Blush 101
Makeup artist Emily Gray shares all things blush!
Why do you think this blush trend is taking off?
"I think this blush trend is taking off because I think we as the beauty audience want something different than the spoon fed, super constrained idea of beauty. I’m always saying this, but there is not one idea of beauty, there are so many, and I think it's incredible that a trend like this is taking off. It shows that we know that there isn’t one type of beauty and we want trends that celebrate different kinds."
What are your tips for identifying facial features for blush placement?
"I think the tried and true tip for blush placement is to smile and find the apples of your cheeks! It will be the round part that pops out. What Jamie is describing in the tik tok video is that she is embracing her naturally soft facial features instead of elongating and trying to “snatch up” her cheekbones as most tutorials tell you to do. In this trend, we would be emphasizing the roundness of the cheeks instead of blending up to lift the face, as well as placing blush where you naturally flush on the face."
What are your tips for applying blush on each face shape (round, heart, long, square, etc)?
"I could give you tips for each face shape on blush placement, but as this trend recommends, it’s really on personal preference, and it depends on what you think is ideal. For most techniques, makeup artists are taught to create the illusion of the face being more oval (or in some cases more square and chiseled), as this is seen as the most ideal facial shape. Most techniques are used to shape faces into oval, and blush placement has a lot to do with these techniques. However, this trend focuses on embracing your natural features, instead of trying to morph them.
For round faces, we’re taught to elongate the face, so it looks less round. This trend instead recommends you applying blush to the apples of the cheeks and emphasizing the roundness. Jamie also blends a little down on the cheeks, placing pigment where she naturally flushes. I think this is so pretty and REAL looking.
This general idea of embracing the natural structure of your features and where you flush naturally can be applied to every single face shape. I love using liquid or cream blush for this technique, Catrice’s Blushin’ Charm Multi Stick has been my go to this summer. The shades are gorgeous and the vegan formula blends like a dream, which is perfect for this technique. I’ll use my fingers to apply, find the apples of the cheeks, and blend everywhere you would naturally flush. To add a little sun burnt effect, I’ll even blend it across the nose."
How do you prevent blotchiness with this kind of application?
"If you are concerned about looking blotchy with this kind of blush application, I would recommend having a foundation under it. Sheer if you want it to look more natural (Catrice’s Soft Glam Filter Fluid would be gorgeous with this kind of blush. It’s sheer and glowy) and more full (alternatively Catrice’s HD liquid coverage foundation is thin and full coverage), if you’d like the coverage. You can still very much achieve this blush trend no matter how much foundation you have on. It just looks more natural and real the less foundation you have on."
