Makeup Mon[Tues]day: Get Cheeky

I know, today is Tuesday. My apologies.

There are countless reasons as to why Makeup Monday turned into Tuesday [one may involve the fact that this past weekend's alumni reunion was a tad too much fun] - but the most important reason that I am just now posting is that I didn't want to rush this topic and do a sh*t job just to post something. Blush & Bronzer are my absolute favourite part to makeup, so rushing this blog was not an option. Forgiven?

Good. Let's move on.

I think we all have talent wishes, I have a couple. Besides being Taylor Swift or Britney Spears, I wish I could draw. I envy all you artists out there that can sketch, paint, and create images using your own hands. Luckily for me, this skill isn't vital to makeup application, and although I lack the skills to paint myself a lifesize cutout of Shamar Moore [Criminal Minds..SSA Derek Morgan...marry me], I have the skills to paint my face and that'll do for me.

Blush and bronzer are my favourite and as you can see, I have quite the selection [this also may or may not be all of my collection, just my favourites]. Using the right colours and application of blush and bronzer can add life and radiance to your skin and can fake not only a tan, but the shape and structure of your face. Incorrect application can leave you looking like an embarassed oompa-loompa. Your choice.

Everyone can benefit from bronzer.

Bronzer is not exclusive to us pale skinned gals wishing for that creamy Olive skin that stays warm and inviting all year round [b*tches]. Because bronzer isn't only used to warm the skin, you tanned gals can benefit from the sculpting effect of bronzer. For me, I benefit from both the warmth and the sculpting - aka, I dont look dead and my face looks skinnier. WIN.


Using bronzer for warmth is a necessity for me as I finally quit tanning and prefer not to look translucent in the winter. Personally, I prefer to use a bronzer with minimal shimmer that is relatively close to my own skintone. Bronzer should subtly enhance your skin and not make you look dirty, orange, or like a disco ball. Bronzer should make us look naturally sunkissed, and as much as we love Edward Cullen, the sun doesn't impart bright gold flecks onto our skin, and neither should your bronzer. Naturally sunkissed also doesn't change the colour of your entire face - if you feel the need to spread bronzer all over your face - take a trip to the tanning bed and then maybe to the Jersey Shore.


Using bronzer for warmth and bronzer to sculpt your face are two different methods of action.

• Warmth: bronzer should be applied in the shape of a '3' on each side of your face [obviously one side will be a reverse 3]. Starting at your hairline, gently dust bronzer down the side of your temple, coming in slightly at your cheeks, and back out and down your jawline, slightly running the brush just under your neck. This will deposit colour where the sun would naturally hit, and you can add a tiny amount down the bridge of your nose and at the base of your chin for extra colour. Less.Is.More
• Sculpting: sculpting your face with bronzer gives the illusion of cheekbones and a thinner nose, therefore making your face look thinner. The most important place to sculpt is your cheeks, as this will impart a bigger effect on the face than your nose will. To sculpt your cheeks - place your index finger at the middle of your ear - this is the high point of your cheekbone. Press in to your face and run your finger down your cheekbone, feeling the hollow portion - this is where you want to put colour. The easiest way to do this is to use a brush and run your bronzer in a diagonal line from your middle ear and down, stopping just over halfway to your mouth (I use the middle of my eye as a guide). Once you've drawn your line, buff (circle) the brush over the colour following the line to blend the colour, bringing the brush right back up to your ear and slightly up your temples. You can blend the colour up and on to your temples as well, but the biggest payoff will be ensuring the colour is blended nicely into the hollows of your cheekbones, this will create the illusion of a shadow, which makes your face look more sculpted and thinner. WIN. Want to thin your nose? Using an eyeshadow brush, lightly brush bronzer down the sides of your nose, close to the bridge. Run a highlighter [see below] along the bridge of your nose to create dimension.
• You can use bronzer for warmth and sculpting, but you will need two colours and a lot less of a line with the sculpting. Use the lighter colour in the '3' pattern for all over warmth, and then using a smaller brush (I use an angled fluffy eyeshadow brush], lightly dust the darker bronzer just at the hollow part of your cheekbone and up to your ear, blend well - and voila... sunkissed and sculpted :)

Everyone can benefit from blush.

Blush adds life to the face and is necessary to perk up your skin, especially on a Monday after alumni weekend (and Tuesday in my case, it was that fun). There are millions of colours and textures available, and if you are a blush novice, I recommend having a subtle peachy/pink colour that is universally flattering. This colour would be NARS Orgasm [right], the most popular blush in the world, consistently winning beauty awards, and consistently making its appearance on my face [hard to find a PC way to make that statement]. Orgasm is the perfect mix of peach, pink, and minimal sparkle, while not being exclusive to skintones that are warm or cool, pale or tanned - its literally fantastic on everyone [feels good to...going on I mean]. I wish I could suggest a colour dupe for this, but really, there is no comparison to Orgasm.

Blush application depends on the formula

• Creme blush should be applied before setting your foundation with translucent powder. It should also be applied with small brush (MAC 187 is awesome) strokes running from the apples of your cheeks up to your ear, and then blended by circling the brush over the colour. If you use a lot of bronzer, using a creme blush will impart a subtle glow from underneath the translucent powder with the bronzer on top, very understated yet naturally pretty. WIN.
• Powder blush should be applied after your translucent powder and bronzer. If you are using bronzer to sculpt your cheeks - go easy on the blush as you want the focus to remain on the faux shadows you've created. Even better, skip blush and use a highliter [read below] just on your cheekbones, the contrast will be barely visible, but the shape will be amplified. If you use the classic 3 bronzer look, use a blush brush and lightly buff your blush on to the apples of your cheeks starting from the outside of your face and working inwards. If you start at the outside and work in, most of the colour is deposited closer to your ear and then blended seamlessly inwards. Start at the apples, and most of the colour is deposited right on to your cheeks and that "I just came in from the cold" flush turns in to "my part time job is the clown at the fair." FAIL.
  
• Highlighters differ from blush in the fact that the colour payoff is less, the shimmer is slightly more, and they impart more of a glow to the face than adding actual colour. I typically use highlighter when I am going out for the evening as it can be too shimmery for the workday. As stated above, it works fantastically when used with the sculpting technique as it creates a subtle contrast to draw more attention to your new [free] cheekbones. PS - wtf happened to Heidi Montag. Ew.

The great thing about blush and bronzer is they are so widely available at every price point. Unlike foundation, more expensive brands don't necessarily mean better payoff - the staying ability may be a little less, but overall - the effect can be the same. If you love makeup and love blush and bronzer as much as I do, NARS is your soul mate. Their lasting ability is amazing and unlike some other brands, the glitter is limited. I mentioned earlier about their most popular blush [Orgasm], but if you are looking for something different from their line, I really like Sin and Deep Throat [thats what she said]. Laguna, Silvana, and Sertaro are my favourite natural bronzers from them, with Laguna being one of the most popular bronzers in the world for its ability to work with all skintones. MAC also makes great blushes, and if you have a cool, pale skintone similar to me - hit up a pro store, purchase Canteloupe, and enjoy the perfect pretty peach sunset on your cheeks no matter what the weather.

Like I said, I love all things makeup, but I look forward to using my bronzers and blushes every day. Maybe that's a sad statement, but how can you not be excited about whipping out that Orgasm at 9am at least 4 times a week? Note: my mom only owns Orgasm, so her's makes an appearance 7 days a week - go Mom!

xxLM :)