Moody And Alluring: The Berry Blushes To Keep On High Rotation This Season

Much like florals and spring; rich, moody berry tones for Winter just make sense. There's something irresistible about the season's deep reds, mulled wines, and dusky mauve tones. Effortlessly swept across the cheeks, these shades inject colour, dimension and warmth into the complexion.

I personally am prescribing to the blush stacking trend this winter (more is more!), which sees layering and mixing of multiple shades to achieve your perfect berry flush. Equal parts juicy and muted, I've kept these berry shades on high rotation this season - here's why.


What: Anastasia Beverly Hills Magic Touch Blush Trio - Berry/Rose Trio

Three berry-infused hues for rich, dynamic cheek colour.

Enriched with pomegranate oil, the gel-like cream formula (she's bouncy!) offers a silky texture that melts seamlessly into the skin for a sheeny, second-skin finish.

The shades range from a deep, mulled berry to a soft rose, each delivering pigment with a blurred matte finish. I found the formula to be easy to blend and buildable. You can use sparingly for a subtle, sheer look or layer (can be with another cream or powder blush) for a more intense flush.

I personally like to stack the warmer rose shade with a dab of the darker plum on the high temples to lift and add dimension.

The deep plum shade as a stand alone is a little too dramatic for my paler skin tone but I imagine it would be absolutely stunning on a deeper complexion.

IYKYK. The universal Benetint has been beloved (and consistently viral) for the better part of the decade. Earlier this year, however, Benefit extended their Benetint offering with the introduction of two new shades - Raspberry and Dark Cherry.

Dark Cherry reminds me of the 2024 'Tomato Girl Summer' - it's a true deep red with ripe orange undertones. To me, the Raspberry counterpart teeters the line between a magenta and fuschia. It's a little cooler in nature and creates the most idyllic berry wash on cheeks. Playful and youthful.

Like the OG, this lightweight liquid formula is designed to deliver sheer, buildable colour that mimics the natural flush of cheeks. Its longevity ensures that the colour stays put throughout the day, while its layering capabilities make it a versatile addition to any makeup routine.

You can swipe it on both lips and cheeks - so it's great for any monochromatic makeup moments.

What: M.A.C COSMETICS Glow Play Blush

A powder-cream hybrid: texture is the star here. It's plush (almost bouncy) and adds glistening dimension to the complexion.

Brimming with Jojoba and grapeseed oils to give formula its creamy slip, the blush melts into the skin rather than sitting on top. There’s a subtle translucency to the pigment too - it reads more of a wash than heavy colour.

This is easily one of the deepest tones in my blush wardrobe. It's a brown-berry that feels tailor-made for winter’s pared back palette.

I really love the neutral undertone too - it's something I haven't come across in too many blushes before. It's flattering and (I imagine) adaptable for a range of skin tones. Because of the neutral undertones, I like to sweep this shade into the eye socket for a tonal, pulled-together effect. It's a complimentary shade for those brown, hazel and green eyed gals.

What: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush


The perfect dusty mauve. This shade is particularly moody, yet refined.

With a Satin-Matte finish, the powder balances rich pigment with a pearlescent finish that mimics the natural flush of healthy skin.

Boasting a silky texture, the finely milled powder ensures a seamless blend that layers nicely over base makeup. To amp up the drama, I like to use a blush draping technique here.

Unlike traditional blush placement (centred on the apples of the cheek), blush draping emphasises the cheekbone and temple. With similar placement to highlighter, start at the outer half of your cheek and drag pigment upwards and along the temple. This will give the illusion of a lifted cheekbone. I was really impressed with the longevity too. After a 12 hour wear, the shade had settled into my skin nicely and maintained that deep mallow hue.

What: AB LAB by Adore Beauty HA Plump Lip & Cheek Multistick in the shade Bitten.

Another lip-cheek hybrid.

I'm a big fan of cream and stick blush formulas in general. I find they melt into the skin beautifully, especially when applied post-foundation - and with fingertips. Quick, dabbing motions are key here. I like to think about it more like pressing the pigment in rather than dragging it across. This helps to avoid any patchiness.

This particular formula finds itself on the creamier side (yes, please) which imparts a dewy, skin-like finish. The formula is dosed with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and nourish skin, which in turn also lends to that fresh finish.

The pigment is softly buildable (and blends easily), taking cheeks from a sheer wash to rich colour with a few taps. On the skin, it reads as a satin glow (not too glossy, not too matte) for a radiant and rich finish. The deep berry tone feels both modern and wearable. I imagine it would be flattering across a range of skin tones.

I keep her in my handbag for easy afternoon top-ups. It layers beautifully.