Using blush in the right way can highlight your cheekbones and giving your face a fresh, pretty flush of colour. However, achieving the healthy, natural, pinched-cheek look can be tricky and requires successful picking of the right tones and type of blush that’s best for your skin.
Choosing the right shade
As with all makeup, it is important to first choose a shade of blush that compliments your skin tone. Following this guide should help you decide what one is right for you.
- For skin with cool undertones choose plums, mauves, and cool pinks
- For skin with warm undertones choose earth-toned colours
- For skin with neutral undertones choose colours like rose, coral, and sandalwood (pinkish beige)
- For all skin tones choose natural soft browns that mimic a tan
Choose the right formula
- Powder: Works well on all skin types. When applying powder blush, it is advised to lightly powder the cheek area first which prevents the powdered pigment of the blush from becoming blotchy and creating a look that’s difficult to blend.
- Cream: This works great as a light layer over foundation, leaving the skin looking dewy and fresh
- Gels/stains: These long-lasting formulas that are great for women on the go. These should be applied first, before the rest of the makeup.
Apply correctly
Application is very important to getting a natural look with blush right. We recommend applying blush colour to the upper apple of the cheek. If you smile and look at your reflection, you will be able to find the apple, then place the brush on the upper part of the cheek. Apply soft circular motions, with the brush moving out towards the cheekbone. Do not use long strokes as they can give a harsh look.
To give your cheekbones a more sculpted look, use two different shades of foundation as your base. Apply the darker of the two shades to the area just under the cheekbone to create a shadow and the perception of depth. Then blend the dark and light shades together and cover with a light powder.
