Buy High/Buy Low: Blush Brushes for Sheer Application

Published on by Nikki
Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush and Real Techniques Blush Brush
Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush and Real Techniques Blush Brush

What can I say?  In my opinion, these brushes just work.  Maybe you are someone who has been intimidated by blush.  Or you’ve given up on blush because you always apply too much.  You may also just like more subtle makeup.  No matter the reason, you may want to try one of these two brushes to achieve a light application of blush.

If you are not new to makeup, this information may be common knowledge. But keep in mind that there are new people just getting started with makeup all the time.

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Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush (discontinued, alternatives listed below)

Real Techniques Blush Brush, $9.99

Blush brushes for light blush application: Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush and Real Techniques Blush Brush
Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush (left) and Real Techniques Blush Brush (right)

The loosely packed bristles don’t pick up too much product, giving you control over how much color is on your brush.  These brushes make it foolproof to apply cheek color with a soft, sheer application.  The Real Techniques Blush Brush may be preferable if you are heavy-handed or new to using blush.  Its light-colored fibers allow you to see exactly how much product is on the brush. However, it is a large brush, so if you have a small face, that is something to consider.

In contrast, a dense brush would both pick up and deposit more color on the cheeks.  You can see in the picture below how loose the bristles of the Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush (right) are in comparison to the Smashbox Precise Blush Brush (left).

Smashbox Precise Cheek Brush and Smashbox Buildable Cheek Brush
Smashbox Precise Cheek Brush (left) and Buildable Cheek Brush (right)

Update April 24, 2025: Unfortunately, Smashbox has discontinued the Buildable Cheek Brush. You may be able to find it at the Cosmetics Company Store, an outlet store for brands under the Estee Lauder Companies’ Umbrella. If you don’t already have it or can’t find it in an outlet store near you, here are some possible alternatives. I reviewed the Sonia G Soft Cheek Brush ($55, goat hair) back in 2021, and it is still a great option for this type of sheer blush application. The **e.l.f. Pointed Powder Brush ($8) has the right fluffiness and movement for sheer application, but its size requires more finesse (especially if you have a small face). Some brushes that I haven’t tried for myself but seem promising for sheer application are the Morphe X Ariel A22 Signature Blush Brush ($15.00, not affiliated) and the Profusion Cosmetics Tapered Powder Brush ($6.00, not affiliated).

The length of the bristles also makes a difference, even when the shape of the brush is similar.  As you can see in the following example, the Sonia Kashuk Brush (left) has a similar shape, but the shorter bristles are denser.  The longer bristles help sheer out the product, moving the pigment further than the shorter bristles would.

Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush and Real Techniques Blush Brush
Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush (left) and Real Techniques Blush Brush (right)

The Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush is possibly discontinued. It is no longer listed on the Target website as a single brush, but it does seem to be available as part of the Essential Collection Complete Face Makeup Brush Set.

Do you have a favorite blush brush?

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