Blush Basics 101

Blush has become a makeup item I've been loving recently. After trying testing quite a few over the years, I thought I'd compile some observations that can help you find and achieve your perfect flush.

When Deciding Between Cream and Powder, Powder is More Forgiving: Blush can often be an intimidating piece of makeup to apply. One minute, it looks barely visible and then the next, you've headed straight into clown country. Though I do generally prefer the texture and feel on my particular skin of liquid and cream blush, I have to say that powder blushes are sheerer and often have less of an immediate punch, even if the color is darker or brighter, than the same shade in a cream or liquid formula. Powders are also easier to blend out as they don't set as quickly as creams. So if you are truly a blush newbie, I'd start off with powders and then go to creams when you become more used to wearing blush and have a sense of what colors you like the most on yourself.

When Testing Colors, Swatch First On the Inside of Your Finger: To get a more accurate read of how your skintone (and most importantly undertones) will respond to different blush colors, swatching a bit of the powder or cream against the tone of the inside of your fingers will give you insight as to how the blush color blends with your own. Bloodflow to our fingers mimics the shade our own cheeks turn as they flush throughout the day as well as the color our lips turn when they are flushed, so to keep colors of makeup the most like and flattering with our natural coloring, this is a useful tip.

When Applying, Consider Your Face Shape: Just as all face shapes are uniquely beautiful, we all naturally blush in different areas on our faces. This means, in order to get the most natural-looking and cohesive effect, consider where you feel any heat rise in your skin the most and dot the blush there. In general, those with rounder, softer face shapes, blush on the roundest bit of the apples of the cheeks, whereas those with longer or sharper ones, flush in oblong patterns along the cheekbones themselves and around the temples. Also, for an added touch, a light layer across the nose can bring a pop of freshness to your look, and a small sweep of blush across the eyes after you have applied your eyeshadow can really serve to unite your eye makeup with the rest of your complexion.

Wearing blush more often has really made my makeup wearing experience come into further bloom. Just a simple addition can make all the difference sometimes in reviving your look and spirit. So keep on smiling, and keep on blushing happily!