How to Contour Cheeks With Blush

Change your whole face with the power of blush.

Blush adds a little color to your life, providing dry or lusterless skin with a healthy, youthful glow. Choosing the right shade of blush makes you look as if you've just returned from a brisk walk or a beach vacation, even if you've just woken up. In addition, blush can subtly change the whole appearance of your face. With the right application, blush adds contouring and definition to your cheeks, providing the illusion of a slimmer face.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizer
• Foundation cream
• Concealer
• Angled makeup brush
• Rounded makeup brush
• Dark blush
• Medium blush
• Light blush
• Translucent powder

Instructions

1. Moisturize and apply foundation. Create a dewy base for your blush by gently blending a lightweight moisturizer over your bare face. Once the moisturizer has settled, apply your usual concealer or foundation cream, focusing on any blemishes or dark circles that need extra coverage.

2. Locate the natural contours of your face. Suck in your cheeks and note the spots where your cheeks naturally indent. The purpose of contouring is to subtly emphasize these hollows, creating the look of more prominent, sculpted cheekbones.

3. Apply blush to the hollow of your cheek. Using a brush with an angled head, coat the brush with a light layer of blush. For the area beneath the cheekbones, choose a blush that is several shades darker than your natural complexion, avoiding vivid colors. Sweep the brush along the underside of your cheekbone, starting at the edge of the ear and ending in the center of the cheek, several inches below the outer corner of your eye. After several sweeps, gently blend the blush to create a more natural look.

4. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Find the apples by smiling and noting the roundest parts of your face. Add rosiness and definition by applying a bright, complementary color to the apples of your cheeks, above the contouring lines. Use a rounded brush for the apples of your cheeks, blending the color slightly outward toward the edge of your ear.

5. Highlight the top of your cheekbones. Create a dewy look and a stronger contrast with your contouring blush by using a light, shimmery blush on the tops of your cheekbones. Use a brush or your fingertips to lightly blend the blush on the area directly beneath your eye sockets. Cream or liquid blush works well for sheer highlighting.

6. Blend. Once you have applied the three different shades of blush, gently blend them together for a more cohesive and natural look. Focus on the borders where each shade meets, blending lightly.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your blush looking fresh and help reduce fading or smudging by applying a light layer of translucent powder over your face, especially focusing on the cheeks.

• Choose colors that complement your complexion and go well with each other. For instance, do not use a blue-based blush for the area beneath your cheeks and a red-based pink for highlighting. The colors should be lighter and darker versions of the same basic color.

References

• Little Miss Makeup: How to Apply Blush
• Roseanne Beauty: How To Contour, Highlight and Apply Blush!
• Temptalia: Tutorial - Dewy, Glowy, Flawless Skin; Foundation, Blush, Contour, Highlighting