And here’s why it’s the sole blush you’ll ever require in your cosmetics collection.
This piece is contributed by Katheryn Erickson.
You might dedicate a lifetime to hunting for the flawless lipstick. Yet if you do, it’s likely because you never came across Kosas. For the majority of my grown-up years, I cycled through over a dozen hues that never felt just right. But those times are behind me. In truth, I’ve become so devoted to my tube of Stardust—the warm, petal-like nude from a small eight-shade lineup—that I break into genuine anxiety and freeze if I ever misplace it. From its smooth, moisturizing feel to colors that seem to suit nearly everyone, I’ve never encountered a more ideal lip product. Count me as a fan. And I’m not the only one.
Kosas’s excellence has a clear reason: Founder Sheena Yaitanes studied portraiture and approaches color differently from typical trend-focused makeup lines. “My color process is extremely meticulous—I always come from a fine art and color theory angle,” Yaitanes explains. “I examine the human form and all the tones that can emerge from human skin. The goal of Kosas is for shades to feel like a natural part of your face, creating balance and highlighting your features without hiding what’s inherently beautiful. I treat it the same as if I were mixing skin tones for a portrait.” The newest development: Yaitanes is applying that same artistic touch to six blushes that are, predictably, just as delightful as her now-iconic lipsticks. But let her explain them…
The motivation behind creating blush…
I adore blush. Often, people claim they dislike lipstick or avoid bold lip colors. That’s because they don’t realize you need to harmonize the entire look with blush—it’s the missing piece. When you apply lipstick, you’re boosting saturation in one area of your face. For instance, you’re intensifying the red. If we don’t boost cheek saturation accordingly, the lipstick won’t settle properly. Blush was the logical next step for Kosas. Now you can achieve the complete look.
Crafting the universally flattering shades…
We don’t require a vast array of blushes. A brand might offer ten different colors, but only one will suit you. It’s crucial to find shades with undertones that merge with your skin, so the result appears more like a natural flush rather than an obvious “blush” effect. That’s where my focus lay; I invested significant effort into making the colors feel human.
Skin can generally be divided into two categories: Warm and Cool. Both can feature light, medium, and dark tones. For the blush, we opted for a warm, a cool, and a neutral option [in both cream and powder forms]. Most often, you want visual harmony in your appearance, and it’s easiest to stick with colors that match your undertone. If you’re cool, choose the cooler shades; if you’re warm, go with the warmer ones.
I drew inspiration from the quality of light. With Contrachroma, the neutral bronze, I imagined the sun—when it’s just heating up and gently touching your face. It can serve as a bronzer or for subtle contouring and defining features. Papaya 1972 is a peach-based blush—it captures the light quality through a 1970s beach filter. Longitude Zero, the cool option, reflects the quality of north-facing light. Northern light is muted and cool—dimmer and shadowy. The cream shades are similar in tone to the powder blushes but have distinct personalities. They’re designed to look fresh, juicy, and hydrate the apples of the cheeks. Velvet Melon is ripe and vibrant, 8th Muse is innocent and classic, and Tropic Equinox is warm and bright.
The reasoning behind offering both powders and creams—and being meticulous about texture…
When choosing blush, first consider your skin tone. Then pick a formula based on your skin type and the desired overall look. Powders work much better for oily skin because they’re mattifying, while creams are far better for dry skin.
There’s a seasonal aspect to powder—there are moments when you prefer a more refined, finished appearance. The Kosas powders are never cakey; when powder is cakey, it sits on top of the skin and doesn’t look integrated. They’re blended with moringa and jojoba oils, offering an almost silky, cooling feel. The creams contain rich rosehip, marula, green tea, and apricot kernel oils. They provide a dewy glow but also absorb and “dry down,” leaving skin hydrated without feeling heavy. They work exceptionally well on bare skin, and the color offers light coverage and evens out skin tone. They can just as easily be patted over foundation for a natural overall look. The formula is extremely soft and creamy, blending seamlessly into skin. You won’t encounter stickiness or overly intense pigment.
The inclusion of a highlighter in each palette…
Highlighter has become quite trendy recently, but I’ve always used it. There’s a fine art perspective to that as well: When you draw a balloon and add that little highlight, you’re shaping it. You’re defining the shape by creating dimension. The same applies to your face, but you don’t need to go overboard (like some trends) because we aren’t pieces of paper; we’re already three-dimensional. You can subtly shine a bit of light on your best features. I encourage women to identify those assets and emphasize them—look in the mirror, find what you like, and highlight that (rather than finding what you dislike and trying to conceal it).
Why you won’t find any sparkle…
The area where we apply blush is also where pores are largest. I’ll never understand shimmery blush. If we add sheen or glitter there, all those tiny grooves will be emphasized. The highlighters have a sheen, but you still won’t see any glitter particles.
Her preferred application method…
I start with the highlighter. I apply some on the ridge of the cheekbone and up around the temple, then pause to assess. You want to avoid that stripe of highlighter on your cheek that looks unblended. For blush, the best approach is to smile and locate the apple of your cheekbone. Once you find the center, apply your blush starting on the side farthest from your nose. Concentrate the color there, then sweep upward and follow your highlighter, glazing over it. If you layer color, you’ll see the lightness coming through without it looking like a stripe. Next, take a large, fluffy brush and blend around the edges. That’s crucial for achieving a natural blush look.
I also like to use the same blush brush and sweep a bit of leftover color onto my eyelids. Eyelid skin is very thin, and as we age, we lose blood flow and natural color. A little blush there warms up and brightens your face, giving you a youthful glow.
