Ariel’s Guide To Pink Transition Blush

So everyone is talking about transition blush and the origins of the look. Let me put it simply. Transition blush was popularized by Painted By Esther, who basically took over everyone’s For You Page with her instantly recognizable blush technique. What Pat McGrath is to the porcelain doll Margiela runway look, Painted by Esther is to the **melted blush flush technique.**

It inspired an entire transition blush movement and even products like the Patrick TA transition blush line. Over the years, the look has been worn by Coco Jones, Olandria Carthen, Cassie, Kelly Rowland, and Tyla. Girls everywhere have been trying to recreate it ever since.

Here’s the recipe for success:

Ingredients

• 2 shades of cream or liquid blush
• Foundation
• Concealer
• A fluffy powder brush
• 2 powder puffs (or a makeup sponge)
• Pink setting powder

The Technique

Do your foundation and concealer accordingly. This look does not hit the same without a medium coverage base. This is a full glam occasion. Commit to it.

You need two blushes: one lighter shade and one deeper shade that complement each other. Cream or liquid formulas work best because you can achieve deep saturated color without drying out your base. If you want a softer flush, mix your blush with concealer on the back of your hand first.

Take your fluffy blush brush and apply the darker blush to the cheekbone, blending upward toward the temples. Work slowly. Build the pigment gradually. Cream and liquid blushes are not forgiving once you overdo it. Also, don’t place both blush colors down at the same time. We want a clean gradient, not muddy cheeks.

Now go in with concealer under the inner eyes and around the creases of the nostrils. Blend it using a powder puff (a dry makeup sponge can be used as a substitute). This is the part of the application that separates the Painted By Esther technique from everybody else. Blend downward from the inner eye and outward from the nostrils.

Then tap the lighter blush shade onto the cheeks using the same fluffy brush. Blend upward into the concealer with your puff or sponge. Don’t drag the color too far inward. The gradient should go: natural skin tone, light pink, then deeper pink toward the outer cheekbone and temple area.

Bake the under eye with pink setting powder for that soft diffused flush. No pink powder? Use translucent powder mixed with leftover blush on your puff. Let it sit for five minutes, then lightly sweep it away with a clean brush. Finish with a hydrating setting spray so everything melts back into the skin.

That’s the technique. Add highlighted inner corners and a mauve lip combo and suddenly look like you’ve been Painted by Esther.

Pro Tips

• This look can be soft or dramatic. Mixing concealer into blush on the back of your hand before applying it to your cheeks gives you more control.
• Don’t put blush on your nose. Let the under eyes do all the serving.
• Metallic pink eyeshadow takes this look to another level.
• If you’re using powder blush instead of liquid, setting spray is your best friend. And I mean HOSE IT DOWN.

Listen to Ariel’s Guide to Everything Podcast on Spotify

Blush Combos Worth Trying

• Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Inspirer + Artist — $10–12
• Milani Stay Put Liquid Lipstick in The Moment + Snatched — $12–14
• Saie Dew Blush in Lady + Chilly — $25
• Juvia’s Place Blushed Liquid Blush in Blush Lily + Pink Lady — $18
• Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Hope + Lucky — $25
• Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush Liquid Blush in Fig Fantasy + Mischievous Magenta — $38

Pink Powders That Eat Every Time

• NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Snatch Setting Powder in Cheeky Cherry — $14
• ONE/SIZE Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder in Ultra Pink — $34
• Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder — $38
• about-face Set & Smooth Loose Powder in Finale — $22
• Kosas Cloud Set Loose Powder in Translucent Candy — $36

***Shop my go-to products for the perfect transition blush***