Hasta La Ideas

Color test. To find the shade that flatters your skin tone, gently pinch your cheeks and match the blush to the color you get. You can also try one that’s half a shade darker than your favorite neutral lipstick. If you have acne or a ruddy complexion, try a tawnier shade so the blush doesn’t call attention to the redness. Either way, shimmery blush almost never looks natural.

Add the cream. I tell novices to start with a cream blush because it goes on sheer and it’s easy to blend. The exception is if you use also a powder foundation or loose powder on your face; always keep makeup textures consistent so they don’t clump.

Fan yourself. Dense brushes– the ones that typically come with blush– are tricky and tend to create a big, sloppy chunk of color in the middle of the cheek. I use a fan brush for both cream and powder formulas. The thin hairs blend color seamlessly.

Product placement. When I’m working on a client, I smile so she’ll smile, which accentuates the best part of the cheeks to apply blush. I put the highest concentration of color just outside the fattest part of the cheeks– not directly under the eyes. You don’t want the concentration of color to be too close to the nose or the temples, because that look screams “too much blush.”

Build it up. The more layers of makeup you wear, the lighter the blush should be. Conversely, if you apply blush to bare skin, it will soak in and be more diffuse, so you may have to use more for the same effect.

Don’t forget to check out the Shop Therapy blog for more beauty tips and tricks!