That dusty pink product tucked at the back of Mum’s beauty drawer that somehow always made me look like the clown emoji. Artificially bright and impossible to blend, I spent my twenties steering clear of blush in favour of a more natural look. But recently, TikTok has shown me there’s way more to blush than dotting two big pink balls on your cheekbones and walking into the night.  

Blush has taken over the platform with a wave of viral beauty trends dedicated to this versatile product. There’s “sunburn blush”, which mimics that natural flush you get after a day at the beach, two glasses of wine or a hot yoga class, and “ombre blush” for those who wish to recreate a tropical sunset on their cheeks. With each new trend, blush is solidifying its place as the most essential item in our beauty toolkits.  

The products used to achieve these results have evolved way beyond the saccharine powders of my youth, with creams and tints that can be applied almost anywhere on the face to create a glowing, second-skin look. Eyes, nose, mouth, lips, forehead and cheeks can all be brightened with a deftly blended multi-use product like Axiology’s Balmies. 

One of Oprah’s favourite products, Balmies are zero waste, vegan and 100 per cent plastic-free and come in at an affordable $24 each. They are made from natural ingredients (no palm oil, sulphates, parabens or synthetic fragrances here) and packaged in recyclable cardboard. Described by the brand as “face crayons”, they are multipurpose with bright pigments and hydrating properties. This makes them perfect for recreating all the viral blush looks and reducing the environmental load of your beauty bag. 

Axiology’s cream blushes are easy to blend and come in a spectrum of colours, including highlighters to pump up that dewy glow. To pick the best shade for your skin tone, go for the colour that’s closest to your natural flush. Pale complexions bode well with cool pink and berry shades, olive tones are complemented by warm apricots and darker complexions look great with any bright colours.  

The general rule of thumb with blush is to go no more than two–three shades darker than your natural skin tone, as this is when product becomes difficult to blend. If in doubt, just pick a colour you naturally gravitate towards or test out a trio set. 

Ready to jump on the blush bandwagon? Here are four viral TikTok looks to test out with your new Balmies.