Louise McSharry: How to perfect TikTok’s sunburn blush trend

In 2016, celebrities like the Kardashians had popularised heavy make-up, from contouring to thick black liner, and those who were into it rarely left the house without a face a drag queen would be proud of.

These days, the trends lean much harder into a no-make-up look, with many techniques attempting to mimic natural beauty. One such trend is ‘sunburn blush’.

‘Why would anyone want to look sunburned?’ I hear you asking, and, of course, no one would want to look actually sunburned. However, you know the way your face looks after a day in the sun, where you barely feel like you need make-up because your nose and cheeks are rosy in a healthy, pretty way? That’s another story.

In 2022, this look became popular via women like Hailey Bieber (who can’t do a single thing without millions copying it), and the beauty industry has adapted accordingly. Rosy red blush is now an essential part of any contemporary make-up collection, and while it might sound a little scary, I assure you it can look fresh and wholesome.

Application is key to achieving something that looks natural and healthy, as opposed to clown-like or unwell. Think about where the sun actually hits you and apply the product there. The bridge of the nose and tops of the cheeks are my locations of choice.

As with all make-up, a little-by-little approach is best. Light layers mean you can control the product much more easily, and as all the best make-up artists say, you can always add more, but you can’t take away.

The type of product you choose is up to you. A cream product often looks the most natural and blends beautifully, but can sometimes be very pigmented so be careful with your application. I suggest applying the product to the back of your hand and swirling it into your brush rather than applying it directly to the face — this will give you more control.

Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Joy or Grateful (€25 via spacenk.com) are perfect shades for this look, but they are highly pigmented so be very careful. The benefit of this is that they will last you forever. I can’t imagine ever using an entire tube of this product!

Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk Dream Pop (€40 via brownthomas.com) is another great option, but once more, a little goes a long way.

If you want a slower build, a powder product can be better as it’s easier to control how much you pick up. Kash Beauty’s Sculpt Powder Blush in Hot Flush (€19.95 via kashbeauty.com) is a lovely product with a little shimmer which looks fresh and beautiful on the face.

Max Factor’s Creme Puff Blush in Stunning Sienna (€10.99 via boots.ie) is a finely milled powder which is subtle but easy to build — if you’re a little nervous about this look but want to give it a go, it’s a great product to start with.

MAC’s Glow Play Blush (€34 via arnotts.ie) is a very unusual creamy/powder formula which applies very gradually, and Groovy is a perfect shade for this look.

Lost in translation

Tubing mascara has become an essential of many a beauty routine — but what is it? Essentially, this product’s formula includes polymers which create tubes around each individual lash. This results in less crumping, running and smudging, which is why it’s so popular. It can also make it harder to remove though, so a good oil or balm cleanser or eye make-up remover is essential.

Something old...

La Roche-Posay is a brand that I recommend frequently thanks to the consistency of its products. Founded in 1975, the brand was created around the use of thermal water in skincare. These days, it’s frequently recommended by dermatologists and skincare experts thanks to its consistently effective products and ability to formulate for sensitive skin. La Roche-Posay’s Mela B3 Serum (€45 via meagherspharmacy.ie) is an anti-dark spot serum for hyperpigmentation which also works well on post-acne marks. A combination of Niacinamide and Melasyl (an ingredient specific to La Roche-Posay) makes this treatment effective in reducing discolouration of the skin. It can be used morning and/or night, depending on your skin’s sensitivity, on clean, dry skin. If you’re using this product in the morning, it is essential that you follow it with SPF, but you know that already because you use SPF every single morning, right? RIGHT?

... Something new

Acne can really do a number on a person’s confidence, and often the impact lasts longer than the acne itself thanks to scarring. Neostrata was founded in 1988 by doctors Eugene Van Scott and Ruey Yu, two scientists who invented alpha and poly hydroxy acid while attempting to find a cure for ichthyosis. This led to further dermatalogical developments, and the brand was born. Neostrata’s Post-Acne Mark Correcting Serum (€34.99 via neostrata.ie) is a new launch, which was designed to fade the dark marks left by acne and improve the overall glow and appearance of the skin. The product itself feels light on the skin, and is suitable for sensitive skin as well as those prone to allergies. It should be applied to clean, dry skin twice daily. Again, always use SPF.