The Fuss About Blush

As most of you already know, blush is important. However, it often isn’t grouped with the rockstar, must-have products like eyeliner or lipstick. Blush just sits back there on the backburner as one of the products people can live without. This is highly unfortunate because blush does great things for your look and has been around for centuries.

The History of Blush

Nowadays makeup is the special treat for girls only, but way back in the day, seriously way back, thousands of years ago, both men and women in ancient Egypt wore eyeliner, lipstick, and most importantly, blush. They used red pigments from various berries and ground ochre to rub on their cheeks and lips to add pops of color with their dark eye makeup.

To be a sexy ancient Greek, you needed two things, pale skin, and lively rosy cheeks. The Greeks used mulberries to stain their cheeks red to achieve a lively, healthy glow.

Drawing on this fad, royalty all across Europe had pale skin and red cheeks. If you were tan that meant you were a peasant or a field worker. Royalty couldn’t have that, so they were dying to get their hands on some color.

Literally, dying. They painted their faces with white pastes made out of lead and vinegar. The ill effect of this makeup concoction was killing husbands left and right after they accidentally ingested some of it.

Then as Christianity rose, makeup took a decline. It as associated with prostitutes and seen as downright indecent. However, this didn’t stop British and French ladies from pinching their cheeks and using beet juice in secret to color their cheeks.

Soon enough Queen Elizabeth the first made makeup popular again, even though it came with risks. The arsenic, mercury, and other harmful chemicals in makeup turned skin gray, made hair fall out, caused miscarriages, and more.

Luckily for us, the FDA stepped in in the late 1800’s to regulate the ingredients found in blush and other makeup products to keep them safe for our skin. Then makeup companies really started to take off!

What Blush can do for Your Face

Blush is an important part of your makeup collection because it will: 

• Give you a healthy, natural glow. 
• Make you look younger.
• Highlight your other features, like the perfect wingman. 
• Adds to your contour and shapes your face. 
• Defines your cheekbones, and more. 

Finding Your Perfect Shade of Blush

It can be daunting to go into a makeup store and pick out a shade of blush, especially with so many different colors to choose from these days. Start with the color you like most, no one knows better about your individual style than you.

However, if you’d like a guide, those with paler collections should stick with light shades of pinks, peaches, and mochas.

Those on the more tan side should dabble with oranges and red.

If your skin is dark then check out the bold shades of vibrant reds, pinks, and oranges!

Types of Blush

Finding the right color is as equally important as finding the right type.

Powder blush is best for those with oily skin as it will help soak up moisture and easily glide across their cheeks, making it extremely easy for them to blend in.

Liquid blush is a good option for those with dry skin, as it won’t stick to wrinkles and will help hydrate the skin.

Cream and gel blushes are slightly thicker than liquid blush, and a little more dry. They easily glide on and are easy to blend.

Blush pencils are great for beginners because they can simply trace their cheekbones and add small amounts of color as needed, without over doing it.

How to Apply Blush

Blush is very simple to apply. First, put your primer and foundation as normal then either smile or suck your cheeks in to make a fishy face. Wherever your cheeks have a curve or an ‘apple’ is where you should apply your blush.

Trace your cheek bone, but make sure that you don’t go past your nostrils or the corners of your eyes.

Use a wide angled brush and an angle and gently blend your blush in small circles. Knock any excess blush off of the brush prior to blending to avoid using too much.

If you use too much blush, don’t panic or frantically wipe off your face. Take a dry cloth or tissue and blot your cheeks to soak up some of the color.

Be a Blush pro

Now you have all the blush facts from a little history to how to put it on. Spread your blush knowledge and make sure this neglected beauty product gets the attention and use that it deserves!