The best blush for redheads with fair, freckled skin

Redheads have a complicated relationship with blush. Half the time our cheeks are already doing their own thing – flushing when it’s cold, when it’s hot, when someone asks a question in a meeting. So why add more to the situation?

I’ll tell you why. Because the right blush doesn’t make you look red in the face. It makes you look awake, healthy and glowy, and it ties your hair and face together. Granted, the wrong blush can make you look like you’ve just run to catch the bus. Here’s how to tell the difference.

The golden rule: think peach, not pink

Ask make-up artists what blush suits redheads and you’ll hear the same answer again and again: peach, apricot and coral.

Charlotte Tilbury, who is of course, the ginger queen all things redhead make-up, says “punchy pinks can sometimes look unflattering against the brightness of red hair,” adding, “I often reach for shades like peaches, apricots, and corals instead.”

Why? Bright pinks can pick up and exaggerate any redness already in fair skin. Peachy tones instead have a touch of warmth that echoes red hair, so everything looks like it belongs together.

If your skin goes red easily

Lots of fair-skinned redheads deal with redness, especially in winter when we go from icy wind to central heating. Bobbi Brown’s advice for redness-prone skin is to skip “pink-toned blushes altogether, which will highlight any redness in your face” and “use a soft peach-toned blush, which will help to counteract the red or pink tones.”

A few more tips:

• Even out first, then blush. If you colour-correct or use a light foundation base, apply blush on top.
• Warm the product up. Dab cream or liquid blush on the back of your hand first, then tap it on. It’s much easier to control, and makes it more buildable and gradual.
• Go higher on your cheekbones. Placing blush on the tops of your cheekbones, rather than the apples, keeps it away from areas that already flush.

Matching a blush to your shade of red hair

• Strawberry blonde: soft, sheer peach. Anything too saturated can overpower lighter hair.
• Copper and bright ginger: apricot, warm coral and peach. Your hair already brings the warmth – blush just repeats it.
• Auburn and deep red: you can go richer – terracotta and burnished orange look gorgeous with darker red hair.

Our favourite blushes for redheads

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush – a tiny drop goes a very long way (seriously, start with less than you think). Try Joy, a “muted peach”, or Virtue, a “beige peach”, for everyday. Auburn redheads should try Love, which is a “terracotta” matte.

NARS Powder Blush – the classic. Orgasm is a “peachy pink with golden shimmer” that works on more skin tones than you’d expect. Cherish is a “soft peach apricot” and Sex Appeal is a “matte soft peach” if you prefer no shimmer. For a bolder coral, Torrid is a “warm coral with golden shimmer”, and Taj Mahal, a “burnished orange with golden shimmer”, is lovely on those with deeper red hair shades.

Benefit Sunny – a “warm coral” with a natural matte finish.

See Also

Why does my red hair seem duller in winter?

Your blush and freckles

If you prefer a no-make-up look so you can accentuate your freckles, cream and liquid blushes sit beautifully on freckled skin. Coverage is much more sheer so you’re not covering your freckles.

Skip heavy foundation, warm a little blush between your fingertips and press it on. Your freckles stay front and centre, just with a healthy flush.

Our biggest tip? Start sheer, build up your blush slowly, and save any bright pink shades for your lips if you love them.

Last updated on November 4, 2026