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I Tried 3 Viral Blush Hacks To See If They Actually Work, And I'm So Glad I Ended Up With A Favorite Method

haein_jung
·6 min read

Truthfully, I was never much of a blush girly until the blush renaissance of the TikTok age.

@awuoimatiop0 / Via tiktok.com, @just.jully / Via tiktok.com, @stxph.h / Via tiktok.com

Suddenly, I was aware of blush-forward trends like the "Strawberry Girl Makeup," the "Crying Girl Makeup," and the "Blonzer" effect, and honestly, I wasn't mad about it.

Hailey Bieber / Via tiktok.com

I've come to learn that when blush is done right, it adds dimension to the face and a warm, natural-looking glow (if natural is the look you're going for.)

Three people applying makeup to a seated woman wearing a sleeveless top in a well-lit room
Three people applying makeup to a seated woman wearing a sleeveless top in a well-lit room

But the one thing that plagued me was how to apply it. There are just so many options!

Three images of people applying makeup in different styles, with visible cosmetics like blush and highlighter
Three images of people applying makeup in different styles, with visible cosmetics like blush and highlighter

However, one of the great upsides of all the information we're inundated with these days is that there are opportunities to discover a new technique or style that really works for you.

So, when I came across these three blush trends — the "Jelly Donut Blush," the "V" method, and the "Big V" method — I was excited to explore new blush possibilities and see if they would become a welcome addition to my beauty routine. They piqued my interest because of how the application process and results seemed accessible and attainable. They looked, to me, like a possible routine for even the most beginner beauty enthusiasts, and didn't require a million and one products. After all, the key to a good hack lies in its simplicity, no?

Thus, as someone whose makeup routine has stalled over the years but loves a good beauty tip and is ready to up her blush game, I appointed myself to test these three viral blush trends to see if they deliver. Here we go!

I first started with the "Jelly Donut Blush" trend.

Person applying "jelly donut blush" on cheek, with smooth skin and stud earrings
Person applying "jelly donut blush" on cheek, with smooth skin and stud earrings

Here's the full video.

From the TikTok video above and dozens of other videos I've seen, it looks to promise a glowing, flushed look, which I love! As a dry-skin girly, I am a moth to the flame when it comes to beauty promises of: Shine! Dewy! Glowing!

Here's what I used: A liquid highlighter, a liquid blush, and a dense, domed brush. I then used a beauty blender to pat everything down — but, I've also seen videos where people just used the tips of their fingers to blend and it looked great!

Makeup products and tools on a surface: cheek stain, highlighting glow, blending sponge, and makeup brush
Makeup products and tools on a surface: cheek stain, highlighting glow, blending sponge, and makeup brush

My products of choice were:

- Benefit Cosmetics' Liquid Lip Blush & Tint in Benetint Rose

- e.l.f.'s Halo Glow Highlighter in Liquid Gold

- Sephora Collection's PRO Bronzer Brush in #88

- Real Techniques makeup sponge

I made a small circle on the apples of my cheeks with the liquid highlighter, then, in the middle, I added the "jelly" part — a dot of liquid blush.

Haein Jung

Then using the brush, I started to pat and blend down the liquid blush and highlighter. I followed it up with the beauty blender afterwards.

Person pats on blush with a makeup brush
Person pats on blush with a makeup brush

The results:

Person with subtle makeup and a small earring, face partially visible, looking away
Person with subtle makeup and a small earring, face partially visible, looking away

For some naive reason, I thought I would end up with a more pigmented look like many of the TikTok videos I've seen. However, I still really liked the results! The technique resulted in a very natural, subtle flush that I feel could work great for daytime outings — brunches, picnics, school, work, etc.!

I would consider the dot of the "jelly" as a starting point and by adding more "jelly" dots, you can build up to the pigmented look you want. All in all, I liked being able to apply and blend the highlighter and blush together. My trial with the Jelly Donut Blush trend resulted in a subtle, highlighter-infused flush!

Next, I tested the "V" trend that helps with placement when applying blush. It helps to achieve two distinct beauty looks — a youthful or defined one.

View this photo on Instagram

Here's what I used: A powder blush and two brushes — one soft and domed, and the other flat-topped and dense.

Makeup tools including two brushes and a round Shany blush placed on a plain surface
Makeup tools including two brushes and a round Shany blush placed on a plain surface

My products of choice were:

- Shany Blush in Date Night

- EcoTools Blush Brush

- Moschino x Sephora Multi-function Brush (a similar find here)

I went for the youthful look first. I made a "V" shape with my index and middle finger and angled it to the apples of my cheeks. I applied the blush in the center of the "V," like so:

Person applying makeup with a brush, focusing on their cheek. They're indoors, with a striped curtain in the background
Person applying makeup with a brush, focusing on their cheek. They're indoors, with a striped curtain in the background

Afterward, with the flat-topped brush, I blended the blush out. Otherwise, that section ends up too pigmented, resulting in an unfortunate...clownish effect.

Person applying makeup with a brush in a modern bedroom setting
Person applying makeup with a brush in a modern bedroom setting

However, if you take a lighter-hand approach, or have a really soft high-quality blush brush at hand, you might not need to blend it out.

The results:

Person sitting in a room with a bed and curtains in the background, wearing a black cardigan, smiling at the camera
Person sitting in a room with a bed and curtains in the background, wearing a black cardigan, smiling at the camera

This youthful blush method was originally how I'd been applying my blush (on the apples of my cheeks), but this was the first time applying using the "V" method. What I liked about this was that it gave me more control over the application process. I usually end up applying too much and have to blend a lot of it out, but with this method, I was able to get the results I wanted a lot quicker. For efficiency, I'd rate it pretty high. But I felt it accentuated my cheeks too much.

Next, I tested the defined look. Again, I made a "V" shape with my index and middle finger, but this time angled it towards my cheekbones. I applied the blush along the tops of my cheekbones, like so:

Person applying makeup with a brush in a room with a bed and curtains in the background
Person applying makeup with a brush in a room with a bed and curtains in the background

Blend, blend, blend.

Person in a room blending blush onto tops of cheeks, wearing a black top. Background includes a bed and a lamp
Person in a room blending blush onto tops of cheeks, wearing a black top. Background includes a bed and a lamp

The results:

Person with partially visible face and dark top looking towards the camera, with light and a plant in the background
Person with partially visible face and dark top looking towards the camera, with light and a plant in the background

Okay, this method snatched up my cheeks! Perhaps I never really cared for blush because I always thought it drew attention to my cheeks more than I wanted it to. However, even though this technique really did help add definition to my face, I would've liked a more fuller blush effect. The end results left me wanting something a little more.

Lastly, I tested the "Big V" method. I don't know what to call it, so this is what I'll name it for testing purposes.

Person applying blush to their cheek with a makeup brush, with a text overlay saying "Blush placement hack."
Person applying blush to their cheek with a makeup brush, with a text overlay saying "Blush placement hack."

Here's the full video.

Using my index finger and thumb, I made a "Big V" (or a "checkmark" shape) and angled it to the apples of my cheeks and up my cheekbones. I applied the blush along my index finger, like so:

Person applying makeup with a brush, demonstrating a blush makeup technique
Person applying makeup with a brush, demonstrating a blush makeup technique

Blend, blend, blend.

Person applying makeup with a brush in a well-lit room
Person applying makeup with a brush in a well-lit room

The results:

Person taking a selfie in a bedroom with a bed and a lamp visible in the background
Person taking a selfie in a bedroom with a bed and a lamp visible in the background

Once I started blending, I knew this would be my favorite method. This was like the "V" method's "youthful" and "defined" look got together and made the "Big V!" It was everything! This method gave me the blush coverage I wanted, plus definition. I loved how this method angled the blush upwards and therefore gave me the lifted results I always wanted.

Conclusion: This trial was a lot of fun in experimenting with new techniques I never really gave myself the time to do. At the end of it, I'm glad I was able to take away new tips and application methods. I'm sure the "Big V" method will be how I'll angle my blush from now on, and when the occasion strikes, I'll be utilizing the "Jelly Donut Blush" method. As for the youthful "V" look, maybe it's time to let that one go. Overall, I appreciate blush a lot more now!

Any other blush trends you've been coming across lately? Any blush advice to share? Drop them in the comments below!

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