The right blush can turn a blank canvas into a masterpiece.
Whether you’re a makeup maestro accustomed to full glam looks or you like to craft the perfect ‘no-makeup’ makeup aesthetic, choosing the right blush can bring your whole look together.
Different blush textures and finishes are becoming more popular as the beauty industry grows. Formulas like cream, liquid and powder blushes each work in their own ways depending on the kind of coverage you’re looking for and your skin type. Different finishes such as shimmer, satin or matte also complement different makeup looks in various ways.
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Beauty enthusiasts are also becoming more creative with their blush techniques as a form of contouring and sculpting or mimicking that sun kissed glow.
From the classic sweep on the upper cheek bones to a hint of colour over the bridge of the nose, you can create distinct and varying makeup looks for any occasion. However, it can be a daunting task finding the perfect shade that not only matches your skin tone but is also versatile enough to match your desired makeup looks.
Worry not, incorporate these tips and tricks to finding the right blush shade that elevate your features:
1. Choose the right formula for your skin type
According to L'Oréal Paris, before finding the ideal colour, you need to know which formula of blush works best with your skin, whether it’s cream, powder or liquid blushes.
For dry skin, liquid blushes are best because they are hydrating and add a dewy finish to your look. They can also work with oily skin granted that it’s coupled with a setting powder on top to minimise excess shine.
For oily skin, lean towards powder blushes because they create that mattifying effect with one less step. When it comes to more mature skin, consider a cream blush to avoid caking and unwanted texture.
2. Know your overtones and undertones
Matching your general skin tone – ranging between different degrees of fair, light, medium and dark – is essential to finding out which blush works well for you.
According to professional makeup brand Kryolan, “our skin tone is simply the amount of melanin we have, which reacts with sunlight; if you know how long you can stay under the sun without sunburn, you can easily determine your skin type”.
Next is determining your undertones, which range between cool, neutral and warm. Simply look at the colour of your veins on your wrist in natural daylight. Blue or purple veins mean cool, blue or green veins mean neutral and green or olive veins mean a warm undertone.
Alternatively, you can decipher it through the type of jewellery that looks best on you. If gold jewellery suits you best then you have a warm undertone, the preference of silver jewellery means a cool undertone and if both colours look great on you then you’re most likely neutral.
3. Keep swatching
After figuring out your skin type and tones, play around with swatching different colours on your wrist to see which one looks best on you.
Light and baby pink, rosé, peach and coral hues look best on fair skin tones with warm and cool undertones.
Medium skin tones usually have neutral to warm undertones, with deep pinks and peaches and bronzy shimmers adding a pop of dimension. Medium skin with cool undertones shines with mauve, berry or violet shades.
Dark skin with warm undertones looks best in berry, rich orange and deep red hues.
This isn’t a fixed rule, though, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different shimmers and colours to make your skin pop.
4. Consider your facial structure
Placing your blush on different areas of your bone structure offer a mix of effects that switch up and elevate every makeup look.
The classic placement of blush on the apples of your cheekbones when you smile offer a bright and youthful appearance.
You can also experiment with blush contouring by placing your preferred blush formula higher up on the cheekbones bent slightly downwards and blending it to create a flushed bright look perfect for the colder seasons.
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5. Experiment with layering
Play around with your favourite bronzer or highlight to create a more shimmery look.
These can help give your face a healthy glow with the added colour of the blush to create the perfect sun kissed effect.
Place your bronzer or highlight on the spots of your face where the light naturally hits: the upper cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your chin and the middle of your forehead. Make sure it’s fully blended into the skin then add your go-to blush on the apple of your cheeks to lift your complexion and give you that natural holiday glow.
