Tips for Wearing Bright Blush Without Looking Like a Clown

So... it's that moment when you fell for that practically neon orange blush and you just brought it home and have no idea how to wear it. We've all been there: one swipe on the cheek and you look like you just time-traveled from the 80's or are getting ready to runaway with the circus. Frustrated, you either have to start your makeup all over again or apply another layer of foundation to cover the offending blush.

 

I absolutely love bright and high-impact blushes, but there definitely was a learning curve to avoiding the above scenario (though sometimes I still end up being a little too heavy handed). Once I figured out how to apply them though, it was just head-over-heels love from there! Today when I was looking through my blush stash though I realized.... I need MORE bright blushes!! Feel free to give me any recs you have!

Tips for Applying Bright Blush: 

• The most important tip  to applying these beauties is to use a stippling brush. Stippling brushes are usually identified by their "skunk"-iness -- they have both white and black bristles. The black bristles are shorter and more dense, with the longer white bristles spread throughout. This means that you are able to pick up less product than a traditional brush but because the white bristles are still spread out, you're able to apply the blush over a larger area. Stippling brushes make it WAY easier to apply blush more subtly.

Sonia Kashuk "Highlighting" Brush (stippling/skunk)

See how the white bristles are spread out less densely?

How to Create a Day-to-Night Look

When I'm going out and don't feel like completely reapplying my makeup, I add a few strategic extras to the makeup I already have on to kick it up a few notches. Depending on just how dramatic I want to go, I can easily vary how strongly I apply the makeup.

If you haven't seen it already, I posted the "daytime" version of this look here.

What I add to turn a day look into a night look:

• Eyeshadow: Apply a medium-dark shade all over my lid, then use a black or near-black shade close to the lashline (if you don't have Asian lids apply the medium-dark shade in the crease and the black shade in the outer v)
• Eyeliner: Using black gel liner, draw a thicker line and add a more dramatic wing
• Lashes: Apply 2 coats of mascara, or add false lashes if I want extra drama
• Brows: Fill in your brows to make them stronger to balance the stronger eye makeup
• Blush: Apply blush more heavily and, if I feel like it, contour my cheeks
• Lips: Either use a nude shade to balance the heavier eye makeup or use a brighter shade to brighten up my face (here I kept the lip the same)

Products I added:
Face: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder (to give my skin a semi-matte finish), Tarte Exposed blush (applied more heavily)
Eyes: Wet n Wild Comfort Zone eyeshadow palette (used the 3rd shade all over my lid, used the 7th shade in the outer 3rd of my lid along the lashline), Clinique gel liner in black (thicker line), CoverGirl Lashexact waterproof mascara

Do you like to start over or add to your existing look when you're creating a nighttime makeup look?

How to Create an Everyday Makeup Look

We all have that easy makeup look we find ourselves going back to day after day. While the components to our looks might vary, here's what I find essential for my everyday Face of the Day (FOTD).

What type of products do I use for my day-to-day looks?

•  Sheer foundation evens out my skintone and provides a base for my other makeup
• Undereye concealer is essential to brighten up my dark undereye circles
• Blush gives me that extra glow 
• A sheer wash of eyeshadow similar to my lid color brightens up my eyes
• Eyeliner, curled lashes, and mascara give my small eyes some extra definition
• "My Lip But Better" lipstick finishes off the look and pulls everything together

I use pretty much the same "formula" everyday but just alter the specific products.

This has been my everyday go-to FOTD using the products I brought with me on my month long trip. Today's is a warm, pink/coral version. You might be thinking, "coral in the winter??" Not to worry it's a balmy 70 degrees here in California!

Products I used:
Face: Make Up For Ever Face & Body foundation, Revlon Age Defying concealer, Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Wet n Wild Comfort Zone eyeshadow palette (top 2 shades on the left), Clinique gel liner in black, CoverGirl Lashexact waterproof mascara

Lips: MAC See Sheer lipstick

If you're enjoying these posts don't forget to subscribe to my blog! Coming up next will be a post on how to create a day-to-night look! :)


What is your everyday makeup look?