Blushers: A Deep Dive into Consumer Preferences
Let’s take a look at what our Beauty Buddies have to say on the subject.
Blush has long been a makeup essential, adding a natural flush of colour to the cheeks and bringing life to the complexion. From its origins in ancient civilizations to its modern-day formulations, blush remains a staple in beauty routines worldwide. But how is this category evolving, and what are consumers looking for in their perfect blush product?
Historically, blush was made from crushed berries, beet juice, and even lead-based cosmetics in ancient Egypt and Greece. Over the years, the formulations have dramatically improved, incorporating safer and more refined ingredients. The beauty industry has seen an evolution in textures, application methods, and shade ranges, making blush more inclusive and adaptable to different skin tones and preferences.
The Changing Customer Preferences
As beauty consumers become more knowledgeable and experimental, their preferences for blush have shifted. While some remain loyal to classic powder formulas, many are drawn to innovative textures like creams, liquids, and gels. The modern consumer is not just looking for a product that provides colour but also one that offers skincare benefits, ease of use, and long-lasting wear.
Additionally, the way customers approach shade selection has evolved. Instead of simply opting for traditional pinks or peaches, they are now considering their undertones, personal aesthetics, and even seasonal trends. Many beauty enthusiasts experiment with unconventional blush shades like oranges, purples, or even deep reds, creating bold and artistic looks.
Loyalty in the blush category is no longer brand-driven—it’s experience-driven. Customers are more willing to switch brands and formulas depending on new launches, product claims, and social proof. The rise of limited-edition collections and viral products keeps consumers engaged and eager to try something new.
The Influence of Social Media and Reviews
One of the biggest drivers of consumer choices in the blush category is social media. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have transformed the way people discover and shop for beauty products. Viral trends, influencer recommendations, and real-time reviews play a crucial role in shaping purchasing decisions.
Beauty influencers often showcase different blush applications, layering techniques, and shade recommendations based on skin tone, which helps consumers make more informed choices. Many customers rely on influencer-led reviews or “wear tests” before committing to a purchase.
Customer reviews on e-commerce platforms and beauty apps like Beauty Buddy also provide valuable insights. Users seek out peer recommendations, checking for longevity, texture, and overall performance before deciding which blush to buy. Authentic reviews that highlight wearability and finish have a significant impact on a consumer’s final decision.
At Beauty Buddy, we love exploring beauty trends and understanding what consumers truly want from their products. Our latest in-house survey focused on blushers, a staple in many makeup routines. From formats to finishes, we gathered insights from our community to help beauty brands understand what customers are looking for when it comes to adding a touch of colour to their cheeks.
Blush—A Makeup Essential
Blush is a daily essential for 66% of Beauty Buddy users, while 24% apply it 2–4 times a week. Meanwhile, 7% use it occasionally (less than once a week), and only 4% rarely or never reach for blush, highlighting its strong presence in everyday makeup routines.
Why Blush Matters
For 48% of Beauty Buddy users, blush is all about adding a pop of colour, while 37% use it to enhance natural radiance. Meanwhile, 16% reach for blush to define their facial features, showcasing its versatile role in makeup routines.
Preferred Blush Textures
Beauty Buddy users have diverse preferences when it comes to blush textures, with 88% favouring powder, making it the most popular choice.
Cream (68%) and liquid (64%) also rank high, while stick (63%) and tint (48%) remain solid options. Meanwhile, gel blush (33%) is the least preferred, showing that while variety exists, some textures dominate makeup routines.
Most Common Blush Formats
When shopping for blush, 44% of Beauty Buddy users typically opt for a single compact, making it the most popular format. 31% go for a multi-use product (such as one for both lips and cheeks), while 26% prefer a palette with multiple shades, showcasing a range of preferences in blush formats.
Preferred Blush Finishes
For 67% of Beauty Buddy users, the choice of blush finish depends on the occasion. Among those with a fixed preference, matte and shimmer finishes each attract 10%, while satin is preferred by 13%, showing a mix of preferences in blush finishes.
Experience with Baked Blush Formulas
When it comes to baked blush formulas, 51% of Beauty Buddy users have tried them and like them, while 48% haven't tried them at all. Only 1% have tried them but didn’t enjoy the formula, showing a generally positive reception for baked blush.
Most Frequently Used Blush Shades
Among Beauty Buddy users, soft pink is the most popular blush shade, with 74% of users choosing it. Peach follows closely at 56%, while both berry and bronze/tan are selected by 35% of users.
Coral comes in at 41%, and mauve rounds out the list at 28%.
These results highlight a clear preference for warm, natural tones, with a strong lean towards pinks and peaches in everyday blush routines.
Importance of Blush Pigmentation
For Beauty Buddy users, buildable coverage is the most important aspect of blush pigmentation, with 54% preferring this feature. 35% favour a sheer and natural-looking finish, while only 12% prioritise highly pigmented formulas.
This shows a clear preference for versatility and natural effects in blush pigmentation.
Blush Shades and Seasonal Preferences
While 33% of Beauty Buddy users stick to the same blush shades year-round, the majority, 67%, prefer to switch shades depending on the season.
They choose lighter shades in spring/summer and deeper shades in fall/winter, reflecting the seasonal shift in their makeup routines.
Packaging Preferences
29% of Beauty Buddy users find packaging very important, preferring aesthetically pleasing and sturdy designs, while 57% consider somewhat important, functional and compact packaging is enough.
Only 15% view packaging as not important, focusing solely on the product inside, showing that packaging holds varying degrees of importance for different users.. This shows that while packaging matters to many, it’s less of a priority for some users.
Mirrors or Applicators in Blush Products
68% of Beauty Buddy users prefer blush products with mirrors or applicators included, finding them convenient. In contrast, 32% don’t use these features, indicating that while many appreciate the added functionality, it's not essential for all users.
Key Features that Make a Blush Stand Out
The most important features that make a blush stand out to Beauty Buddy users are easy to blend 88%, followed by a long-lasting formula 80% and a lightweight feel 75%. Clean/organic ingredients are important to 48%, while versatility for multiple uses appeals to 55%, highlighting that texture, wear, and product quality are top priorities for users.
Frequency of Blush Repurchase
When it comes to repurchasing blush, 76% of Beauty Buddy users do so occasionally, preferring to try new options.
15% rarely repurchase, always seeking out different brands, while 10% regularly stick to their tried-and-true blush, indicating a strong interest in exploring new products rather than sticking with the same one.
Blush Spending Preferences
Beauty Buddy users' willingness to spend on blush is as follows: 7% are willing to spend less than £10, 45% prefer £10–£20, 39% are comfortable with £20–£40, and 10% would spend over £40, reflecting a diverse range of budgets for blush products.
Are you keen to gather valuable feedback and insights directly from your target audience? Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to discuss the exciting possibilities of running targeted surveys. Let us help you achieve your goals!
We understand the importance of knowing your target audience. Do you make assumptions about your consumers, their preferences, opinions and needs? Understanding your consumers is key to ensuring your business decisions are well-informed and effective.
AT PXBB we run targeted survey campaigns, through Beauty Buddy the app, for our clients. Surveys provide answers, generate fresh data and insights, they substantiate assumptions and also help identify new trends.
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