Why is blush so much complicated than it should be? For a product that has one major purpose (to make your cheeks look healthy and flushed), it gets itself into plenty of trouble sometimes. If you apply blush just a little too far down on your cheeks, your face can look more droopy. Too far up — that’ s not right, either. Wearing the wrong formulation like a powder when you have dry skin? You can make your skin texture look more chalky and emphasize pores.
So, what’s the solution to getting blush perfect? Makeup Artist Nikki La Rose has great tips on her YouTube channel and TikTok account — starting with this one about what you should absolutely NOT do with blush.
https://www.tiktok.com/@makeupbynikkilarose/video/7349710107334184235?_r=1&_t=8mlR9WUDNyE
Here’s more insider info on how not to apply blush, as well as some tricks for (finally) getting it right.
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What Not to Do
It’s very likely you were taught to apply blush the way many of us were taught this skill: by loading up a brush with your makeup, maybe tapping it a few times on the back of your hand, and then proceeding to swipe it along your cheekbones.
This is exactly how La Rose cautions not to apply blush, though. According to her, this technique will land you with too much blush in one place, plus it won’t be evenly applied. She says it also emphasizes any wetness from your foundation.
If you think that grabbing another makeup brush and attempting to blend your blush after applying it in one long swipe across your cheekbone is the solution, think again. Instead of smoothening out your blush, this will fail to make it look as flawless as you can get your blush to look with a slightly different technique.
How to Apply Blush Cream Blush
Now that you’re set on which technique not to use, here’s what you should do. When applying cream blush, La Rose recommends putting some product on the back of your hand, taking a brush and work it into the cream blush, and tapping it into cheekbone area. Since you’ve already pre-blended the cream blush on your hand, you lessen the risk of it looking patchy.
You can also tap your brush into the cream blush and apply it. This will provide a more intense, impactful look.
How to Apply Liquid Blush
Liquid blush can be very tricky — you need just a tiny amount to achieve a high, impactful look. La Rose applies it first to the top of her hand and then uses a flatter, slightly smaller brush and works the blush into it. Tap it into your cheekbone so that you can the most control over your application. Don’t work it in by moving your brush back and forth, though — it can give you a streaky finish and break up your foundation.
How to Apply Powder Blush
If you prefer a powder blush, set your skin first with a light translucent powder application. This will set your cheeks so that your powder blush goes on smoothly and doesn’t stick to wet areas from foundation application and look patchy. Next, tap your larger makeup brush into your powdered blush. Tap it into the palm of your hand to remove excess powder. Tap it into your cheekbone — remember: no swiping. Once it has been applied, you can use your brush to sweep it a bit more outward. This method helps your cheeks look super natural and like you’re glowing from within.
