Makeup Basics: Blush

Part eight of the Makeup Basics series.

Blush:

What is it?

A powder, cream or liquid used to give you a healthy, rosy glow.

Why might I want to use this stuff?

Most everybody wants to have some healthy-looking color in their cheeks, but sometimes you just don’t, either because that’s just how your skin is or because you covered it all up with foundation. Blush lets you bring it back, but better – you can put it exactly where you want it.

How do I choose the right one for me?

Formula

All the formulas will work on any skin type, but some might benefit you more than others.

• Powder – this is the most common type, and works well on most skin types. Generally you see blush as a pressed powder, though some brands have loose powders available.
• Cream – while cream formulas work well on most skin types, they’re especially good for very dry or dehydrated skin since they generally have a more dewy appearance and won’t pull moisture out of the skin.
• Liquid- this type of blush can be either a thick liquid (almost a cream in a tube) or a very thin one. These leave an almost stain-like appearance and tend to wear well on bare skin.

Color

Blush mostly comes in various shades of pink or red, but you can get them in a range of practically orange all the way to purple. Certain shades will probably favor your skin tone more than others, but most people can wear just about anything as long as it’s applied well and coordinates with the rest of their makeup for the day. I tend to wear either all cool tones (eyeshadow, lipstick and blush) or all warms.

Finish

Just like eyeshadow, blush comes in a pretty fair range of matte-to-glittery finishes. Very shimmery blushes tend to be less forgiving if your skin is oily or has uneven texture.

Quality

The main things I look for in a blush as far as quality goes are pigmentation, texture and wear time. While some blushes are meant to be more sheer than others, you should be able to build the color up without the product looking patchy or cakey. The product should blend easily and consistently on the skin; powder blushes should be finely milled, and cream ones shouldn’t feel sticky or waxy. Wear time will vary based on your skin and any foundation/primer that you use, but I prefer a blush that will last at least eight hours without fading.

My favorites

I’m very partial to Burberry Light Glow blushes, and for cream versions I love Creme de Chanel.

Fin.

You made it to the end! Feel free to comment below if you still have any unanswered questions.