Spring is coming, and that means dewier, fresher-looking skin. Get the look with our pick of the perfect blush shades, formulas and application techniques for a healthy flush of colour.
THE PERFECT BLUSH SHADE FOR YOUR SKIN TONE
When there are a kaleidoscope of blush shades to choose, how can you take the guesswork out of finding ‘the one’?
“There are no hard and fast rules, but you’re aiming for a shade that looks as natural as possible for your skin tone, and doesn’t create too much of a contrast with the rest of your complexion when blended in. Blusher should always look radiant, like real skin,” says Lily Lolo founder, Vikki Khan. “In terms of the shades to go for, fair and cool complexions should try softer pink and peach hues, whereas darker or warmer skin tones can definitely experiment with bolder and brighter colours.”
But, as Vikki points out, there’s never just **one** perfect blush shade. “We can all suit a variety of blush colours – you needn’t limit yourself just to pinks, peaches or mauves – and you might even like to switch it up depending on your mood, the season, or just what lipstick or eyeliner you’re wearing that day. I probably have three blushers on the go at any one time, and because I’m usually wearing a nude lipstick, I’ll gravitate towards a subtle, complementary colour like our Tickled Pink and Beach Babe shades, or Lip & Cheek Cream in Dahlia, a great soft-peach blush that’ll see you through to summer, too.”
CREAM BLUSH OR POWDER BLUSH?
“It all depends on the look you want, and the lifestyle you lead,” says Vikki. “When you’re busy or out and about, Cream Blush is great for tool-free and speedy finger application, and the results are really natural. Cream blush formulas have the added advantage of being great fort drier skins too, helping to nourish the skin in drier weather, and combining hydrating benefits and ingredients with fresh and dewy finish.”
Vikki also loves the matchy-matchy makeup look, where you wear the same shade on lips and cheeks, and this tonal look inspired the brand’s new Lip & Cheek Cream, and the versatile Peony shade is the perfect colour for warming up a lacklustre, post-winter complexion.
If you prefer powder blush and the precision of brush application, the super-fine particles of Lily Lolo’s Mineral Blush mean that, just like the brand’s iconic Mineral Foundation, it’s really easy to blend and build, and melts into skin for a natural blush effect. “Blush is such a quick and effective way to revive your entire makeup look, so we’ve also created a Pressed Blush for effortlessly applying mineral powder blush on the go. The cute compact is easy to carry around and has a handy mirror in the lid.”
PLAY WITH BLUSH APPLICATION TECHNIQUES
Applying blush to the apples of cheeks is a classic trick, but when it comes to blusher there’s no one application technique that fits all, and it’s important to consider your face shape to find that ‘sweet spot’ – i.e. exactly where on your face blush will be the most flattering. Well-placed blusher can transform your entire look; so go ahead and play around with blush application techniques. “I like applying my blusher higher on the cheekbones, which instantly creates a lifting effect,” says Vikki.
Social media makeup trends are influencing the way we apply blusher, too, and a look that you can carry over from winter is ‘cold girl makeup’, where blush is swept wide across the cheeks to the nose for a natural, flushed look. The key to recreating this look is applying a cream blush like Lily Lolo’s lip & Cheek Cream to the highest point of the cheekbone and blending upwards, applying a little highlighter to the cheekbones to finish. For the most natural blush look, swap strobe-effect highlighter for a blush with a subtle shimmer, like our Cheek Duo in Naked Pink which includes a matte pink blusher and a complementary, softly shimmering pink blush that work harmoniously to create beautifully dewy, luminous-looking skin.