Wednesday 1 May 2013

Types of Blush

Just like there are different types of foundations, there are different types of blush, and they suit different skin types.  They also vary in finish.  Typically there are four types of blush:

Powder Blush

This is what most people think of when you say blusher. These are powder products that come in pans. There is a wide range of shades and formulas available is just about every make up brand. A good powder blush will be soft and easily to blend. If you're first trying blushes, opt for a sheerer one. A blush brush works well with all but the most pigmented of blushes. If you find that you have a super bright blush, try using a stippling brush or a fan brush to apply it, as they pick up less product.

Recommendations

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Benefit Blushes - These are some of my favourite blushes to recommend for beginners, as they can be applied sheerly, then built up to the intensity required. The shade selection is fairly small, but that's also good for beginners, as it's not overwhelming. There's pretty much a shade that'll work for everyone.

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Nars Powder Blushes - Nars are famous for their blushes, and there's a reason why. They have a large range of colours and finishes, all of which are great quality. They'll last from morning till night too.


Cream Blush

Cream blushes are great for those with drier or more mature skin, as they can be a little more forgiving, and they work best on top of liquid or cream bases. These tend to give a dewier effect, though some do dry down to a satin/matte finish. This generally come in two forms; a cream product in a pan, or in stick form. Those in stick form are more solid than those in pan form (more of solid cream as opposed to liquid cream, if that makes any sense!). To apply these, you can use your fingers, a blush brush, or a stippling brush. It all comes down to personal preference. If you're using a denser blush brush, pat some of the excess product off on the back of you hand to avoid applying too much.

Recommendations

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Illamasqua Cream Blushes - These are what made me fall in love with cream blushes. They have a healthy range of nicely pigmented colours which blend into the skin effortlessly.

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Nars Multiples - These are a great example of stick blushes. These sheer colours can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks.


Gel Blush

You don't come across gel blushes very often at the moment. These a nice for beginners because they're usually quite sheer. Applied on top of bare skin, they look completely natural and like you're not wearing make up at all. A find using my fingers best for gel blushes to help them sink into the skin, but you can also get a nice effect by using a stippling brush.

Recommendations

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Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel - They only have a few colours, but as they're sheer they work with your skin tone, rather than masking it. They start off super sheer, so you may need a couple of layers to get the result you want.


Liquid Blush

These are usually tints and stains. They're long lasting, and natural looking. They're very sheer, but buildable. Fingers work well for these, as you need to be quick when blending it in. Once they've set they won't budge, which is can be both a good thing or a bad thing, depending on whether you've managed to blend it in time.

Recommendations

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Benefit Cheek Tints - These come in three shades. The original rosy Benetint is a lot more watery than it's sisters Posietint and Cha Cha Tint (pink and coral). You have to work quickly to blend these in, but they'll stay put all day. I find they work best on bare skin. You can also wear these on your lips.



Finishes

There are a variety of different finishes that blushes come in.


Matte

These have no shimmer or sheen to them at all. They can sometimes be a bit powdery, and harder to blend out.
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Illamasqua Powder Blush in Katie

Frost

Frost blushes have a high shine, almost metallic look about them. If they're done well, it gives a lovely glow to the cheeks. Frosts are more likely to emphasise large pores than other finishes, so if this is something you suffer with, you may want to avoid them.
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MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Blonde

Satin

Kinda of a natural finish, satins are probably the easiest to wear. They have a subtle sheen to them, and are one of the easier finishes to apply.
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Myface Cosmetics Blush in Paradisio Pink

Glitter

Just as you'd expect, these blushes have glitter in them. They range from subtle glitter, to full on disco ball. If you use a glitter blush, I'd recommend using a setting spray to minimise the amount a travelling glitter throughout the day.
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Illamasqua Powder Blush in Ambition

Dewy

This finish usually comes from cream or gel blushes. It gives a glowing, youthful, fresh look to skin.


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MAC Gel Blush in Just A Pinch

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