With summer coming to an end, emulate those sun-kissed days via make-up with the rosiest product of all: rouge.
It’s not always as simple as patting some colour on the apples of your cheeks and calling it a day—placement is everything, as rouge—or blush as it is commonly called—has the power to transform the shape of your face and exude a different vibe overall.
We speak with Regan Rabanal and Anton Zimin, education director and senior artistry manager respectively at MAC Cosmetics, who break down five popular rouge trends, explain best application practices and share complimenting make-up tips.
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Sunset blush
Despite its tropical name, sunset blush isn’t only for the summer—it’s a gradient rouge style encompassing at least two colours, creating a warming depth across the face.
“Start by applying a lighter shade of a warm-toned blush using a small blush brush to the highest plane of your cheekbones, and blend upward and outward for a soft hue,” says Zimin. “This will act as the softer, lighter tone [like] the ombré [effect] of a sunset.”
“Using the same brush, pick up a deeper shade of a warm-toned blush and buff this just under the previous shade, moving lower into cheekbones. The two shades should blend into one another.”
He recommends a “generous application of mascara to define the eyes” and a warm-toned, glossy lip balm to “balance the face”.
Glowing blush
A style popularised by the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber, glowing blush is simply that: a shimmering wash of blush across the apples of the cheeks that emits an ethereal glow.
Zimin suggests prepping the skin with a serum-moisturiser hybrid product to “create a hydrated and bouncy base” for your cheeks.
“[Take] two pink blushes—a lighter one for the apple of the cheeks and a deeper one as the contour—and mix a little bit of both blushes on the back of your hand with the same serum,” he says. “This technique is called ‘blush smoothie’, [and can] increase the glow payoff on the cheeks.”
Boyfriend blush
This rouge trend references a realistic approach to ruddiness in the cheeks often appearing after a workout, coming indoors from the cold weather or a real flush that happens in the skin, according to Zimin.
It’s more of a “cool-girl” approach to blush, thanks to the likes of model Devon Aoki who often turns to this style.
“This application method goes against the usual lifting technique as it sits beneath the cheekbones and apples on the lower part of the face,” explains Zimin.
“Use your index finger to swipe over the blush and then bring it under the apples of your cheeks and lower than your cheekbones. Keep building sheer layers—the more uneven, the more realistic it will look.”
He suggests using a deep plum or cherry blush shade and tapping the same colour into the centre of your lips for a subtle flush, following up with lip balm for a hydrated look. Lastly, brush up your brows with a brow gel to create a fluffy, relaxed look.
Purple blush
Colour theory can determine which rouge may be best suited for your skin tone.
“Purple tones in blush can complement a wide variety of skin tones, benefiting those who have golden and warm undertones most,” says Rabanal. “Purple tones can also complement the coolness of your skin, but it’s not the shade that is most important—the level of saturation is key.”
“Purple blush beginners [can start with] a pastel lavender shade. A more intense plum [suits] all skin tones, and you can build intensity by applying blending product into the cheekbones for more dimension.”
Finish off the look with purple lip products in shades of milky lavender or vibrant berry.
Blush blindness
Blush blindness is the viral term for being unaware of how much blush is too much.
“It’s not always about how far you go but understanding the role blush plays in the makeup,” says Rabanal. “We recommend that blush either stands out as the main character, or acts as the supporting role within your makeup look.”
For example, if you’re wearing a bold lip, he says blush should take a step back “to ensure you are not overpowering the focus on the lip”.
“Think of the blush hue helping to anchor the lip and create balance in the makeup look.”
“If you want to go bold with the blush, we recommend using two colours—from soft to saturated—to create depth and dimension in the face. This will create a seamless result when applying blush across a broader area of the face.”
He says that if you have gone too far, pick up your foundation brush or use your fingertips to bounce some foundation or concealer over the area of concern to soften the intensity.
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