused for a gel-like texture
Dream Liquid Dewy Blush in Soft Peach
$25 at McoBeauty
With a subtle radiance to it, this lightweight cream blush formula offers a great affordable alternative to suit your blush look. The peachy tone of the Soft Peach hue works particularly well on fair to light skin tones and the layerable formula ensures you can reach your desired payoff.
Beauty notes:
- Available in six shades
- Silky, velvet finish
- Glow-enhancing
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder in Hope
$50 at Sephora
However, if you’re impartial to a powder formulation and want to avoid a cakey, powdery look to the cheeks the Rare Beauty Luminous Powder is a great option that can deliver a hit of colour and glow without feeling heavy.
Beauty notes:
- Available in six shades
- Satin finish
- Easy to blend and build colour
Related articles:
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
