5 Blush Tips You Didn't Know You Needed

Applying blush may seem a basic makeup technique, but it’s surprisingly easy to mess up—and when blush goes bad, it’s one of the most noticeable makeup snafus you can make. Here are a few simple tips to solve the most common blush blunders and get perfectly flushed cheeks!

Don’t Get Stuck in a One Color Rut

Different outfits, seasons, and makeup looks call for different tones of blush. When in doubt about which blush color is right for you, opt for a versatile palette composed of various shades to maximize your options— including custom-blending colors as needed. It’s a game changer!

Ditch the 'Smile-as-You-Apply' Technique

Despite what you may have been told, this technique isn’t always your best bet for a natural look. As you smile, your cheeks rise and your face shape changes. When you stop smiling, your cheeks return to their normal position and your carefully applied blush ends up being lower on the face and closer to your mouth.

Next time try applying your blush to upper cheek area while your face is at rest. It may seem like a subtle change, but it can make all the difference in your finished makeup look.

Undo Blush Gone Awry

Going overboard with your blush is easy to do—a little too much and suddenly you look like you’re ready for an evening at the opera (or that you’re in the opera).

Tone it down by using a clean brush and blending a light layer of loose or pressed powder on top. (You can also use a barely-there skin-tone blush to tone down a shade that’s too intense.) Another option is using a foundation brush or sponge that has a bit of leftover foundation on it to smooth and sheer your blush out.

Avoid over application of your blush all together by using a soft, fluffy brush that grabs the color evenly and builds intensity slowly.

Take Your Complexion from Drab to Fab

Prep with a few drops of facial oil (mixed into another product or applied directly to your face under your daytime moisturizer) to enhance skin’s youthful glow. Then up the ante with makeup by infusing cheeks with a soft, luminous blush or highlighting key areas (cheekbones, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow) with a luminizing powder, liquid, or cream. A touch of radiance can go a long way to make dull skin look supple again.

Traumatized by Face Contouring Gone Bad?

Try this easy, two-step trick to lift and sculpt cheeks. Apply a matte, neutral-toned bronzer in the hollow of cheeks to define bone structure. Above your bronzer, add a touch of blush just to the upper cheeks. That’s it—in less than a minute the result is a soft, realistic “lifted effect” for the face.