Blusher is a must-have for your make-up kit to give colour and warmth to the skin. Peach tones are universally flattering, and soft peachy-pinks are gorgeous for day to day wear and perfect for brides. Perk up a tired complexion instantly with this simple step.

Blushers are available in two different formulas; powder and cream. Cream formulas give a more fresh, dewy look and are great for dry skin. Powders are super easy to apply and suit all skin types. Keep in mind that blusher will fade throughout the day, so don’t be afraid to apply a little more than you think you need. Apply blusher as the last step of your make-up so you can gauge how much to apply. If you are wearing lots of colour on other areas of the face you may only need a small amount.

Powder blush application:

1. Make sure your cheeks are well powdered with translucent powder before applying powder blush (especially if your foundation is a creamy liquid). This will avoid the colour “grabbing” and looking blotchy.

2. Look in the mirror and smile; the fleshy part of the cheek that protrudes  is where you should place your blusher.

3. Using a soft blusher brush (natural fibres work best for powders), pat your brush into your blusher compact lightly, and tap off any excess product. Always throw away the little brushes that come in the compact and invest in a proper blush brush. It’s impossible to get a good application without one.

4. With your face relaxed, pat the blush brush gently onto the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion. Slowly blend the colour out slightly. Avoid placing your blusher too low on the face as this can drag the face down.

5. Check in the mirror, if you would like more colour, repeat step four. Always go easy with product, start with a tiny bit and build up as needed.

6. Use a bit of translucent or pressed powder on a clean powder brush to buff out the edges of your blusher. This gives a lovely blended, professional finish.

TIP: Light peachy/bronze toned blushers can also be used as eye-shadows.

Product pick: MAC powder blusher

Cream blush application:

1. Cream blush goes directly on to foundation or bare skin without powdering first. If your foundation has a powdery finish (or is a powder), opt for a powder blush.

2. Using a clean fingertip, tap it into your blush compact and pick up a tiny amount of product. Tap the product gently on to the apples of the cheeks, and pat out in a circular motion to blend over the area.

3. Switch to a clean finger with no product on it and pat, pat, pat around the edges of your application to blend. The application should be seamless and blended beautifully.

4. Check in the mirror in natural light, if you require more colour then repeat steps two and three.

TIP: Lipstick can be used as cream blusher in a pinch – just apply it exactly the same way.

Product pick: Becca Cream Blusher

Article by Stephanie Coulter