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Makeup is a fluid industry, a pendulum swinging back and forth from trend to trend. Nonetheless, 2024 has certainly been the year of blush. From liquid to cream to powder—there seems to be no end to new releases from every major makeup brand. Recently, berry, baby pink, and “blonzer” blush shades have been all the rage. Recently, there has been a major shift toward red blush shades. 

 

Blush has been trending for the past year, but it is not the first time it has been in the spotlight—in the 1920s and 80s, it was particularly popular, and it speaks to the cultural cycle of trends and products. The market has certainly been seeing release after release of blushes from all major cosmetics brands. One TikToker, Abi Daunton, pointed out that in September, the number of blush releases had already reached 31 for 2024. When a specific niche area of the beauty industry becomes oversaturated as blush has, it is only a matter of time before a new trend emerges within that area, and that is certainly the case here with a shift to red blush. However, the color is much more than a micro-trend and holds large significance throughout human history.

 

Red is one of the most iconic blush shades in the world—this is not without reason. Into the Gloss reported that since the ancient Egyptians, the first to be on record using cosmetics, the color red has been used to create a vibrant flush. When analyzed through a historical context, there is a deeper meaning to the color.  In a hypebae interview with Hillary Belzer, makeup historian and curator of the Makeup Museum, Belzer discussed how “blush—both the product and the involuntary reaction—expresses two long-standing signifiers of beauty: youth and health.” This has led to blush being a widely used cultural staple around the world for centuries. While red blush has been used since ancient times, lately, trends have been focused on different color families and tones. However, the color is once again trending for a different, perhaps surprising, reason: Victoria’s Secret. 

 

With the resurrection of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, there has been an increased nostalgia for early 2000s Victoria’s Secret Angels and their makeup looks. Makeup artists have taken to TikTok to showcase their own take on the angel’s nostalgic makeup. Users have been surprised to learn the secret to the real Victoria’s Secret base—red blush.

 

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is one of the most iconic yet controversial cultural events of the 21st century. The show reached its peak popularity in the early 2000s, and despite being loved by many, the company received massive amounts of criticism for its role in promoting unrealistic beauty standards. In 2019, the runway show was officially terminated due to the brand’s controversy and low ratings, with even models reporting putting their health at risk to reach the impossible standard. TikTok has suddenly been flooded with videos romanticizing the Angels and praising the makeup and beauty trends of the early 2000s. With creators posting tutorials and tips to make your makeup look like a true Angel – this is leading to possible shifts in trends within the beauty industry in 2025

 

One such shift is red blush being used in everyday makeup routines. Red is a vibrant and pigmented color that can sometimes be a bit daunting to work with; however, beauty creators online are providing content and education showing how red blush isn’t that scary at all. One such creator, former Victoria’s Secret makeup artist Rose Marie Smith, told viewers on TikTok not to “be scared of the red because it really does work and you get that hint of natural sophistication.” Red provides the perfect youthful flush that can be used for both a natural or full glam look. 

 

This sudden shift also speaks to the rapid pace of fads within the beauty industry and how trends always cycle back. TikTok fosters this fast-paced culture of overconsumption due to beauty influencers and the constant slew of new products flooding the market. Recently, there has been a resurgence of Y2K nostalgia, and nothing symbolizes that era more than the Victoria’s Secret Angels and their iconic makeup of the time. Red blush is certainly a trend to watch out for in the coming months.

 

Makeup is something that has been around for hundreds of years, and it often serves as an outlet for creative expression. Decades and time periods all have distinct trends; understanding and seeing trends emerge and dissipate further shows how small shifts in trends can impact the beauty industry in many different ways. Victoria’s Secret Angels were a large part of the early 2000s, and their makeup is an iconic signal of the era. Makeup is distinct and changes throughout time, just as music, culture, and fashion do. When trends re-emerge, it is an interesting balance between the new and the old.

 

As the internet moves past last month’s blush trends, red is becoming one of the most in-demand colors on Tiktok—this is, of course, going to change; after all, it is the makeup industry. It is easy to forget the history and importance of makeup, especially when it has become such a capitalistic industry, but it is incredibly powerful, something that has been around for centuries and is tied to many aspects of human identity. Even after the trend inevitably ebbs away, we must not forget the power and history of something as deceivingly simple as red blush.