Blush Application Tips for Mature Skin (2025)

Perfecting your makeup routine means making adjustments along the way. Seasonal changes often require different formulas or swapping out foundation shades to fit your current skin tone. The same can be said about skin aging and blush. It’s no secret that our skin changes with age, and creating a healthy flush with rouge can become more challenging. Blush is a staple product for adding warmth and color to the skin. When worn correctly, it also delivers a more youthful look. However, creating that healthy wash of color isn’t as easy on mature skin, which tends to be more dry and prone to creasing. Technique plays a big role, but there are a few other elements to consider for a seamless look. Ahead, we tapped two celebrity makeup artists for their tips on applying blush on mature skin and the best products for a radiant pop of color.

Featured experts

• Keita Moore is a celebrity makeup artist
• Kat Guevara is a celebrity makeup artist

Blush and mature skin challenges

Blush can be tricky with aging skin for a few reasons. For example, celebrity makeup artist Keita Moore shares that some formulas can settle into fine lines and cling to dry skin. Celebrity makeup artist Kat Guevara notes that powder blushes, in particular, tend to highlight imperfections, texture and any unevenness. However, according to her, fine lines aren’t the only culprit. “Your skin isn’t the only thing changing as you age. The natural shape of the face also shifts, meaning the placement of your blush should too,” she says. The loss of elasticity in the face often changes where the apples of your cheeks are and can dramatically affect the appearance of your blush. “If you’re not careful with placement, your blush can have the opposite effect, dragging the face down instead of uplifting it,” she says.

How to apply blush on mature skin

According to the experts, achieving a flawless blush look on mature skin comes down to two major elements: Skin prep and placement. Dryness is more common with aging skin and can cause issues with your makeup, so it’s essential to hydrate the skin before you begin applying. Guevara recommends starting your makeup routine with a hydrating mist or essence to add moisture and plump the skin. She adds that it can help the blush melt into the skin and make a huge difference in the final look. Formulation is also key. While powder blushes can work, cream and liquid options are better suited for mature skin. “These styles give the skin a dewy flush and a subtle lit-from-with-in glow,” says Guevara. Many formulas also include skin-care ingredients to improve the appearance of fine lines and dullness.

The way you apply your blush is probably the most difficult adjustment. “Loss of collagen causes the skin to sag, especially around the cheeks. Placing the plush higher up can combat the issue,” says Moore. Everyone’s face shape is different, but placing the blush just above the natural cheekbone is a good rule of thumb to go by. Once you’ve applied the product, he recommends blending from the apple of the cheek upward below your eye and then out toward your temple. This method delivers more of a diffused and natural flush instead of a harsh streak of color. Guevara adds that using a lighter hand with small amounts of color at a time will also keep the blush looking soft.

Blushes for mature skin