The Finer Points of Blush

Once perfect blush shade no longer working for you? 
Time to add a new color or an illuminizer to your kit.

Glomineral Shimmer Bricks $32.50 available at Esthetics by Amy

Colors that used to pop and give us a healthy glow are now getting neutralized or otherwise altered by the brown (hyperpigmentation) and red (couperose/rosacea) tones that many of us are seeing in our skin. Skin that isn't as uniform in color, firm, or reflective as it once was needs nourishing skin care and new ways to enhance with make-up. Today I will talk about blush make-up solutions.

My two favorite options are outlined below. In either case, take time to blend the second product into the first and build the color in translucent layers. Pause between layers and stop when it looks good. The goal is to suggest a natural flush. This takes surprisingly little product.

1. Choose a new color that is a tad brighter than the one you usually use. Use it instead or apply it on the highest part of your cheek bone after applying your stand-by in the usual spots. Your impulse may be to reject these brighter hues. You may need a friend or friendly esthetician to help you. Often I don't show the client the color but let them first see it on their skin.
   
2. Choose an illuminizer/highlighter. Easiest to master are the pressed powder brick types (i.e., Glominerals, Bobbi Brown, Mark). Swirl over the brick, tap and brush on with a fan brush over the highest part of your cheek bone and above your brow in a crescent or boomerang shape. Then, layer your stand-by color over it. Yes, you can use an illuminizer! I will share my philosophy on shimmer products and mature skin on another post.