Beauty Q&A: What’s a Blush Serum?

There are a lot of skincare-makeup hybrid products that we can’t seem to get enough of lately, one of them being blush serums. These blush formulas contain good-for-your-skin ingredients that give you a natural-looking finish and keep your skin hydrated and dewy. Ahead, we tapped NYX Pro Artist Lead Alexandria Cervantes about why you may want to use a blush serum over other liquid blush products and the correct way to use one.

What Is a Blush Serum?

According to Cervantes, a blush serum is infused with skincare ingredients and will give you a sheer, dewy tint when applied. Liquid blush, on the other hand, gives you a finish that’s lightweight and buildable, but may not keep your skin as hydrated and plump.

Blush Serum Benefits

Liquid blushes are excellent for a pigmented impact, Cervantes says, but if you’re looking for extra luminosity, a blush serum is the best option for you. “The NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Luminous Cheek Serum is infused with tremella mushroom to give the skin a smooth, supple and moisturized finish,” she says.

How to Apply a Blush Serum

Applying a blush serum is easy, but it’s important to work in layers in order to control the amount of pigment you desire. After applying your foundation (we love the NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation), Cervantes suggests using the Bare With Me Serum Brush to lightly tap the product into the skin. “You want to use tapping motions during the application to press the color into the skin without disturbing the rest of your makeup,” she says.

If you want a little more color, she recommends mixing a liquid blush and blush serum together. “I always suggest going with both — the cocktail of these together can help you achieve the perfect balance of high color impact and radiance!” she says.