Pink Blush Color Do's, Don’t’s, and More!
Remember your very first experience with blush? It was probably with a powdered product that belonged to an older relative or best friend. You used the included flat-bristled brush to apply a straight streak of obvious color to some area near your cheeks. Even though you might’ve been proud to be wearing cheek color, it didn’t do what it was supposed to do.
The purpose of blush is to give natural color to your cheeks. Think of how you blush when you’re embarrassed, or how your cheeks look just a little pink if you have a fever or sit in the sun for a while. The goal of blush is to make your skin look like it’s radiating that type of color constantly.
While there are numerous colors of blush to choose from, pink is a classic and works for practically any skin tone. We’ll tell you how to choose a color, how to apply it perfectly, and what to avoid to keep from looking unnatural.
Who Can Wear Pink Blush?
Everyone. Once you learn to shop for colors by sticking to your undertones, you never have to worry about the “wrong” shade.
It can be tricky to find your skin’s undertone, but our handy guide to finding your undertone makes it fast and simple. Your skin’s undertone makes up a part of your skin’s overall tone, or the color you see when you look in the mirror.
For Cool Tones
Cool tones have bluish or pinkish skin undertones and usually fairer skin. Your natural flush is likely a pale pink to peach color, which means these color blushes are fantastic for creating a realistic look.
For Neutral/Medium Tones
Neutral skin undertones have barely noticeable color changes beneath the skin. Sometimes, if changes are visible, they may look golden or even olive. Avoid using bright pinks as they can make your skin appear ruddy. Medium shades like rose and mauve work well for medium skin tones.
For Dark Skin Tones
Dark tones need more significant color. Using light colors like pale pinks or mauves can make a dark skin tone look faded or ashen. Instead, opt for deep berry pinks, corals, and fuschias. These colors make an impact, blend beautifully, and add the right amount of pink-based color.
How To Wear Pink Blush the Right Way
If the goal of pink blush is to make it appear natural, there’s a little finesse in applying it perfectly. Using the right shade, tools, and technique, you can get a natural look in no time.
DO start with a quality product.
The product you use matters, and it will mean all the difference in whether or not you’re able to apply it and blend it properly.
- For pressed blush. Avoid harmful ingredients (like talc) commonly found in pressed powder. RMS Beauty’s Pressed Blush is made with wildcrafted buriti oil and vegetable squalane to keep your cheeks hydrated and healthy. Our talc-free formula blends easily and never looks dry.
- For cream blush. A cinch to apply and easy to layer for a more dramatic effect, cream blush is a win/win. Start off with a product that contains skin-nourishing ingredients, like RMS Beauty’s Lip2Cheek. Formulated with wildcrafted buriti oil, shea butter, and organic cocoa seed butter, it keeps skin radiant inside and out and provides a beautiful, natural looking color.
The better your product is for your skin, the better your blush application. Natural, plant-based products work synergistically with your skin to bring out its own radiance, helping you achieve the perfect color.
DO use the correct brush.
You can’t expect to apply your blush properly with a loose powder brush; it will go on all over your entire face and create a clown-like look. Likewise, a brush that is too thin can create streaks that are virtually impossible to blend.
Use a dedicated brush for blush application, like RMS Beauty’s Skin2Skin Blush Brush. The perfect density and width, this brush helps keep your blush where you want it and the soft bristles help blend product easily for a flawless finish.
You can use a blush brush for applying both powder and cream based blushes.
DO dust off excess product.
Pink blush can look harsh if you use too much. After lifting a small amount of product onto your brush, gently tap it to release excess product. This will allow you to apply a small amount of color that you can easily build on if needed.
DO apply pink blush properly.
The way you apply your pink blush is almost more important than the color blush you choose. Let’s start with basic blush application.
Your natural blush happens anywhere from the apples of your cheeks to high on your cheekbone. This is where you’ll want to focus your application. A good rule of thumb is to keep your blush above your nostril line. If you apply blush lower, it can make your skin look droopy and irritated, especially with pink color.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to start your application in the mid-cheek, even if you want to focus your attention on your cheekbones or the apples of your cheeks. This way, you can easily blend your blush in that direction without creating an obvious clump of product in one area.
- To create a youthful glow, focus on applying color to the apples of your cheeks. Blend your blush upward toward the cheekbone. Use a light sweeping motion to gently pat blush onto your cheeks and blend so there are no harsh edges.
- To create lift, apply your color higher up on the cheekbone. This gives the illusion that you have higher cheekbones and naturally lifted skin. Avoid applying color to your temples, which is a really outdated technique that doesn’t look believable or natural.
Remember, you can always add more product. Start off with just a little blush and add more as needed. Try not to overdo it.
Even if you love the color, remember that keeping it light and natural will make it look closer to natural.
What Not To Do
When applying any kind of color cosmetic there are ways to create more of a mess than a masterpiece. Here, we’ll explain how to avoid looking like a stage performer to keep your look light and organic.
DON’T use circular motions to apply blush.
Using a circular motion to apply your blush will give you blush that is applied in perfect circles on your cheeks. Instead, sweep blush on in an upward motion, starting in the mid-cheek and blending through the upper cheekbone or apple of the cheek as desired.
You’ll also want to avoid using a straight line, or “back and forth” application. This will essentially give you rectangular-shaped color across your midface.
DON’T use massive brushes.
Large brushes might seem like they make application easy. They’re great for blending products like loose powder, but unfortunately, their low density and large width aren’t good for applying blush. Using a wide brush will cause you to apply pink blush all over your entire cheek, which can make your skin look irritated or ruddy.
DON’T apply blush below the cheekbone.
If you use contour color, you may be comfortable applying product below your cheekbone. This is a bad idea for blush. Your natural flush occurs on your cheekbones and on the apples of your cheeks. Applying pink color below your cheekbone can make you appear ashen or even sickly.
DON’T apply blush to your nose, chin, or forehead.
If you crave all over color, a bronzer or luminizer is a better option than brushing blush all over your face. When working with pink blush, this can easily make you look sunburned or give the illusion that you’re dealing with irritated skin. A highlighter or luminizer can give you the hint of color or light you want without adding deep pigments.
Tips and Tricks
Be patient when applying pink blush. It’s a natural color, but it does require practice to get it right.
- If you can’t get it to blend as well as you want, try adding a bit of loose, translucent powder to your brush. Using an outward and upward sweeping motion, use the powder to help move the edges of the blush and create a more gentle blend on your cheeks.
- To add light and radiance, dab a small amount of luminizer on the upper cheekbones (near your temples but not on them). Because RMS Beauty’s luminizers are most reflective on bare skin, you’ll get more luminosity toward the upper cheekbones, where there is likely less product.
- Remember, less is more. Keep your look natural by only using a small amount of product. This will give you a look of radiance that looks healthy and luminescent.
If you don’t get it right the first time, blend it out with translucent powder and try again on your next application.
Pink Perfection
It’s easy to use pink blush, even if you’ve never worn it or feel like it isn’t your color. The right tools, product, and application make all the difference. For color that’s the cleanest and most natural, RMS Beauty is your go-to solution.
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