How to apply blush according to your face shape can actually be quite tricky at times. Just a few swipes of blush can make your complexion look healthier, and make your skin look more youthful. It adds a glow that bronzer and highlighter just can’t mimic.
So when you apply blush and it doesn’t stay put, you’re worried you’re using the wrong color or formula, or you just don’t even know where to start, we’re here to help: our carefully chosen brilliant blush hacks that make this super flattering product work for your face shape, and skin tone too.
PREP YOUR SKIN
To make your blush blend into your skin and stay put all day, always wash and moisturize your face first.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SHADE
Blush isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal — you need to choose the right shade to flatter your complexion. Something too dark or too bright can actually age you instead of giving you that warm, youthful glow.
FINDING THE RIGHT FORMULA
Picking the right blush is about more than just the shade — you need to find the perfect formula, too. There are three types of blushes: powders, creams, and stains.
- If you have oily skin, a cheek stain works well. Apply a little at a time — once it sets into your skin, it’s hard to blend out.
- If you have normal or combination skin, creamy formulas are great and have high staying power.
- If you have dry skin, stick with a powder formula. Powder blush is great for gliding over pores for a blurring effect and despite popular belief, stains and creams aren’t so great for dry skin: They can crack when they dry, which lays emphasis on patches of dryness on the skin.
PICK THE RIGHT BRUSH
A tightly packed brush can pick up too much product and overload your face with color, but a loose brush picks up less product while still offering a pretty color payoff. A perfect blush brush, however, should ideally be dense, soft, and easily able to diffuse the color.
APPLY BLUSH ACCORDING TO YOUR FACE SHAPE
Blush is meant to strategically accent your face, which means you need to take your bone structure into account before applying it in the first place.
Heart-shaped faces: If your face is long with prominent cheekbones and a narrow chin, you likely have a heart-shaped face. Apply blush in a “C” shape from the top of the temple down to the cheekbone.
Square face: If your face has straight sides and a fairly flat jawline, you have a square face. With a square face, you want to hit all of the cheekbone from the corner of the brow to the hairline.
Round face: If your cheeks are the fullest part your face and and you have a curved jawline, you have a round face. For the best blush, look in the mirror, smile, then swipe blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Oval face: If your face is long with somewhat prominent cheeks, a narrower chin, and a narrow forehead, your face is oval, we recommend starting at the most prominent part of the cheekbone and using soft strokes, bring blush down towards the earlobe and blend up towards the temple.
LAYER FOR A LASTING EFFECT
Gearing up for a special occasion where you won’t be able to touch up your makeup? Layer a powder blush over a cream or gel formula for a beautiful, customised look that won’t budge. But remember: You want to apply double the formula, not double the color; just use each product sparingly to avoid going overboard.
