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Becoming a devotee of red blush was an unexpected turn for me. A few months ago, I found myself in makeup artist and brand educator Stevie Nelson\u2019s chair at Saie HQ. As she reached for the brand\u2019s viral Dew Blush in the shade Cherie\u2014described as a cherry red\u2014I visibly tensed, assuming the color would look too intense on me. I\u2019d never tried anything like it before\u2014dusty roses and peachy mauves are my comfort zone. Despite my reservations, Nelson reassured me that it would work beautifully with my undertone<\/a>. A few selfies and a flood of compliments later, I understood the appeal\u2014I instantly looked more alive. Now, shade Cherie is my all-time favorite blush<\/a> to awaken my complexion, even on its dullest day; I\u2019m still shocked by just how versatile (and wearable) red can be. In hindsight, it feels obvious. The word rouge is, after all, a term for blush\u2014derived from the French word for red.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can create different kinds of looks with red blush, especially a flushed-from-within look,\u201d Nelson tells Vogue<\/em>. \u201cIt truly mimics your body\u2019s natural response to the elements\u2014quite literally, think of blood rushing to your cheeks.\u201d Fellow pro makeup artist Claudia Neacsu agrees wholeheartedly. \u201cRed blush is definitely universally flattering, just like red lipstick<\/a>,\u201d Neacsu tells Vogue<\/em>. \u201cEveryone can wear red blush no matter their skin tone, age, or style.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, for pro makeup artist Nency, the appeal extends beyond a believable flush. \u201cRed blush is the perfect shade to sculpt the face instead of traditional bronze shades, which enhances the bone structure without looking muddy,\u201d she says. \u201cFurthermore, it allows us to recreate the Victorian or Medieval effect seen in classic gallery portraits\u2014a timeless symbol of health, vitality, and aristocratic purity.\u201d<\/p>\n Celebrity makeup artist and Chanel ambassador Kara Yoshimoto Bua adds that red blush can shift moods entirely depending on texture and placement<\/a>. \u201cFor a soft, romantic flush, I like to apply red blush shades on the apples of the cheeks,\u201d Yoshimoto Bua tells Vogue<\/em>. When swept higher, directly beneath the eyes, the effect becomes more editorial. \u201cIt can also feel very modern and directional, almost cyberpunk or anim\u00e9-inspired.\u201d And their versatility doesn\u2019t just come down to application, but the source colors that make up each red shade. \u201cRed is made up of many pigments, and when a bright or deep shade is blended, sometimes one of those colors will, as if by magic, become more prominent,\u201d celebrity makeup artist and Chanel ambassador Kate Lee adds. \u201cFor example, with a blue-red shade, it generally filters down into what can be quite a bright pink. In the case of orange-reds, that baseline will tend to be more of a coral or bright peach.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nVogue\u2019s<\/em> Favorite Red Blushes<\/h2>\n