We all would love to have rosy red or pink shell colored cheeks, but only a few of us are gifted with these in real life. For the rest of us, we can only find solace in makeup such as blush to give us that perfect look. Blush is usually applied after you have applied concealer, foundation, powder, eye shadow and eyeliner. However, many women who don’t like to go in for full face makeup prefer to use blush after a tinted moisturizer or foundation.
The first step in choosing a good and flattering blush is to match it with your skin tone or complexion. Experts believe since blush is used to create an artificial flush of color on your cheeks, it is best to match it with the real color of your flush. For this, you can always try giving your cheeks a little pat to see the color that appears after, or you can do something strenuous like taking a quick brisk walk around the corner to work up a face flush and then match your blush on to that particular hue of your skin tone.
Once you know your complimentary color of blush, you can then go about looking for a texture that suits you best. Since there are numerous blush cosmetics available in the market, it is best to take your time and find one that suits your skin type well. Generally, powder blushes work very well on oily skin, as the powder absorbs the extra oil. However, if you have dry skin then a cream based blush is a good idea. For combination skin, a gel based preparation works well.
While some blushes come with their own brush, you should invest in a quality blush brush with natural hair. This brush covers the maximum area and also ensures that it is evenly distributed on your cheeks giving it the natural glowing look.
Applying blush
While there is no hard and fast rule as to how to apply blush, you should never apply too much of it. Rather start with a small amount and add more if needed. For this, begin by completing all your other makeup (concealer, foundation, powder and eye makeup) and allow it to set. Next, run your blush brush in your chosen shade and dab it slightly on the rim of the container, to dust off extra or excess blush. You may also rub the brush over your hand to remove the excess.
Once your brush has the correct amount of blush on it, look in a well-lit mirror and smile pulling your lips apart. This process helps you locate your cheekbones or the ‘apple’ of your cheeks. However, some experts say that making a fish face works even better as it exposes the round rises or mounts of your cheeks that naturally tend to flush.
Once located, you need to target this particular area and glide your blush brush across this zone in broad, outward strokes. Another way of applying it is to locate the apple of your cheeks and place your brush right in its center and from there start brushing outwards and in circular movements, as this gives a more natural looking coverage. Similarly, if you are using a liquid, gel or cream based blush then start by dotting the core of your cheek mounts and lightly blend the blush outwards with your middle or index finger. Use another clean finger or sponge to remove any excess blush that could not get blended.
If you have facial hair, then using downward brush strokes is a good idea as it would ensure these small hair stay down, rather than be combed in the opposite direction which would make them stand up, resulting in uneven application.
Tips for amateurs
While applying blush, should you suddenly realize it is too much or not well applied then keep a box of translucent powder handy to apply on the area. This ensures two things. Firstly, it would help tone down whichever shade of blush you have generously applied, and secondly it would also help settle and set your overall makeup. Since this setting powder is translucent, it would not interfere with the overall color of your makeup. Another great tip that I normally use is to take your foundation sponge and lightly swipe it over your applied blush color. If too much pink or red blush has been accidentally brushed on, then you could always use some sober natural looking tinted powder as well, to bring your cheeks closer to their natural color.
However, if you used a cream or liquid based blush and have overdone it then the only solution is to keep some blotting paper handy and dab it to your cheeks where needed, as this would ensure all the excess blush is absorbed on to the tissue.