Best Blush

Key Tips And Top Picks...

Who the #1 top spot for best blush belongs to, is always debatable BUT you will definitely become enlightened to what products make the top spots according to the experts and fan support...AND even more important, you will be able to pick the best blush for you.

Speaking of becoming enlightened, I recently had my own revelation when it comes to blush...actually, any makeup designed to bring color to your complexion... ITS REALLY IMPORTANT!

It is ESPECIALLY important to skin as it starts to age.  I wasn't really aware of the nose dive my complexion had taken in the last few years, until I found myself applying too much eye makeup.  No matter how great my eye makeup application was ( or how much eye makeup I put on) I was not feeling great about the end finish.

It took a while but I figured it out.  No amount of eye makeup was going to replace the 'fresh face'/radiant factor I lacked.  Perhaps it was a combination hit of less play time outdoors and more sun care measures BUT it was most definitely changes in my skin due to aging.  As your skin ages, it becomes less efficient at exfoliation creating a dull texture.  Your natural color fades and the texture of your skin loses that 'fresh' factor.

How can you deal with a fading complexion?

Here are a few tips:

Best Blush Tip #1

RADIANT SKIN should be your biggest focus, regardless of your style. Starting with a good skin care regimen, and followed by makeup application that generates that gorgeous radiant glow... hydrated, fresh, dimensional color complexion.

Best Blush Tip #2

Use GREAT products!...That will make TIP #1 very EASY to achieve. We all have different skin; color, condition, type etc...the list below is definitely the short list to the best blush and bronzer makeup available.  They all have one or a few of the following attributes; beauty editor favorites, top pro makeup artist staples, award winning formulations, consumer number one choice blush, have beauty cult status, and hey, they are all my favorites.

Best Blush Tip #3

Understand the variety of formats blush and bronzer come in so you can best choose the product that will give your desired effect; sheer natural, sculpted, sun kissed, etc....

Blush Formats And Best Blush 'A' List Recommendations.

Cream 

• presence of color based on quantity applied
• solid but creamy texture for easy blending
• apply sparingly with sponge or finger tips after foundation application before powder  application first to apple of cheeks and then out along cheek bone (concentration of color diminishing as move toward hairline)
• preferred choice for normal to dry skin types, especially in colder weather

Stila Convertible Color
For cheeks and lips, award winning sheer creamy blush in gorgeous shades. Award winning including InStyle Best Beauty Buy Cream Blush every year since 2005.

Comparison Shop Stila Convertible Color Lips & Cheeks

Powder

• presence of color based on quantity applied
• solid but pressed powder texture
• easy application with quality blush makeup brush (avoid using little applicator blush...bristles harder and smaller span place too much color) in circular motion at apple and sweep out along jaw (concentration of color diminishing as move toward hairline)
• preferred choice for normal to oily skin types, especially in warmer weather

NARS Powder Blush
- 'Orgasm"-award winning, universally flattering peachy pink that looks great on most skin tones, 'Outlaw' Beautiful blush with some shimmer, for creating that sculpted cheekbones look
FYI- Winner of InStyle magazine's Best Powder Blush award, 2008; Winner Best of Sephora 2007, 2008

Comparison Shop NARS Powder Blush

Cheek Stain

• solid but with 'wet slip' present
• very sheer natural finish 
• quick blending after placement needed to ensure natural look
• better application when skin moisturized

Tarte Cheek Stain
-Awesome 'instant fresh', ultra natural looking cheek blush with yummy scents to match the delicious colors...Blushing Bride is plum shade which suits many, probably all skin tones; Dollface is a very sugary sheer pink which I love in combination with my bronzer.
FYI- InStyle's Best Beauty Buys in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007*; Self, Healthy Beauty Award 2001, Best Blush (flush); Cosmopolitan, Best Beauty Booty, Best "I really work out every day" blush

Comparison Shop Tarte Cheek Stain

Cheek Gel

• liquid/gel format from tube type dispenser
• finger tips blend into apple of cheek for pinched cheek natural  look
• better application when skin moisturized

Special Blush/ Bronzer Effects Cream To Powder:

NARS The Multiple
-Super sheer gorgeous colors, multi purpose concept, I love  the sculpted highlight effect to cheek bones, brow bones etc  My favorite color is Antibes, but each color is so gorgeous it really is a matter of taste...Cocacabana is a very popular shade.
FYI-Staple in the case of every professional celebrity makeup artist

Comparison Shop NARS The Multiple Multi Purpose Stick

Bronzer

Lotion

• Moisturizer like format that is either an instant tint (that will wash off)  or self tanning formulation that takes some time to arrive (but has staying power and is waterproof)

Lancome Flash Bronzer
-This is a great self tanning lotion that rivals Clarins quality self tanners...plus you get both immediate 'in a flash' and long term (as in waterproof) results

Comparison Shop Lancome Flash Bronzer

Fake Bake Bronze On The Glow
-A very popular brand for bronze on the go and product that will wash off. A spray is available as well as many formulation formats.

Comparison Shop Fake Bake On The Glow

Powder, Cream qualities like Blush...

GuerlainTerracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder Compact (new formulation and original-both great)
-I love this stuff (and so does everybody else-it is  a yearly award winner).  It is so easy to use with a big powder brush, and creates that sun kissed look, in an instant.
FYI - Original Formulation-Winner of Allure magazine's 'Best of Beauty' Best Bronzer Award for 2007.; CEW Best Classic Prestige Makeup Product 2007

Comparison Shop Guerlain Terracotta Moisturizing Bronzing Powder

Last word on best blush...
Great application tools are critical to even the best blush or bronzer in delivering high performance results; powder brush, blush brush, bronzer brush, wedge shaped sponge and/or finger tips for blending...PRECISE, EFFECTIVE, CLEAN, AND POLISHED.

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