Another day, another new internet moniker that is splashed across your screens. It gets exhausting keeping up, folks.
So, what exactly is “anti-blush”?
It all stemmed from a video on TikTok where a creator referred to MAC’s “Film Noir” blush as the perfect “anti-blush”, meaning it wasn’t the bright pop of colour that blush has become synonymous with. It wasn’t a bright pink, a bright coral, a bright peach or anything along those lines.
The funny thing about this being labeled as “anti-blush” is that colours like this have always existed and have been exceedingly popular. In Asian beauty spaces, in alt-makeup circles… It’s just that when certain sections of TikTok or Instagram coin a new phrase to push styles that have always existed, it escapes its smaller bubble and gets blasted on to be a part of the larger conversation. This is what happened with “anti-blush”.
This is what happened with “latte makeup”, it’s just warm and brown tones. This is what happened with “tomato makeup”, it’s just the general population getting acquainted with the wonders of a humble red cream blush. People mash words together in hopes of trying to create the latest trend. That’s “super viral” and “trendy” for exactly 7 days. Then you move on. To the next “super viral” trend that influencers are just “obsessed” with.
Blush shades like these have always existed. As “muted blushes”, or as “dry rose hued blushes” or “cool-toned blushes”. Now that a larger part of the makeup community seems to be fatigued with brighter and warmer colours, they will move onto these colours and claim that they’re they next big trend.
The soulless ghouls at different brands and corporations wake up thanking social media for another trend that people line up to partake in. Sure, okay, trends can be fun. But they can also be extremely taxing. I think, at this point in time, you simply need to be able to filter out what truly is a trend that you can participate in without giving away your money, morals and mind.
I don’t need an anti-blush. I don’t need MAC’s “Film Noir”. If you’re a seasoned makeup enthusiast and collector, I’m sure you don’t either. Dig around in your collection. You’ll find something that fits the theme. Even if you don’t, there’s a little hack I can share that’ll help you participate in the trend without even spending a buck.
Let us rummage through a portion of my collection and see if any of my blushes fall under “anti-blush”. I have highlighted my picks with the “*” symbol.
Some cool-toned picks:
- ROM&ND Juicy Roll Cheek in “Bare Grape”
- MAC Powder Blush in “Breath of Plum” (discontinued)
- ROM&ND Better Than Cheek in “Blueberry Chip”
- NARS Powder Blush in “Sex Fantasy”
Some warm-toned picks:
- Missha Cotton Blusher in “Mama’s Camel Coat”
- COLORGRAM Tintin Dory Blur Jam in “Hazelnut Pink”
- JOOCYE Tortoise Shell Matte Blush in “Raspberry Rum”
- Flower Knows Midsummer Fairytales Velvet Embossed Blush in “Valley Lily”
- Flower Knows Little Angel Cream Blush in “Paradise Poet”
- MAC Glow Play Cushiony Blush in “Blush, Please” (not swatched for some weird reason)
In case you don’t have any muted blushes:
You can simply pick a bright blush of choice in a cream or liquid formula and mix it with your concealer or foundation to get your own anti-blush. Again, you don’t need a brand new product to partake. Use what you have, if at all.
I think I have a few more blushes in my collection that would have qualified but I couldn’t think of them off the top of my head. Anyway, I hope this inspires you to go digging within the bounds of your own collection. Or concoct your own version of it using products you already have and use. Let’s be more mindful of how we consume trends.
See you in the next one.
xx
