As Orange Blush Takes Over TikTok, I Tried Aperol Spritz Makeup
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As summer brightens up the UK, brighter, bolder colours have infiltrated the beauty scene, proving we all needed a little bit of sun to ignite our creativity. This year, it's orange blush that has taken the spotlight in the beauty industry, and is being used to create looks like sunset blush and Aperol Spritz makeup.
We all know trends are cyclical, they come and they go, so it's no surprise that orange blush had its moment back in 2018, gaining popularity in the J-beauty scene. The trend skyrocketed by 250% on Pinterest, with users in Japan pinning orange blush more than traditional pink ones, according to the 2018 Global Beauty Report.
Years later, orange blush has two new roles in the beauty scene. It's the anchor for the sunset blush trend, which has over 40 million posts on TikTok. Here, a liquid or putty orange blush is blended with a pink shade to mimic the natural phenomenon, condensing the beauty of a sunset into your cheeks.
On the other hand, Aperol Spritz makeup is a bit more eccentric, so your orange blush has its work cut out for it here. Any texture will do, so long as you're comfortable using the blush as your eyeshadow, bronzer, blush and even on your lips.
As an Aperol lover, the cocktail-based makeup trend caught my attention, especially as I had an orange themed night out coming up. I also love the idea of matching my makeup to my drink and the endless photo opportunities, plus the TikTok girlies seemed to be having a blast with the trend, so I wanted to give it a try.
Trying it out for myself, I used the Glossier Cloud Paint in Dawn (£22), a highly pigmented, buildable liquid orange blush as my eyeshadow base. I added some definition to my eyes using Fenty Beauty's Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Caramel Cutie (£30) and completed the look with some sparkle, by packing on Fenty Beauty's Diamond Bomb Highlighter in Cognac Candy (£24, originally £31).
For blush, I used sunset blush as my inspiration but made sure to match it to the Aperol Spritz I'd be nursing later on. With Saie's Dew Blush in Cutie (£20) as my base, I topped it off with e.l.f's Putty Blush (£7) in the shade Bali, and for some pink, I used the shade Maldives. To set, I used Shop Kem's Powder Blush in Fiji (£14). And voila!
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I can't say I'd ever expected my cocktail to be the inspiration for my makeup, but I was impressed with the creativity of the look, and checking TikTok, you'll find more users creating cocktail-inspired looks, from Espresso Martini makeup to Margarita Makeup. Just be prepared to go all-in with your looks, after all, summer is the best time to go wild with your makeup looks, whether it's for a festival or a simple night out.
But, if orange blush has you hooked and you're looking to create your first Bellini, Mimosa, or Aperol Spritz makeup look then look no further. Here's a list of the best orange blushes and blonzers (that's a blush and bronzer hybrid btw) on the market.
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e.l.f Putty Blush
It could be said that e.l.f are running the game when it comes to affordable beauty products that do the job well. Their putty blush is easy to blend and buildable, making it a dream to work with while your trying out something new.
To dip into the world of orange blush, I'd recommend the e.l.f Putty Blush in Bali (£7) or Maldives (£7). And to stay ahead of the trends, try using both at the same time for a sunset look.
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Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer
Bare Minerals are leading the way for multipurpose products with this one. It's a liquid blonzer (a mix of bronzer and blush) acting as a two in one to cover the most important stages of your makeup look.
Bare Minerals' Complexion Rescue Blonzer in Kiss of Copper (£26) will unlock your orange blush fantasy while lasting all day and keeping your skin plump with barrier-boosting squalane and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
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Saie Dew Blush
For more colour and less cake, Saie's Dew Blush in Cutie (£20) is my go-to. The colour glides on the skin as a rich copper shade and blends to become a deep, warm orange that mimics a natural flush. It's also buildable, so more is more with this product.
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Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Love (£22) will seamlessly provide the perfect flush of orange for your Aperol Spritz-inspired look. A little bit goes a long way, so I'd recommend starting with one to two dots on your cheek before adding more.
Shoutout to Selena Gomez for creating natural, skin-like liquid blush!
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Glossier Cloud Paint
Planning to dive head first into the orange blush trend? Look no further than Glossier's iconic seamless cheek colours. These are highly pigmented and buildable, so start with a little and work your way up.
For a bold and bright orange shade, I'd go for the Glossier Cloud Paint in Dawn (£22).
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Shop Kem Satin Finish Powder Blush
Shop Kem's Satin Finish Powder Blush in Fiji (£14) is a handbag hero for the days when I want to top-up my orange blush on the go. It gives a smooth, satin finish (as it says on the tin) and provides a gorgeous natural, orange-tinted flush that's sure to turn heads.
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Bare Minerals Gen Nude Blonzer
Running out of bronzer? Want to try an orange blush? Sounds like makeup mayhem but Bare Minerals have got your covered. The Bare Minerals Gen Nude Blonzer in shade Kiss of Copper (£27) is a powder-based, multipurpose product that'll keep your sun-kissed, orange glow lasting all day and night.
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MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush
The MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush in Coppertone (£23, originally £28) is arguably what started the blonzer trend after @BeautyByBanda raved about not needing to bronze when using this orange-toned blush. Apply with sweeping strokes across the spots where the sun would usually tan you for a natural, sun-kissed look.
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Made By Mitchell Curve Case
Made by Mitchell never misses. The new makeup brand is storming the industry, taking over TikTok and creating iconic makeup products that are quickly becoming staples in our routines.
@MakeupByTammi used the Made by Mitchell Curve Case in Deep (£26, originally £30) to create her sunset blush look, but I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous orange shades in the palette, which she used to anchor her sunset look for the ideal tropical flush.
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Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.