What is the Difference Between Blush and Highlighter

The main difference between blush and highlighter is that blush is for colouring your cheek while the highlighter is for highlighting certain light points on the face, including cheekbones, cupid’s bow, nose, and forehead.

Blush and highlighter are two cosmetic products that add dimension to a face while bringing out the best features and giving the face a healthy glow. Blush can be used after applying foundation or on the bare skin. A highlighter, on the other hand, should be used after the blush.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Blush 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Highlighter
     – Definition, Features
3. What is the Difference Between Blush and Highlighter
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cosmetics, Blush, Highlighter

What is Blush

Blush is a cosmetic product for colouring your cheeks in varying shades. It can make your complexion look healthier and more vibrant. It’s very important to choose the right shade of blush for your skin. You should always go for colours that are similar to the natural flush that appears on your skin. For example, brighter colours will work well on darker skin tones but will overpower light skin tones; muted colours will work well with lighter skin tones, but not on dark tones. The easiest way to find the right shade is to pinch your cheeks and see the natural colour your cheek turns and find a colour similar to it.

Blush is available in both powders and cream forms. Powder blush is available in a wide variety of shades, with finishes ranging from matte to satin. You can use powder blush on a bare face or over the foundation, usually with a brush. When applying powder blush to bare skin, first use a makeup primer, which will give the powder something to cling on. Cream blush can also be used on bare skin or can be blended over the foundation. Cream blush is especially good on bare skin as it has more staying power and doesn’t need a primer to cling.

What is Highlighter

Highlighter is a cosmetic product that brightens your skin, highlighting certain light points on the face. It can reflect light and create the perception of depth and angles. Highlighters come in a variety of forms, such as liquid, cream and powder.

When using a highlighter, you shouldn’t apply it to your whole face. The areas you usually need to highlight are the forehead, tops of the cheekbone, chin, nose, and cupid’s bow. These are the places where natural lights hit the face. However, it’s not necessary to highlight all these points on the face. Highlighting the nose, cheekbones and cupid’s bow, and the arch of the eyebrows is also enough.

Difference Between Blush and Highlighter

Definition

Blush is a cosmetic product for colouring your cheeks in varying shades, while the highlighter is a cosmetic product that brightens your skin, highlighting certain light points on the face.

Areas

Blush is applied on the cheeks, while the highlighter is applied on points where natural lights hit the face (forehead, tops of the cheekbone, chin, arch of the eyebrow, nose, and cupid’s bow).

Order

You should apply the blush first and then apply the highlighter.

Forms

Blush is available as cream and powder, while the highlighter is available as liquid, cream and powder.

Conclusion

Blush is a cosmetic product for colouring your cheeks in varying shades, while the highlighter is a cosmetic product that brightens your skin, highlighting certain light points on the face. Blush is applied on the cheeks, while the highlighter is applied on points where natural lights hit the face (forehead, tops of the cheekbone, chin, arch of the eyebrow, nose, and cupid’s bow). Thus, this is the main difference between blush and highlighter.

Reference:

1. “How to Apply Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter.” Wet n Wild, Available here.
2. Saxena, Esha. “Highlighters And Blush: Introduction And Usage.” STYLECRAZE, 22 Apr. 2021, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “450958” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Chanel highlighter” By Sarah Tirona (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr