4 Ways to Make Your Blush Look More Believable
by Petra Guglielmetti,
Confession: I'm a chronic over-blusher. When I'm feeling tired--which is basically every day lately--piling on the blush, especially bright blush, is the quickest way to feel like I look alive again. But I'm pretty sure I often just look blushed-up, not naturally rosy. So I'm planning to stage a little blush intervention for myself using the following believable-blush tips from celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose.
People tend to think brighter blush looks better, but that's untrue, Nick says. "Blush should look believable and not obvious, unlike eyeshadows or lip colors that can be dramatic, if that's the look you're going for. When it comes to cheek colors, stick to what works and look believable, like it's your own color coming through."
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Nick's best tricks for making blush look believable:
* It should be well-blended around the edges so you won't see circles or stripes. "I prefer to use a big dome-shaped brush to spread color sheerly so you can gradually build intensity, as opposed to going full-on bright circles at once. Laura Mercier makes the best brush: It's not too big, so you still have control, and not too small where colors look blotchy."
* When you're done brushing on your blush, blend around the edges with a sponge or puff: "Blending it down makes the color even sheerer and more believable looking." You can use just a regular wedge-shaped foundation sponge to do this.
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* Pick colors that mimic the actual flush your cheeks get. "And the darker your skin, the deeper the shade, that way it'll show up. Darker skin with blush that's too light will make you look sallow."
* Save shimmer-flecked powder blush for evening. "In daylight it'll look fake and the shimmer will make your skin look more dry and bumpy," Nick says. Instead, opt for really fine silky formulas. His favorites right now: Jouer blushes, or Estee Lauder Pure Colour Blush.
What are some of YOUR tricks for getting blush just right? Got a favorite brush and/or blush formula to share? Tell us below!
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