This Cream Blush Will Be the Star of Your Summer Makeup Bag

With nearly 10 billion views on TikTok under #blush, it’s clear the internet is having a major cheeky moment. Blush ambassadors like Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid and Jenna Ortega have made a fresh flush their signature beauty look. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from tutorials and red carpet glam alike, it’s that blush is no longer a one-size-fits-all flush.

Whether it’s draped high across cheekbones, washed over temples, or blended across the nose, today’s blush placement is all about personalization. Dior’s latest backstage-inspired launch is designed to meet the moment.

Meet the Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Stick: the dewy cream blush that clocks your skin’s pH and shifts accordingly. Its powder predecessor, Rosy Glow Blush, has been blessing cheekbones for over two decades, so naturally, the cream version had to enter the group chat. Available in seven ultra-wearable shades, from that viral cherry to shimmering toffee and a surprisingly versatile pink lilac, this jumbo stick glides on like butter and melts into skin for a high-gloss, high-vibe finish.

“The younger generation grew up with beauty tutorials—they’re already experts,” says Peter Philips, Dior’s creative and image director of makeup. “So we created formulas that let them use that know-how. These products are playful, but with the performance of a luxury house.”

The magic is in the mix. Philips recommends starting with the Rosy Glow Stick dabbed directly onto bare skin or over foundation and blended in with your fingers for a radiant, dewy base. Then, layer on the new Rosy Glow powder blush to dial up the colour and add a soft-focus finish. Available in the same seven shades as the stick, this version of the powder formula features pH-reactive technology for a personalized flush. “The stick gives you this glossy kind of glow,” says Philips. “The powder adds softness and a touch of blur.”

As for where to place your blush? That’s where things get interesting.

“We’ve stepped away from those traditional ‘apples of the cheeks’ kind of application,” Philips explains. These days, blush can act as a sculpting tool, a brightener—even a highlighter. His go-to tip? Apply it higher on the cheekbones, almost along the orbital bones, to create a lifted, youthful effect. “When you’re younger, you want to get rid of that baby fat and you want to contour and sculpt to look sharp,” he says. “But later,” he explains, “folks want to add roundness and volume back into their face—and that depends on placement. So by placing your blush higher instead of in the crease, you can really bring back that plumpness we associate with youth.”

Even more advanced: pairing unexpected shades. Philips loves using the lilac hue as a soft highlighter over a deeper berry tone, or creating a gradient effect by blending bright pink into cool lavender. “The lilac sounds intimidating, but it illuminates, gets rid of dullness and really brightens the skin,” he says, adding it’s especially beautiful on Asian skin tones.

Whether you swipe them on solo or create your own glow cocktail, Dior’s latest launches are proof that blush is no longer an afterthought—it’s the whole look.