DO IT RIGHT! BLUSH EDITION

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

For years I've concentrated blush only on the cheeks. But as I've evolved and grown as a makeup artist, through studying my work on the red carpet, magazines and television appearances as well as working on every skin tone and face shape out there, I've learned that a real actual flush doesn't just occur on the cheeks. And a lot of the time if we only blush the cheek, it can come across a little clown-y or stripe-y. So try this technique and create the illusion of a healthy glow as opposed to the "hey everyone, I'm wearing blush" look! Here's how:

TOOLS:

• Your Favorite Cream Blush - I used my daily go-to cream blush, Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy.
• Angled Natural-Bristled Blush Brush - I used the Laura Mercier Angled Cheek Contour Brush.
• Your Favorite Powder Blush - I used Too Faced Full Bloom Ultra Flush Blush.
• Round-tip Natural-Bristled Blush Brush - I used NARS Yachiyo Brush #27 because it's been my favorite powder brush for years now.

STEPS:

1. Dip the Angled Brush into the Cream Blush simply by gently pressing the bristles into the pot. The more pressure you apply, the more product you pick up obviously, so don't press too hard!
2. Blot the brush onto the back of your hand 3 times before you go anywhere near your face! Please don't skip this step.
3. Smile in the mirror (you don't have to smile with teeth) so your apples "pop" forward. Stamp the brush onto the top half of each apple. Don't sweep the brush as that will move any foundation or concealer you applied underneath it. Just press/stamp it.
4. Continue the stamping process (without loading it up with more product) as you move towards your temple and end above the brow bone. By the time you get there, you'll notice the intensity is less than it was where you started at the apple. This is perfect.
5. Next we're going to layer the powder blush over the cream blush to set it. Dip the Yachiyo Brush into the Powder Blush.
6. Give it a quick tap on the back of your hand then again smile in the mirror to pop out the apples.
7. Start at the top half of the apple and tap it on top. Continue with light taps as you work your way along the cheekbone to the temple and across the area above the brow bone.