Blush has always been one of my favourite makeup items and if I was ever restricted to only three things in my makeup bag (heaven forbid!) then blush, along with concealer and mascara would be my must have because it's such an easy, instant 'pick-me-up'

This spring I've been swooning over some of the really wonderful new shades and textures I've been seeing - here's a round up of some of my favourites :

Powder Blush:

One of the most jolly in terms of how it looks, 1. Benefit’s Galifornia powder blush, (available here) is a vibrant peach blush with central 'sun' sprinkled with golden shimmer - the packaging illustration is very 1970's Californian hippy chick is very cute. It’s a great shade for fair, and medium through to deeper olive skin tones. Pair it with a simple bright coral lip for a modern feel (For orange lip tips you can watch my guide here ) or go for the full 1970s vibe with tonnes of mascara and glossy lips.

On a trip to New York at the end of last year I was thrilled to meet Makeup Artist Troy Surrat at Pier 59 Studios. Troy started his career as first assistant to the late and legendary Kevyn Aucoin and along with being a great artist he's incredibly warm and friendly. 2016 saw the launch of his eponymous line, I had bought his foundation and loved it so had high hopes for his 2. Artistique Blushers - a collection of 20+ high pigment. finely milled powder blushers. I noticed they are made in Japan which, in makeup manufacturing terms, is known for incredible attention to detail and craftsmanship (a love of which he may have picked up from his former boss).  Beautiful 3 pan palettes are available to create your own customized blush trio (perfect for my pro kit). There are shades to suit absolutely all skin tones and I pretty much love them all (available here).

Liquid and Cushion Blush:

On a trip to Seoul back in 2014 I fell in love with all things K-Beauty and was thrilled to launch a range of fabulous cushion blushers into Lancôme on my return.  As part of this springs limited collection the 3. Sparkling Framboise Cushion Blush is a firm favourite... such a beautiful fresh and vibrant bright pink. It can work on lots of different skin tones as the colour can be built up by dabbing and tapping gently. The finish is dewy and radiant, a 'blushing from within' vibe (available here).

The terminology for this product is very me (I often talk about clouds of colour in my tutorials), 4. Glossiers Cloud Paints are easy to use gel/cream textured blush in a squeezy tube. The no fuss blendable formula can be applied with fingers (or a brush if you prefer), and is infused with collagen for plumping power (love!). Currently there are four shades, Beam, Dusk, Haze and Puff (available here).

Cream Blush:

For a natural, sheeny blush, 5. Revlon’s new Insta Blush Sticks are a great drugstore/highstreet choice. Available in 4 shades, my favourite is Berry Kiss, a sheer, magenta berry. Apply the stick directly to the apples of your cheeks and blend with your fingers. It also good for adding easy colour to your lips and eyelids (available here).

If you prefer your makeup products clean and green you will love 6. Juice Beauty's Last Looks Blush Its available in four wearable shades - so far Ive only tried Flush, a flattering caramel shade that's perfect for a 'no makeup makeup' look. Certified organic it contains shea butter, jojoba oil and carnauba - all great ingredients... particularly for dry skins (available here).