Blush is a wonder product as it can instantly brighten up the face and it’s definitely the one make-up item I’d like to have with me if I was stranded on a desert island. However, picking the most flattering shade of blusher and applying it correctly can be quite a challenge. Read on for our tips for getting it right and get ready to get cheeky.

1 Go for au naturel

Navigating through hundreds of blusher shades is easy if you bear in mind that your best shade will be similar to the colour you naturally blush. If you are fair, try a soft pink or rosy nude, such as the Revlon Powder Blush in Naughty Nude (R209). Medium or olive skin tones suit corals and bronze hues, such as the Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color in Venice Beach Bronze and Silver Lake Sunset (R320) while darker complexions look gorgeous with a pop of bright pink or a rich plummy red, such as Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine (R99.95).

2 Create a C-shape

The most natural-looking way to apply blush is by sweeping it over the apples of your cheeks and up towards your eyebrows in a ‘C’ motion. Use a large, soft and fluffy brush to apply powder formulas – our choice is the Real Techniques Blush Brush (R169.95). Your fingers work best for cream or stick variants as your body warmth helps to melt and blend in the creamy texture.

Pro tip ‘When you are applying blush, don’t smile, because once you stop, the apples of your cheeks will lower, and suddenly your blush will be hovering right over your mouth instead of the tops of your cheeks,’ advises British make-up artist Wayne Goss.

3 Carve out cheekbones

Did you know that blusher can double up as a contour product? By applying blush onto the apples of the cheeks (as you normally would) and then using your fingertips to blend it up and out towards your ears with patting motions, you’ll define your cheekbones. Finish off with a touch of highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones for a brightening effect. We adore the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Powder in Soft & Gentle (R370).

4 Layer it up

Try this clever formula when you need your blusher to stay put on your big day: first use a cream blush and then apply a powder version in a similar colour over it. You can even tailor-make your own shade by layering a peach and pink blush onto your cheeks. Be sure to blend very well so that there are no visible lines and avoid blushers containing large shimmer particles as these will ruin the illusion of that lit-from-within glow. Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in Ambre D’or (R134.95) is just the right amount of delicate shimmer and pretty colour.

Pro tip A backstage make-up secret is to rub a little bit of blush on the earlobes of the models to make them look more fresh and awake.

 

Photography Maybelline, courtesy images