Blurred Makeup

Celebrity Makeup Artist Melissa Hurkman explains what blurred makeup is and the technique behind it.

Why do you think blurry makeup is trending?

"Blurred makeup is so popular because it creates a soft, romantic effect and diffuses the more structured, defined looks we’ve been seeing over the last few years. It’s very much a “your skin but better” approach—feminine, fresh, and effortlessly polished."

How, if at all, do you think the blurry makeup trend relates to where we once were with clean girl makeup?

"In my opinion, blurry makeup is an evolution of the clean girl aesthetic. Clean girl makeup is extremely minimal and intentionally understated, with the goal of looking like you’re wearing no makeup at all.

With the blurry makeup trend, we’re still keeping the skin fresh, but we’re showcasing the makeup more—just with softened, diffused edges. It typically involves more products and more technique to achieve that seamless, out-of-focus finish compared to the simplicity of the clean girl look."

What’s your favorite way to get in on the trend—lips, blush, or something else?

"I especially love this trend for the lips and blush. Pairing softly blurred cheeks and a diffused lip with a light coat of your favorite mascara keeps the focus on the center of the face while still feeling balanced and modern."

What are your favorite tips and tricks for blurry makeup? Any product recommendations?

"For blush, I love the Catrice Cosmetics Velvet Pudding Blurring Blush. It really does the work for you—the velvety texture blends seamlessly into the skin and instantly creates that soft-focus effect. My personal favorite shade is 010 Raspberry Fudge for a natural, flushed cheek.

For lips, I always start with a lip liner and use a small pencil brush to diffuse the edges so there’s no harsh line between the lip and the surrounding skin. I love the Catrice Plumping Lip Liner because it subtly enhances the pout as you wear it.

To finish, I tap on a small amount of a plumping lip gloss and press it into the lips with my fingers. This keeps the application smooth, thin, and perfectly blurred rather than overly shiny or heavy."