makeup

SILKY RADIANCE

POST + PHOTOS BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN

Our last lesson in our Blush & Bronzing Series is liquid blush, the least common of all the blush types, but worth looking into. Here’s why:

1. You’ll find that liquid blush sits on top of your skin more than cream blush, which melts into your skin more, making it a great choice for all skin types (including oily).
2. Most cream blushes are shimmer-free, but liquid blushes can have a little shimmer in it which can be quite beautiful when the light catches it.
3. Some liquid blushes are very sheer, which is a great choice for those of you who don’t like to wear foundation but want to add a little life to your cheeks in a natural and unassuming way.
4. You can really control where you place it (even more than cream blush that travels a little since it melts into your skin).
5. It’s very blendable (not as blendable as cream blush but more than powder blush).

TOOLS:

• Liquid blush — I used By Terry Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose because it’s the holy grail of liquid blushes (it also comes in Coral and Amber) and gives the cheeks the most gorgeous radiance. But it’s a little bit of an investment so if you’re not ready to make the splurge, I also love Trish McEvoy Liquid Face Blush and Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tint (the most natural-looking sheer option of the three) in Poppy, Peony and Rose.
• Natural-bristled blush brush — I used Cozzette Contour Stylist Brush S135, a pro favorite because of its densely-packed bristles (also it’s vegan and doesn’t have animal fibers) but any natural-bristled brush blush will work.

STEPS:

1. Pump a pea-sized amount of the blush onto the back of your hand.
2. Sweep the brush back and forth across the blush to load it up.
3. Smile in the mirror to “pop” out the apples of your cheeks. You don’t have to do a big teeth smile or anything! Just do a fake smile with your mouth closed and they’ll pop right out.
4. Swirl the brush directly on the apples.
5. Suck your cheeks in like a fish to “pop” out your cheekbones.
6. Sweep the brush on top of your cheekbones without going below them where the skin sinks in/hollows out.

Blush can go directly on bare skin or over foundation. If you use powder, powder AFTER you apply any type of blush and focus the powder on your T-zone, letting your cheeks glow. Liquid blush is very different from a cheek stain, by the way, and doesn’t stain but merely sits on top of the skin. Stay tuned for my cheek + lip stain series coming soon!