Blush is a quick and seemingly effortless way to add a healthy, feminine glow to your skin while creating youthful contours and dimension to your face. Whether you're looking for a facial pick-me-up after a long night out or interested in adding more than moisturiser to your morning routine, don't underestimate the power of just a little sweep from a blush brush.

Let Saturday Life take you through the process of choosing the right blush shade and formula for your skin and give you a few simple application guidelines.

Shade vs tone

When choosing the right blush hue for your skin tone, try to find a shade that matches the natural colouration or flush of your cheeks after exercise or any period of physical exertion that makes you hot and flustered.

Generally, pink and peach hues work best for fair or cool skin tones while plums and reds enhance darker or warmer tones. Medium skin tones allow for the most variety - try deep golden pinks.

Cream, liquid or powder?

Blush comes in a few different formulas and each will give a different finish based on your type of skin. It is important first to identify your skin type, which should fall into one of four major categories - dry, oily, normal or combination. Powders are most luminescent and long-lasting on oily, normal or combination skin types. For dry skin, a cream formula generally works best and liquids are good for normal or combination types.

Application made easy

Powder

1. Using a full, round brush, dip into the blush, swirl and tap off the excess.

2. Smile! This will allow you to locate the apple of your cheeks.

3. With light strokes, sweep the blush in one direction starting from the cheeks, working up and across the cheekbones and on towards your hairline.

4. Keep your face even and symmetrical by reproducing the motions of one side on the other.

Cream/liquid

1. Add a bit of cream or liquid to the tip of your finger or a make-up sponge.

2. Dot on the apple of the cheeks first and blend along the cheekbones towards the hairline as with powder.

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