How to apply Blush/Bronzer :Photo Tutorial

Hi Everyone!

Today I’m doing a tutorial on How to apply blush/bronzer on Anks’s request.  Hope you find it useful.

This tutorial is in 3 steps –

1. Contouring (with darker shade blush, at hollow of the cheekbone)

2. Blush (on apple of the cheek)

3. Highlight(on top of the cheekbone)

blush tutorial- 3 steps

Step 1: Contouring

In this step, a darker shade of blush or contouring powder is applied right under your cheekbones. This gives an illusion of depth or shadow at the hollows of the cheekbones and gives a sculpted look to the face. It also gives definition to the cheekbones, making them appear higher and makes the face look slimmer. This step is also called ‘cutting’.

What to use : Any matte blush that is 2 shades darker than your skin tone or darker shade of foundation(though blending with liquid may require a little more effort as compared to powder) or contouring powder (available in some brands such as M.A.C ). I have used Colorbar ‘Just Earth‘ blush as its darker than my skintone.

Colorbar Just Earth for contouring

How to apply : Use contouring brush or any small brush (such as the one provided with most blushes) since the area of application is small. A sponge with angular tip such as the The Body Shop sponge can also be used.

Pull your cheeks in as shown and apply the contouring shade starting near the hairline , moving down towards the lips, following the contour of the cheekbones.

contouring/ sculpting cheeks

contouring cheeks

The blush should sit right at the hollow of the cheekbones and should start at the hairline midway next to the ears and slope downward towards the mouth as shown.

contoured cheeks

Step 2 : Blush

In this step, the blush color of your choice (should be lighter than contouring shade and close to your skin tone) is applied on the apples of the cheeks. To know the location of the apples of your cheeks, smile broadly – the region that is raised and gets balled up is the ‘apple’ of the cheek.

What to use: Blush shade lighter than contouring shade, closest to your skin tone for a natural look. I have used Colorbar ‘Peachy Rose‘. For this step, use a fluffy powder brush or blush brush. The applicators provided with the blushes are generally not the best. Invest in a blush brush for best results. I am using Vega blush brush.

Colorbar 'peachy rose'

Brushes used : Colorbar brush( the one that comes with the blush), Vega blush brush

How to apply : Using a fluffy brush, apply in sweeping motion starting at the apple of the cheek moving towards the hairline in upward slope. At the top , DO NOT go beyond the cheekbone to the under eye area. Keep at least 1-1-.5 cm gap from the under eye area. At the inner side, DO NOT take the blush right up the side of the nose, again maintain at least 1-1.5 cm gap. At the bottom, take the blush right upto where the contouring shade starts and blend it in with it.

blush application

Step 3: Highlight shade/bronzer

In this step, a shimmery/glittery shade of applied to the top most point of the cheekbones where light would reflect giving a ‘glow’ to the face and highlighting the cheekbones- coupled with contouring, this gives a sculpted and defined look to the cheeks.

highlighter application

What to use : Products sold as ‘highlighters’ , Peach-golden-siver Loose pigments or eyeshadows meant for browbone highlighting, shimmer brick, bronzer. I am using Revlon Colorstay mineral finishing powder ‘Sunkiss Radieux’.

Revlon bronzer

How to apply: This shade is to be applied sparingly and on a very small area i.e the top of the cheekbones. Using an eye shadow brush or small blush brush, pat on the highest point of the cheekbone and take is upwards along the bone as shown.

 

Final look –

With contouring –

Blush application with contouring

Blush application with contouring

Blush application without contouring –

Blush application without contouring

For added effect of sculpting, sweep some of the contouring shade or bronzer under the jawline

jawline

What products do you use for the above 3 steps? Which is your favorite blush? Let me know your comments by replying below.

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