I Tried the Blush Trend Victoria's Secret Models Love, and the Results Speak for Themselves
This is the big comeback year for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The revival of fashion's biggest lingerie runway after a six-year hiatus brought out the most iconic models in the game, from Tyra Banks and Carla Bruni to Kate Moss and both Hadid sisters. Not to mention, there was an epic performance by pop icon Cher.
With the Angels back in a big way, beauty TikTokers took it upon themselves to create their own versions of Victora's Secret Angel makeup. What is Victoria's Secret Angel makeup, you ask? It's right at the intersection of glamorous and natural with a glossy lip and the real star of the show—a flushed, seductive blushed cheek.
These fit-for-an-angel cheeks came to be with red blush. If you head to beauty TikTok, you can find tons of videos of people swapping their traditional pink and peach for a bold cherry and raking in thousands of likes, shares, and comments.
As a blush connoisseur myself, I decided to take a stab at the trend and take you guys on the journey with me. Keep scrolling to see the results for yourself.
Since I have oily skin, I start my blush looks out with a powder base before I go in and add a cream blush. This technique has been dubbed the Patrick Ta method on TikTok by beauty fans due to his signature Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo having both a powder and a cream in the same product, but I have been doing this ever since I started using blush in high school. My favorite red powder blush is Nars's Talc-Free Powder Blush in Exhibit A. It's incredibly pigmented and lasts for months. I usually need to replace this blush only once a year.
It's the ultimate fiery red in my opinion. When you first apply the blush, you may think you look a bit like a clown, but once you blend it out (I used the Refy Duo Face Brush), it leaves a slightly sunburnt, flirty hue that I love. Next, layer on your liquid blush of choice. I reach for my Skin by Ella Rose Blush Crème in Ladybug and tap the blush applicator on the high points of my cheekbones, blending with my Refy Dual Ended Complexion Brush. This leaves a dewy, skin-like finish on my cheeks that primes my skin for any additional highlighter I may want to use.
The results? A flushed, sun-kissed look fit for a Victoria's Secret Angel.
Shop the products I used:
Shop more red blushes & brushes:
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Grace has always been a lover of all things fashion and beauty. Upon receiving her first degree in visual communications from FIDM in Los Angeles, she moved to New York City and continued her education at LIM College, majoring in fashion media with a minor in society and culture. Grace has worked for PhotoBook magazine, Insider, and Harper's Bazaar. As a writer, Grace has had pieces published covering topics including racial justice, fashion, politics, and current events. During her free time, she loves wine tasting, creating content for her social media, spending time with friends, traveling to new places, and Pilates, and has a love for reality television, especially The Real Housewives. Grace is the person in your friend group everyone goes to for recommendations for the best place to grab drinks in NYC on a Friday night or the best hotels and restaurants to try when traveling to a new city. While fashion is her main love, she loves all things wellness and lifestyle as well. Her ideal sunday is brunching with friends then walking around furniture shopping and listening to a podcast. As the assistant shopping editor at Who What Wear, Grace loves finding the best buys out there for the WWW readers.
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