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How did you figure out what cheek colors worked for you?
Like with lip colors, there was trial and error along with gravitating toward colors that were warmer, coral, bronzy over bubblegum pink as someone with warmer undertones. I think I can wear many shades, even when they aren’t traditionally thought of as flattering, but it is all about context – what else I’m wearing on the face, my outfit, and the occasion. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be “most flattering” to work for me, you know?
— Christine
I think that blush choices are an area I still struggle a little. I am very cool toned and so most of the obvious cool toned blushes work for me but when I want to try something a little more neutral or even warm to go along with an eye look or lipstick I still struggle to find one that I like on me. I think overall blush application is also where I struggle. I seem to either end up with it so sheer that I can’t see it or so dark that I look like a clown. Because I once left the house with my clown look and didn’t realize for three hours until I met my daughter and she asked me what was up with my blush, LOL. I looked in the mirror and was speechless at how bad it looked. Now I tend to take really pigmented blushes and swirl them off on my wrist before applying to my cheek and that helps. Making sure I check my blush in natural light is also a big help. I live in Montana where in the winter time the days can be grey for weeks at a time. I have to make sure I check in the car before I leave so that I don’t make the same mistake. I tend to go to a really sort of “no color” blush when I don’t know what to do. By no color I mean like the Shiseido Macquillage Dramatic Mood Veil in RD100 which is suppose to be a red but is actually a very pale neutral shade. I also use Tarte Exposed very lightly.
Me and my restricting myself to just a few different shades of blush for around 4 decades (minus the 80’s vivid fuchsia that I wore till it was all gone!) ended fairly recently. So now, even though I do prefer those nice, safe corals, rosey tones and warm plums, I actually have a kick-ass purple one, a vivid red, some more orangish ones. As long as a shade is flattering on and doesn’t look too redonkulous on me, I’m a happy camper!
Trial and error. But it got easier as I learned about undertones.
At first, I just avoided anything with pinks or reds in them because I have a lot of redness naturally in my face (not realizing that once I put on foundation, it was a moot point) and instead sticking to peaches and nudes. After I started branching out, it was really just trial and error. On a whim, I tried the Dior Healthy Glow bright pink blush and loved it, so that’s when I started wearing bright pinks. I got an IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores blush in a gift set, and that color has some rosy tones in it, so that’s when I found out that I can pull off those shades too. I even have Bobbi Brown Flame, which is a bright, primary red that, when applied with the LIGHTEST hand on fair skin and/or mixed with bronzer looks like a super realistic burn-tan.
I mean, I think that most people can wear most “families” of shades, they just have to find the right shade within that family and experimenting with application. I have shades I love within pinks, reds, bronzes, corals, peaches, etc. There’s really no way to tell beyond trial and error. I really suggest going to Sephora, Ulta, and department stores and swatching to death (but remember swatches will be much more pigmented than you apply on your face), as well as looking up photos of people in your general coloring trying on those blushes.
Trial and error, also looking at others close to my skintone helped too. But, mainly trial and error as I usually wore medium/deep blushes that had more color to them until I accidentally ordered Kiko Soft Plum blush which is lighter than what I usually wear. I ended up loving that blush and trying out more blushes in the light-medium and medium shade range for blushes.
I like layering cheek products and find they can be finessed in any direction rather easily so I usually end up disappointed more in texture of a product over colour. I find I am naturally attracted to a certain colour range and it works for me. I’m a big fan of subtle muted cheeks. Mine are prominent, and getting even more so as I age, so blush can easily look overdone. Sometimes I will pop a wisp of brighter colour over a neutral base (MAC mineralize in Cosmic Force, or Surratt La Rosee du soir or Charlotte Tilbury bronze colour in the Film Star Light to Medium palette are some personal favs for my light olive skin). My focus is typically either on my eyes or my lips, so I want my cheeks to work quietly and not compete.
Trial and error and my trusty MAC consultants 🙂 Would’ve never thought that smth like MAC Please Yourself (http://www.temptalia.com/product/mac-cosmetics-mineralize-blush/please-yourself/) would look so good with my complexion and would never have chosen Warm Soul if it was not for the sales associate’s recommendation.
First and foremost I pick what I like. Then I tend to gravitate to warm pinky peach or nude shades. It is also what I tend to gravitate in eyes and lip shades as well. I go with what I like!
Trial and error. I’m still figuring it out. As my hair color and skin color have changed (more silver and less warm toned) it’s been a struggle. So I ordered the Makeup Geek Blush palette when it was on sale and have been working with that. It varies based on my makeup look too. So basically, I just try things until it works.
Trial and error. Until a few years ago, I stuck with really light peaches, pinks, and lavender (when I could find it). I wore Bare Minerals Rose Radiance as blush exclusively for 10+ years. I thought darker or brighter shades on my very fair skin would make me look like a clown. You and the readers of this blog inspired and encouraged me to go outside my comfort zone. I found out darker and brighter shades can look great on me, by using the right formula (one that sheers out easily) with a light hand and a good brush. I’ve added shades like Sleek Pomegranite, UD Quiver, and Clinique Cola Pop to my blush wardrobe.
As with lipsticks, the fact that I have neutral undertones really helps. Very few colors don’t work on me.
I have very prominent yellow undertones, and light medium skin, so a lot of light, cotton candy pinks look ashy and way off on me!
Where warm pinks, and shimmery corals look so so natural, and skin like on me!
So it wasn’t very hard ahaha. Just look for the warm ones!
As with lipsticks, my neutral undertones help me immensely. However, while I will pick just about any color family or undertone, I like pretty subtle blush so I stick with lighter colors more geared towards fair skin. I’m trying to expand to brighter and deeper, and I’m even going to give yellow a shot (seriously, look it up, the photos are gorgeous). I struggle more with application than I do with shade selection. Overall, I think any color family can work for anyone, just so long as your find your particular shade within the family. And, like everyone is saying, that is all trial and error 🙂
By looking in the mirror. Warm and bright shades look awful on me; cool pinks and mauves are flattering, so that’s what I wear, as well as wearing cream or liquid blush 95% of the time because, again, it’s more flattering. Blush isn’t something I match to an outfit–if I want to do that, I use eye or lip colors. For me, it’s all about what’d flattering and enhances my features (particularly with blush), not what’s trendy.
I found the cheek colors I love by reading reviews and by buying them. I love blush so I do purchase a lot of them even though I love only a few.
For me, it’s all about the trial and error. Some shades can be decieving until I get them on. I cannot seem to figure out if i’m neutral, cool or warm toned. Honestly it all depends on the color. I look good in both warm and cool tones and god awful in others. Whats a gal to do? I have this issue with all cosmetics from lipstick, to eyeshadow, to blush, to nailpolish and everything that falls in between. Sometimes I get a pleasent surprise/or a fright when I first get that shade on to try out.
I agree with you Christine on gravitating toward blushes that work for warmer undertones but I also understand where colors that might not be as flattering on a warmer complexion could still work because of what you are wearing and using the right colors with the rest of your makeup so that it would work anyway even if it isn’t considered as flattering as shades that work best for warmer skin tones. It is all about making it work. I usually go for shades that work well for warm complexions and I do find them the most flattering but I still can wear cooler tones also but I would have to be more careful with making sure it works with my outfit and the rest of may makeup are it could be very unflattering.
I usually go with something neutral. I just recently (in the last 6-7 months) really got into makeup, and used to only use one blush. Now I have a drawer full. But because of my fair skin I don’t really feel comfortable going with anything too “crazy”, and blush, to be honest, is not one of my favorite makeup products anyway. I’m more about eyeshadow and lipstick, so I really just use blush to balance things out; which is probably why I stay in the neutral tones family.
I guess I just gravitated towards peachy shades as they seem to work well with my colouring. I prefer very light shimmery and semi matte finishes. But the best blushes I love are those with a mosaic pattern with a combination of different shades that I can swirl together – they are the ones that add a bit more depth to my cheeks.
I can make almost all blushes work, IF I use a light hand. I honestly find that blushes are my least variety products because I use such a light hand that everything ends up looking the same on me. I have a really warm undertone but I still love bright pinks because it gives off a really pinky cute vibe.
I love blush and have way too many! Especially when many of them are very similar. I have very yellow undertones but a lot of redness in some areas due to broken capillaries and pigmented lips and nail beds so it can throw things off. I look best in anything with some underlying gold or warm tones. I love warm pink blushes the most! But, I also like berry pinks as as long as they aren’t too pale or ashy. It took me a while to figure out I had warm undertones but surface redness. After that choosing was easier. But, I almost always come to Temptalia to check out swatches and reviews. I have found this site and the users SO helpful. Thank you!!!
On me I can get away with pink. Pink has always suit me best and brings my pale face to healthy life. Also coral and peach which I love in Summer but making sure they are very cool toned no warmth in it or it’ll look like I entered a mud pie eating contest. Or the slightest hint of warmth and I’m not exaggerating, the very slightest warmth touch on any blush is ok. but let’s not go overboard.
Forgot to add, I like to play with different color shades within my range and like maybe also. I like those combinations one which seems to have a bit of wamth, the color itself and some sheen or highlighter built already in they give the perfect balance or I will mix a couple of shades like a bronzer then a beautiful bright color on top and blend well. I love a bright color that ends up applying swoftly to my surprise. I love blush I need it in my life like water! Lol!
I completely agree about the trial and error part! It really is all about trying different shades ti see what works for you! My cheeks have some redness in them, that I can’t always cover with foundation/concealer. Therefore, sometimes I really need to make sure I choose a blush shade that will work with this redness and not clash with it!
I never wore blush in the 1990s. After that, I bought different ones from the drugstore without too much thought, usually trending towards cool pinks. About 10 years ago, I decided to splurge on Nars Orgasm based on all the amazing reviews about how it works with “every” skin tone. I was wary of the peachy color, but I started getting compliments on how good it looked on me, and I’ve been wearing it ever since. I recently bought Milani Luminoso just out of curiosity, based on comparisons to Orgasm. It’s ok for a very casual day when I don’t feel like wasting expensive makeup, but Nars is definitely my “holy grail” blush. (Although I’m still looking for a favorite blush brush!)
Actually, I don’t know what works. I don’t do the brozer/highlighter/contour, but I like blush. The problem? I have yet to find a color that feels right; the closest being MAC gingerly. I have redness and even gingerly highlights my redness.
I have a fat face too, so I guess I should also improve how I apply it. ?