Under-Eye Blush Is the Cutesy Makeup Trend I’ll be…

If 2024 made one thing clear, blush is truly in her It Girl era. Look to the rise of blonzing or the sunset blush trend for proof: we’re finally having fun with blush, and that means playing around with textures, shades, and placement. Gone are the days of simply applying blush to the apples of our cheeks, as today’s blush techniques break all the rules.

This time around, our under-eyes are getting the blush treatment. Ahead, everything you need to know about the Japanese-inspired blush trend that’s all over TikTok, and how to get the look.

The Trend

Blushed under-eyes aren’t anything new. In 2022, we all became color theory nerds when TikTok told us to mix blush into our concealer to cancel out dark circles. And in April, Pat McGrath told us to brighten our under-eyes with baby pink powder, so that’s exactly what we did. Now, though, we’re fully embracing the flushed under-eye.

Last week, I stumbled upon a video skit from content creator Jaime Huckins, but I couldn’t stop staring at her blush, which was delicately placed under and around her eyes. The vibe Huckins was going for was “Sharon Tate if she were a Tim Burton character walking for John Galliano,” she told me. Naturally, the under-eye blush added a sultry but also cutesy vibe to the look—think: indie sleaze with a coquette twist.

For those who are familiar with Japanese beauty, this trend might sound familiar. Igari makeup, meant to mimic a drunken flush around the eyes, cheeks, and nose, has had a chokehold on J-beauty since its inception in 2018. TikTok’s interpretation of Igari makeup, though, is slightly different. “In Asia, this technique adds a touch of sweetness,” Kanako, Creative Director of Addiction Tokyo, explains to Byrdie. But in America, it’s more about creating a babydoll flush that screams cool girl.

How to Get the Look

To get the look, start off with a dewy cream blush around the outer corner of the eyes, gently dabbing downwards. For a natural-looking flush, opt for a peachy pink shade for fair to medium skin tones or a terracotta shade for darker skin tones.

Next, press in a matte powder blush in a similar shade under the eyes to set the look, making sure to diffuse the edges for an airbrushed finish. Huckins’ trusty blush duo consists of the Minori Beauty Cream Blush in Scarlet and the Milani Rose Powder Blush.

For a finishing touch, add a touch of baby pink powder to the under eyes to create a seamless transition between your under eye concealer and blush.