The smart blusher placement trick Cindy Crawford uses for glow and 'lift'
Cindy Crawford has shared her go-to blush and how to apply it for perfectly rosy, sculpted cheeks - naturally, it's a nod to the '90s...


Offering some much-appreciated makeup pointers, Cindy Crawford's blush and choice of placement are almost as iconic as the model herself...
While the best cream blushers have been stealing the spotlight of late - beloved for their ease and dewy finish - we're firm believers that matte and powder formulas still have their place in our makeup bags. This is a sentiment clearly shared by Cindy Crawford, who, as it turns out, is a fan of one very famous pressed formula. Sharing her go-to routine for achieving modern '90s makeup, the model also let slip her preferred blush placement and naturally, it's as classic as her choice of product.
So, if you require some blush-related tutelage, here's exactly how Crawford achieves her everyday, sunkissed radiance as well as a smart tip for a 'lifted' look.
The classic blush and placement Cindy Crawford uses for subtly rosy cheeks
If you're familiar with '90s makeup, you'll know that the preferred formula was matte, matte and more matte. And while we've seen a shift towards dewier alternatives in recent years - like that of the best serum foundations and cream bronzers - there's still a time and place for satiny powders and soft-focus finishes. This is especially true for those with oiler skin types wanting to avoid excess shine.
If you find yourself in the market for one such powder product, Cindy Crawford's makeup routine is a good source of inspiration, as she revealed to Allure that she uses Charlotte Tilbury's Cheek to Chic blush in the shade Pillow Talk, to achieve a '90s-esque blush look.
RRP: £35 | Arguably one of the most iconic blush shades on the market, Pillow Talk offers a warm, rosy tint to the cheeks, with added radiance supplied by the palette's shimmery core. For a similar finish to Crawford's, avoid the shimmer and apply your blush with a foundation brush - like this one from ZOEVA, (at Look Fantastic).
Cheek to Chic is a powder blush that features a ring of matte colour with a shimmer shade at its centre to create a radiant, sunkissed finish. In the video, however, Crawford avoids the pearlescent core as she says this will make her '90s-inspired makeup, "too modern." Instead, she takes the outer blush shade and applies it with her foundation brush.
A post shared by Allure Magazine (@allure)
A photo posted by on
As for where she puts it, Crawford said that she learned to apply blush by the classic method of smiling and buffing it into the accentuated apples of her cheeks.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
"I kind of like it right on the apples," she quipped but added that you can also blend your blush along your cheekbones for more of a "lift". Another easy trick worth noting is that she blows on her brush before patting it into her cheeks, to remove any excess powder. Simple, but effective.

Naomi is a Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, where she covers everything from makeup to skincare but specialises, particularly, in fragrance and nail trends. Through her work, Naomi shares her trend expertise and personal product recommendations. She is also a judge for woman&home's annual hair, skincare and beauty awards.
Previously, she worked as a Lifestyle News Writer for My Imperfect Life magazine, where she used her savvy for TikTok to bring readers the latest beauty buzzwords, fashion movements and must-have products.
Before that, Naomi split her time between both GoodTo and My Imperfect Life, whilst training for her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ, for which she earned a Distinction. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied Illustration at Plymouth University but leapt into the media world in 2020, to pursue her passion for writing. Now, when she isn’t reporting on the best perfumes and latest beauty releases, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee and probably online shopping...
-
Kate Middleton's favourite Jo Malone perfume is the ideal fresh and citrusy scent for spring
If you're looking for a new spring scent, it doesn't get much better than Kate Middleton's citrusy go-to, Jo Malone's London Orange Blossom Cologne
-
On the fence about pink? Duchess Sophie's clever styling proves this pretty summer colour can work for anyone
Duchess Sophie's pink midi skirt is a great way of adding color for the summer, without it being too much
-
Kate Middleton’s go-to Jo Malone perfume is like summer in a bottle
If you're looking for a new spring scent, it doesn't get much better than Kate Middleton's citrusy go-to, Jo Malone's London Orange Blossom Cologne
-
Sarah Jessica Parker's 'holy grail' retinol eye cream that she's 'never without' is her smoothing secret
There's a huge discount on SJP's under-eye smoother now
-
Our beauty team declare these the 9 best Tatcha products that are actually worth investing in
This luxury Japanese skincare brand makes home to an array of quality buys that are set to elevate anyone's routine
-
How to get Jennifer Aniston’s 'simple' signature glow – straight from her makeup artist
The pro teaches us how to add 'dimension' to the face with sun-kissed color
-
Budget to Blowout: These are the three gentle cleansers I rely on, as someone with sensitive skin
These formulas do a stellar job at cleaning my sensitive and temperamental skin, without causing any irritation
-
Kate Middleton’s favourite Clarins lip balm is a handbag essential for hydrated, smooth and pretty pink lips
Kate Middleton has long been a fan of Clarins' products and her go-to lip balm from the brand offers a sheer wash of colour as well as hydration and moisture
-
The 3 anti-humidity hair products our Beauty Editor is using on repeat this week
Our Beauty eComm Editor's On Repeat product recommendations column is back with a trio of anti-humidity hair products
-
Joan Collins' skin secret is a bargain 2-in-1 cleanser that we can't believe is £2 now
Joan revealed that she's been using the budget cleanser for "40 years" and swears by the gentle but effective formula