Well, This Is a Summer Makeup Trend We Didn’t See Making a Comeback

If 2017 was the year of heavy contouring and 2020 was the year of experimental eye makeup, 2024 is, without a doubt, the year of statement blush. One look that's currently making the rounds on TikTok again? The #SunBurnBlush trend that took us by surprise in 2022. Since then, we've seen intense blue eyeshadow, opal skin, Barbiecore pinks, mob wife makeup, the Hydrobob and many more iconic looks.

But what goes around comes around and sunburn blush is back, baby! And boy am I happy. (It's part of my year round everyday look, so I couldn't be more excited. *screams in heart eyes emojis*)

When we last reported on the trend in 2022, the hashtag had only garnered about 400K views as of writing, but some of the videos posted on the app more recently under the same tag have skyrocketed. A handful have viewership of over 2.5 million each. #SunBurnBlush summer, round 2?

In case you missed it the first time: The sunburnt blush look can be attained by applying blush in areas where you would typically get most flushed if you spent too much time in the sun like your cheeks, across the bridge of your nose and around the hairline.

Ironically, this heavy-handed application of blush is meant to give you a more fresh-faced and natural look that’s aligned with another TikTok trend: “Clean girl” makeup (which we have thoughts on).

To create the look at home, you’ll want to use a warm-toned and highly pigmented blush that blends well. In general, cream or liquid formulas tend to blend into your skin nicely, while leaving behind a glowing finish.

Now onto the application itself. The placement of your blush is key to nailing this trend. Rather than apply the color higher up on your cheeks and cheekbones (the way we do for a lifting effect), place the blush right onto the apples of your cheeks and across the bridge of your nose, and then blend the color downwards to mimic a sunburn. If it helps to have a visual, think of the letter “W” as a guide for how to apply the blush on your face. Some people add another swipe of blush along the hairline to bring the look together.

If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can also apply various shades of blush for a more dimensional warmth a la makeup influencer Mario Leccese, but it should be noted that without precision, things can quickly veer into bruise territory.

Again, if you’re looking for more of a lifted look, this blush placement probably won’t do you any favors. But if you’re genetically blessed with high cheekbones and/or just want to join in on the fun, the sunburnt blush trend is another way to get a summer flush without actually harming your skin. Just make sure to blend well.