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You just applied your foundation so carefully, but you take one glance in the mirror and panic sets in. Your face looks completely dead! While many women think the secret to glowing skin is finding the perfect foundation to cover flaws (which obviously doesn't hurt), the key to getting a "glow" is using blush or bronzer. Of course, you don't want to look like an '80s makeup nightmare, so learn a few tricks for a flawless look.
What's It For?
Forget what you see on some TV celebrities -- bronzer is not for covering your entire face! At the same time, blush shouldn't be the only cheek product in your makeup bag. Blush and bronzer can both be powerful tools when used as a cohesive part of an all-over look. Bronzer creates a sunkissed look, especially when you want your skin to look summery and warm. Blush should be your go-to for adding a pop of color when your skin is looking lifeless. It can make you look rosy and awake when your skin just wants to hit the snooze button.
Finding Your Perfect Shade
As a general rule of thumb, beauty expert and author of TheBeautyGirl.com, Nicole Pearl, recommends that the "deeper your skin tone, the bolder or brighter your blush can be." Regardless of your skin tone, almost any color can work, you simply need to choose a shade that's rich enough or faint enough for your skin color. When choosing your bronzer shade, test the color on your jawline and go about two shades lighter than your natural skin color. Also, avoid bronzers with too much shimmer. "You don't want to glisten like a disco ball," Pearl said.
Application
Put down the makeup brush! Before you go brushing bronzer and blush on the exact same way, remember that the two aren't meant to accomplish the same look and shouldn't be applied the same way. Bronzer should be lightly dusted across the forehead, along the the top of the nose and on cheeks, from apple to temple in a "C" formation. On the other hand, "blush should just be applied to the apples of the cheeks," Pearl said. "Applying blush in stripes that go from the cheeks to the temples should only happen in '80s movies."
I Applied My Blush or Bronzer, Now What?
Blush and bronzer look best when they're part of a cohesive look -- not that your makeup should match your clothes. For example, bronzer looks great with shimmery shades of gold eyeshadow. Likewise, some makeup artists like to use different shades of the same color for blush and lipstick. Keep in mind that blush or bronzer shouldn't be the central focus of your look. Use these products to create the perfect glowing base for an eye-catching look.
