The Rules of Blush

1. Keep it believable – Blush is meant to mimic a healthy glow. A general rule of thumb to follow is that roses are best for pale skin, apricots for medium skin and muted brick reds for dark skin.
2. Find the right formula – Cream blushes blend in easier than other varieties of blushes and generally look a little more natural. However, cream blush is not suited for oily skin. Instead, for oily skin, try a gel blush. Powder blush is a great alternative for normal to oily skin.
3. Learn proper placement – For the most natural look, begin blush application at the top of the apple of your cheek. Then, place the color on the part of your apple that lies directly below your pupil and blend outward toward the ear.
4. Powder first – Even if your skin is not oily, a layer of translucent powder used as a primer for your powder blush will help the pigment go on uniformly and last longer.
5. Layer if necessary – To prolong your color, first apply a little cream blush and let it sink in, then dust a bit of translucent powder over the area and finish with powder blush. This will help your color last for hours.
6. Pick a finish – While matte blushes are ideal for oily skin, eliminating shine and staying in place longer, sheer blushes look best on very dark or very pale skin.