For the longest time, blush has had a bad rep, mainly because most wearers didn’t have a clue about how to apply it. Too many blush-happy gals have sported Raggedy Ann doll faces with matching bright pink blush painted on in circular shapes. Not the look you want unless it’s Halloween. Now that we’ve evolved and know how to use blush, it can still get a little daunting to select the right blush for your skin tone. With so many gorgeous shades and formulas (from creams to stains), how to pick THE right blush shade for you?
Blush is all about making the rest of the face brighter and fresher, so you want a shade that matches the colour of your cheeks when you have a natural flush. Once you’ve picked the right shade, picking a formula is easy: Go with a powder formula if you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts. Creams and stains work beautifully on clear skin and darker complexions, and if you want a bolder look, try layering a powder formula over a stain or cream. It’ll last forever!
Get the right blush for your skin tone here:
1. Fair Skin
If you have fair skin, remember less is more to own a healthy flush. Select shades in pale pink or baby pink for a subtle glow. Using a dark bronzed blush on pale skin can make it look orange. Not a look you want!
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2. Wheatish Skin
Medium skin tones are the most common type; almost 80% of Indian women fall under this category. The good thing about this warm skin tone is that it only needs a slight enhancement. Opt for shades that are rosy pink to deep peach; a tinge of apricot or orange will flatter your skin the most.
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3. Dusky Skin
Dusky-skinned hotties, this one's for you! Choose a colour from rose to deep orange. Pigmented blushes are your best friend; dark skin really holds up to pigment. Avoid using light shades as they can make you look washed out and muddy. Stick to warm tones that flatter your skin tone.
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How To Choose The Best Blush For Your Skin Tone?
In the above section, we explore three broad categories of skin complexion which are fair, medium, and dark skin tones. Aside from this, it’s also important to know the undertone of your skin. Undertone refers to the natural colour beneath the skin tone. The three board categories are cool, warm, and neutral. Let’s understand them briefly.
Cool Undertone: If you have fair skin that has a natural pink tinge or medium to dark skin with a natural red pigmentation, your complexion has a cool undertone. Your veins appear either blue or purple. If you want your blush to match your skin’s natural undertone, go for blushes that have blue undertones. If you want to offset it, choose blushes with warm undertones like brown, orange, and peach.
Warm Undertone: If you have fair skin that has a natural yellow, or olive tinge or medium to dark skin with a natural golden hue, your complexion has a warm undertone. The veins appear light or dark green. To match the natural undertone of your skin, go for blushes with warm colours like brick brown, dusty pink, and mauve shades. Surprisingly, blue undertone pinks or bubblegum pinks are great options to offset the yellow undertones of the skin.
Neutral: Neutral undertones lie right on the cusp of warm and cool undertones. People with a neutral complexion have blue-green veins. When it comes to choosing blushes, you need not follow any colour theory as a wide range of blush shades will suit neutral skin tones. If you have fair skin, look for peachy, pale pink shades that match the natural flush of the skin. Dark mauves, terracotta, and even purple blush are great options for dark complexion. Purple blush may look stark and intimidating, but once it’s blended into your skin tone, it turns into a beautiful mauve-pink shade.
What’s The Best Type Of Blush For Your Skin?
There are several types of blush formulas in the beauty market. Though powder blushes are common, you can even explore cream, liquid, and balmy blushes. Choosing a blush type depends on skin type and the kind of finish you’re looking for. If you have oily skin, it’s ideal to stick to powder blush that will absorb excess oil and give a matte effect. However, if you want a little highlighter-like glow, look for a powder or liquid blush that has a pearlescent finish. If you have dry, sensitive or normal skin type, choose cream, or balmy blushes that will moisturise the skin as well as give it a beautiful dewy effect.
What To Look For When Shopping A Blush ?
Budget: Budget may be a subjective concept, but having a certain price point helps you narrow your options to look for a blush that checks all your makeup needs.
Finish: Choosing the right finish in a blush will give you the kind of base makeup you’re looking for. If you choose a blush that’s either too matte or too dewy can deter you from feeling confident in your makeup look. For a foolproof approach, choose a blush that matches your skin type.
Colour: There are several colour families to factor in before buying the perfect blush. If you want a skin-like natural finish, look for blushes that belong to the nude, brown family. To make the hunt easier, you can even use a bronzer as a blush. If you like a bright pink flush, choose bright, coral pinks or a pH formula. If you like a bit of colour that’s not too bright and looks natural, look for berry, mauve or terracotta shades.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I Match My Blush?
There are different determining factors to match your blush. If you want a natural, choose a nude blush that matches your skin tone. If you’re looking for something festive, go for pink, coral and berry shades.
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Where Should I Apply Blush?
Blush placement is a popular makeup technique to enhance your face shape. If you want a romantic appearance or the illusion of fuller cheeks, place the blush on the apple of the cheeks and blend out the edges. If you want a sunkissed look, follow the ‘W’ method by applying blush on the cheeks on the bridge of the nose. If you want a sculpted, chiselled look, apply the blush on the high points of the face and the hollows of the cheeks.
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Can I Use Lipstick For Blush?
Yes, you can use lipstick as a blush. It’s an age-old makeup technique that still continues to be popular. It’s useful for quick touch-ups. If you want a minimal makeup collection, you can invest in a multi-use tint that can be used as a lipstick as well as a blush.
