K-beauty is renowned for its innovative skin care, but did you know that the best Korean blushes are some of the best in the game? Yes, we love Korean sunscreens and eye creams, but its makeup shouldn’t be slept on.
They’re similar to the ones we’d find in Western markets, but with a more natural-looking twist offering soft, subtle rosiness. They’re also packed with nourishing ingredients so you get skin care benefits too (we love a product that can do it all). “K-beauty blushes tend to have a lighter pigment payoff and ultra-blendable textures that build gradually [and are] designed for a natural finish,” says Charlotte Cho, a licensed esthetician in New York City and cofounder of Then I Met You skin care brand and Soko Glam online beauty retailer. “Many are designed with a soft, airy finish that complements dewy, translucent skin rather than bold, sculpted makeup looks.”
So if this has piqued your interest and you want to dive into the world of K-beauty makeup, we’ve got you covered. Below, we asked K-beauty experts for tips and recs.
The best Korean blushes, at a glance
- Best Overall: Fwee Blurring Pudding Pots, $20
- Best Powder Korean Blush: 3CE Powder Blush, $20
- Best Stick Korean Blush: Kaja Beauty Dewy Blush & Lip Balm, $25
- Best Korean Blush Palette: Dasique Blending Mood Cheek, $19
- Best Liquid Korean Blush: House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher, $17
Best Korean Blush Overall: Fwee Blurring Pudding Pots
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A pick from two celebrity makeup artists, the Fwee Blurring Pudding Pots are super fun to apply. They have a fluffy, bouncy texture that feels light and airy when you wear it, and they’re super blendable to give you that natural-looking flush. “I love the texture and pigment of this unique product,” says celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “It’s a multiuse product that has a great shade range to choose from.” She adds that it also has a great blurring effect. We like that there are so many shade options—from baby pinks to plum shades and reds—there’s something for everyone.
“I’ve never tried a blush like this. It adds just a touch of color, and because it’s matte it helps with my oily skin,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best Korean Blush Stick: Kaja Beauty Dewy Blush & Lip Balm
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Celebrity makeup artist Dani Parkes loves the Kaja Beauty Dewy Blush & Lip Balm for it’s easy application and multipurpose use. “One of the best things about their sticks is that you can apply the product to your cheek and lip,” she says. Her pro tip: Layer two shades together (her picks are Fig Smoothie and Strawberry Sorbet) to add dimension to your blush.
“I love its stick formulation; one swipe is all I need for instant color. It goes on supersmooth on my skin and is packed with nourishing skin care ingredients such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to give your skin hydration and a boost in radiance,” says Glamour contributor Audrey Noble.
Best Korean Blush for Oily Skin: Etude Heart Pop Blusher
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The heart-shape decal on this blush? We’re a sucker for adorable packaging. “I love the Etude Heart Pop Blusher for my everyday makeup look, and the heart detail immediately won me over. Pigment payoff is subtle, but I still get some color and dimension added to my cheeks thanks to the shimmery finish and warm shades. It feels lightweight on my skin and is perfect to throw in my bag for needed touch-ups throughout the day,” says Noble.
Best Glowing Korean Blush: Hince True Dimension Layering Cheek
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If you want a radiant glow, we recommend reaching for the Hince True Dimension Layering Cheek palette. It comes with both a cream and powder blush in contrasting shades to provide you with multiple layering options to elevate your blush look. “It feels supersmooth on my skin and doubles as a highlighter for added dimension. I get all the compliments when I wear this, which is the ultimate stamp of approval,” says Noble.
Best Viral Korean Blush: Rom&nd Better Than Cheek
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K-beauty lovers know to turn to Rom&nd (pronounced “romand”) for all their lip stains and other makeup needs. The Better Than Cheek blush has a fluffy powder texture that feels soft and provides subtle coverage for just a hint of color. It also has a blurry and matte finish so that it blends well into the rest of my makeup for something more natural-looking. It’s no shock that TikTok and the rest of the internet loves this blush. While nothing is perfect, this one basically is—at least blush-wise.
Best Korean Blush-and-Skin-Care Hybrid: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush
This hybrid of tinted serum and blush contains niacinamide, jojoba oil, and watermelon extract to hydrate and plump the skin while also providing a lovely rosy glow. It’s the two-in-one product our blush dreams were made of.
“There’s not much else I love besides combining two of my favorite things: blush and watermelon. Glow Recipe managed to do so in this dewy flush balm that simply melts into the skin like butter and adds a perfect pink glow to any makeup look,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “The large doe-foot applicator makes it easy to pop on the color with just a few swipes, and a little goes a long way, so all you need is a dot or two to really saturate your cheeks. And, I can’t go without mentioning the fact that it smells like watermelons, which makes application even more enjoyable.”
Best Korean Liquid Blush: House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher
House of Hur is beloved by experts and editors alike. With a focus on skin care in their makeup, you not only get great color payoff, but skin care benefits as well. (And their wallet-friendly costs are a welcome added bonus.) “What I love about this product is that it has a pump,” Parkes says. “I always apply blush to the back of my hand, then melt it into my skin and pick it up with the brush.” Her personal favorite shade is Cherry Blossom; you can wear it all year round and it layers well with other products, she says.
“This is—by far—the blush I reach for most in my extensive collection,” agrees Glamour beauty contributor Sarah Y. Wu. “I love the ampoule texture, which feels like if a serum, gel cream, and liquid blush had a baby. The finish is deliciously dewy, and the shades are flattering for a wide range of skin tones. Personally, I love layering Lavender Flush under Cherry Blossom for a pretty, cool-toned pink. It’s a combo that Sunny and Chris, House of Hur’s cofounders, suggested when I met them in Seoul last year, and they did not steer me wrong.”
Best Korean Blush Powder: 3CE Powder Blush
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Daniel Martin, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City, recommends the 3CE Powder Blush because it offers a pink flush with medium buildable coverage and a matte finish. Martin loves it for its soft yet bright pigment that adds a pop of color on the cheek without looking too powdery on top of foundation. His pro tip: Use underpainting to put blush beneath foundation so that it comes through the skin.
Best Korean Blush Palette: Dasique Blending Mood Cheek
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Celebrity makeup artist Andrea Tiller Loves the Dasique Blending Mood Cheek. The blush palette comes in four colors so you can mix and match different blushes to layer for a more defined glow. “They’re very soft, elegant, and natural,” says Tiller. “They tend to mimic and master the delicate look and feel of a flower petal (which I haven’t found in Western brands), [and] I also find that their formulas are more refined.”
Wu agrees and calls Dasique’s Souffle Color Pots delightful. “I love the heart-shaped packaging, the velvety finish, and the fact that each comes with a tiny brush tucked under the lid. You can use them on both lips and cheeks, and I often do just that for easy color coordination,” Wu says. “I recommend using a blush brush for cheeks; fingers will do in a pinch, but the formula works best if you buff it out in thin layers.”
Best Korean Blush Hack: Jung Seam Mool
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Want in on a little secret? Martin’s favorite blush hack is using the Jung Saem Mool Lipstick to give cheeks a dewy flush. “It gives the ‘glass skin’ effect plus pigment,” he says. “I’ve used this on Meghan Sussex, Gemma Chan, and a few other clients. Posh Rose and Ripple Beige are what I have in my kit.” It goes on smooth and is easy to blend, and as an added bonus, you can add the same color to your lips for a supercool monochromatic look.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between K-beauty blushes and blushes in Western markets?
Most blushes in Western markets are all about the strong color payoff; the more pigmented, the better. But with K-beauty blushes, it’s all about the more subtle, natural-looking approach. “K-beauty [makeup] is great for those who are afraid to explore color in real life but want to dip their toe into wearing it because it’s pretty sheer and buildable,” adds celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin.
You’ll also find more advanced formulations that oftentimes include nourishing skin care ingredients, and packaging that is user-friendly and fun. “The advances that K-beauty makes in skin care and makeup is so impressive and often sets the bar for what is happening here,” says celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “I also find that the packaging is more intentional and less bulky and overwhelming, while also being fun and cute.”
How is blush used in K-beauty?
Whether you’re looking to add a pop of color or definition to those cheekbones, blush has many uses in Western markets. But Korean makeup focuses on getting you that rosy-looking flush. “[It’s] definitely used to achieve what they refer to as ‘glowing blush,’ which many K-pop idols use,” says Winnie Zhong, founder of the viral New York City–based Asian beauty store Senti Senti.
How do you apply K-beauty blush?
Zhong says that most K-beauty blushes are applied closer to the eyes and on the bridge of the nose to get that natural-looking flush. Depending on the type of blush, you can use a brush, sponge, or your finders to get that rosy shade. Cho adds that sweeping color on the apples of your cheeks or slightly above them will get you a soft “cherry blossom” effect. Another blush application method that has gained popularity in K-beauty is mimicking that glow one gets after drinking a glass (or three) of wine. Looking happy-tipsy can be achieved by placing blush around the entire top of the cheekbones to add color and boost radiance.
Is powder blush or cream blush better?
Both powder and cream blush will get you the most natural-looking flush, but which one to use is based on personal preference. As celebrity makeup artist Katrina Klein previously told Glamour, cream blushes melt into the skin and can oftentimes be more hydrating than a powder blush. As an added bonus, they can leave the skin with a dewy finish.
Meet the experts
- Winnie Zhong, founder of the viral New York City–based Asian beauty store Senti Senti
- Charlotte Cho, a licensed esthetician in New York City and cofounder of Then I Met You skin care brand and Soko Glam online beauty retailer
- Daniel Martin, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City
- Kirin Bhatty, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City
- Andrea Tiller, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City
- Dani Parkes, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City
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