If you’re on beauty TikTok or Insta lately, you know the name Painted by Esther. 🎨✨ Esther Edeme is the celebrity makeup artist behind the glowing cheeks of Chloe Bailey, Saweetie, Nara Smith, and so many more. Her signature? That bold, fluorescent blush look that somehow feels soft, radiant, and unapologetic all at once. Fans even call her the “final boss of blush blindness” 💖—and she’s turned what used to be a risky color choice into a confidence move, especially for darker skin tones. Ready to try it for yourself? Let’s break down exactly how to recreate Esther’s viral blush technique step by step.
Prep Before we dive into blush, let’s set the stage. ✨ Start with a little self-care moment — pop on a pair of hydrating eye patches (the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx ones are a fave) to wake up and plump your under-eye area. This step matters because Esther’s blush sits a bit higher on the cheeks, and you don’t want any creasing. While those patches are working their magic (about 10–15 minutes), go ahead and shape your brows and finish your eye look. Once you peel them off, lock in hydration with a primer like Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip, then smooth on a light layer of foundation. Brighten with concealeronly where you need it — we’re going for fresh and seamless, not cakey. 💖
Blush Here’s where the magic happens 💖 — Esther’s signature blush moment. Start with a bold liquid blush (think Rare Beauty Soft Pinch in Lucky 🌸) and place it high on the cheekbones, closer to the hairline than you’d normally go. Tap, tap, tap to blend upward — this keeps the color lifted and sculpted instead of sinking the face.
Next, for that multi-dimensional glow, layer a slightly cooler-toned blushright at the apples of the cheeks and blend it seamlessly into the first shade. Lock it in with a pink-toned setting powderdusted lightly over the same areas for that soft-focus, dreamy flush.
Pro tip: Set your under-eyes with a puff + loose powder so the blush really pops without any creasing. To finish, sweep on a mix of hot pink + cool-toned powder blushes right over top. This layering trick is so Painted by Esther — vibrant, dimensional, and unapologetically blush-forward. 🎨✨
Radiant, glowing skin has always been a beauty holy grail, and while there are countless ways to achieve it, makeup trends are constantly pushing boundaries. The latest viral sensation that dominates our social feeds is the jelly donut blush trend. At first, we were skeptical about this food-inspired movement. But after giving it a try, we’re obsessed. It isn’t just any blush technique. It’s all about creating juicy, dewy cheeks with a glossy, lit-from-within finish. Perfect for anyone looking to add a fresh, luminous glow to their beauty routine, the jelly donut blush trend is the ultimate upgrade for your summer/spring look.
Achieving the jelly donut blush look begins after your base makeup routine. Start by applying a hydrating primer to prep the skin so the products settle well into the skin. Next, opt for a skin tint or tinted moisturizer to create a healthy, even complexion. Use a touch of concealer to brighten the under-eye area, now you’re ready to dive into the jelly donut blush.
Many fans of this look start with Benefit’s High Beam as the “glaze” component. Using the applicator, dab it onto the highest points of your cheeks, the tip of your nose, and the inner corners of your eyes – but don’t blend it in just yet. The next step is the “jelly” portion. Apply Benetint, Benefit’s viral liquid cheek stain, over the highlighter on your cheeks, nose, and lips for a touch of color. Using clean fingers, gently pat the products together, blending them into the skin. The result? A gorgeous, radiant complexion that looks like a real-life filter.
While the jelly donut blush trend often features these popular Benefit products, you can easily recreate the effect with other liquid alternatives. For instance, we love Saie’s Glowy Super Illuminator paired with the Dew Blush for a similar flushed look. By layering your highlighter and blush, you achieve the most seamless and healthy glow, perfect for that youthful radiance.
Blush is a secret weapon a lot of us have incorporated into our makeup routines. It’s a simple step that adds dimension, a pop of color and creates a beautiful sun-kissed glow. Whether you’re a recent or a long-time user, you know that adding a little bit (or a lot – you do you!) of blush to your skin can do a whole lot to your appearance. The best thing about blush is that it comes in all different shades, making it easy to find one that pairs well with your skin and makeup preferences.
Pink is probably one of the most popular blush shades – along with any coral and peach shade. It looks great on any skin color and can give you a sun-kissed glow we all know and love during the spring and summer months.
Keep reading to see our favorite pink blushes that give you that just kissed by the sun look.
You can never go wrong with a cream blush. This Multi-Stick Cream Blush from Ilia can be used as a blush, highlighter and lip tint. It can be easily carried around in your purse for a touch-up whenever you need it. You’ll fall in love with its dewy finish and pretty pink color.
The shade Happy in this Rare Beauty liquid blush is a dewy, cool pink color that you’ll love finishing your makeup look with. The liquid formula allows you to add as much or as little as you’d like. This shade is a brighter pink, which is perfect for creating a sun-kissed look all year round.
Youthforia color changing blush oil will give you the right amount of flush to create that “natural blushing” look. It works by reacting to your skin’s natural pH to give you a universally flattering glow. The blush is light and small, easy to be thrown into your purse for easy on-the-go touch-ups.
If you love that rosy, flushed look after spending the day on the beach (which may ultimately be sunburn – don’t forget your sunscreen!), achieve it in a less skin-damaging way with Pixi On-The-Glow Blush in the shade Juicy and Ruby. It’s a beautiful sun-kissed that will blend easily on your skin, giving your skin a touch of glow.
Multi-use stick provides a hint of color while hydrating and conditioning skin in one swipe. This hydrating solid cheek tint is formulated to blend effortlessly on the skin for a natural finish on cheeks and lips. Enriched with botanicals and fruit extracts to create a nourished natural glow.
While liquid and cream blushes are having a moment, we’ll always have room in our hearts for Nars Orgasm Blush. The shade is a peachy pink with a touch of shimmer. It’s perfect to use all year round, and will always give you a sun-kissed, golden glow. The powder formula is buildable, allowing you to get as sun kissed as you’d like, and a silky finish.
The only cupid we’re crushing on is this gorgeous, soft cool pink cream blush from Fenty Beauty. Miss Rihanna blessed us with this light-as-air blush that will melt into your skin. The pink shade will blend into your skin, creating a seamless and natural-looking finish, even with how pigmented it is.
This powder-gel blush formula is extremely lightweight. It applies on your skin like a powder, and melts into your skin like a cream. The pink plum shade may be the perfect pink color that will look great with any and every skin tone. It’s the kind of color that makes you feel fresh and ready to tackle your day.
If you’re searching for a sheer powder blush that is also long wearing, look no further than the marvelous Laura Mercier. The Blush Color Infusion in the shade Passionfruit is a lighter pink color with a hint of warm coral. The blush adds a sheen to your skin, giving you a gorgeous glow and sun-kissed look instantly.
Charlotte Tilbury’s richly pigmented blush will brighten any complexion. The blush comes in a stunning compact, which just adds to the experience of using the game-changing Cheek To Chic Blush. The Love Glow shade will give you that coveted sun-kissed glow. Its formula is rich and will blend beautifully on your skin.
Not only is this blush ideal for creating a natural, but noticeable finish, the formula locks into your skin for extended wear. It comes with a cream and powder blush. The powder goes on first to set the tone for the sun-kissed glow, and the cream goes onto the apples of your cheeks to create the dewy and natural glow. The beautiful shade and glow will make you feel like you’re really that girl.
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As you can see, there are many products out there to help you create that kissed-by-the-sun glow we all know and love. Whether you’re a cream-based or powder-based fan, we’re sure you’ll find your new go-to pink blush with the list we’ve curated.
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