10 Rules To Blush

Flatter your face shape by using only blush. Follow these 10 simple rules and get your blush to work for you.

1. Keep it believable.

Stick to blushes purpose; to imitate a healthy glow.

Choosing the right color for your skintone.

Fair skin – roses or spiced plums
Medium skin – apricots
Dark skin – muted brick reds

2. Use the right formula for your skin type.

Normal to dry skin: Cream blushes will look the most natural and blends the easiest.
Normal to oily skin: Powder blushes will have a longer lasting effect.
Oily skin: Gel blushes are great for blending into oily skin where drier skin may not absorb it as easily.

3. Use the right tools.

Fan brush: Use for bright powder blushes – distributes the color soft and even.
Big & fluffy brushes: Use for powder blushes – ensuring a soft, less dense application.
Fingers: Cream and gel blushes are best applied with your fingers.

4. Start with a good base.

To make certain you don’t exacerbate blemishes or redness first even out your skin tone to create a nice base before adding blush.

5. Powder first.

Powdering first will ensure longer lasting blush.

6. Put it in the right place.

For a natural look, begin at the top of the apple’s of your cheek leaving most of the pigment there to mimic “blushing.” Then blend outward towards your ear.

7. Contour to flatter your face shape.

Thin to round face: Start your blush at the apples, then brush it along the cheekbones all the way up to the temples.

Thin face: Using circular motions, apply your blush to the center of your cheeks and blend it along the cheekbones and straight back to your ears. On a narrow face, makeup artist François Nars likes a bright pink blush with highlighter on the apples.

Long face: Dust your blush from the apples up toward the temples, then a little across each eyelid and on the chin, says Roncal. Having the same shade on your eyes, cheeks, and chin will make your face look shorter.

Square face: Apply a soft shade of blush on the apples and down into the hollows of your cheeks, says Roncal. Then lightly skim your brush over your temples to very subtly contour.

Create higher cheekbones: Choose a contouring powder or a matte bronzer a shade or two darker than your skin. Starting at the outer cheekbones, lightly sweep it over them. A dot of highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones creates a lifted effect.

8. Don’t be afraid to add layers, if needed.

If you have a problem making blush last (like me) try using a cream blush, powder, then apply a powder blush on top. This should last you through the day.

9. Choose the final look.

Matte or shimmery.

Think about lighting: Skip shimmery blushes if you are going to be in fluorescent lighting, like an office. This type of lighting reflects tons of light.

Think about your skin type: Bring sallow skin back to life with some shimmer. Use matte blushes for oily skin to eliminate shine. Finally, use sheer blushes on dark or pale complexions because they allow the shin to show through.

10. Don’t over do!

Laura Mercier for Allure magazine says, “If you have rosacea, tone down the redness with an opaque foundation. Then apply blush. If your rosacea verges on purple, peachy or soft bronze blush will counteract the redness. But if your skin is more rosy, look for a muted or peachy rose, says Mercier. And for truly red rosacea, try a brownish rose.”