20/10/2016

SHADES OF BLUSH

It seems like blush is marginalized, timid little creature living in the shadows of lipstick and eyeshadow. We are so afraid of naturally rosy cheeks, that we almost left the millennial tradition of using a blusher. The roots of interest in pretty and rosy complexion stretch far into the past, and the story itself is fascinating, but sometimes imbued with fanaticism.

The ancient Greeks used berries, Egyptians ocher clay, Roman noble women were bleaching skin with plumb mixes and blushing skin with vermilion in their continuous beauty rituals, although all these ingredients were toxic. Cosmetic rituals were less popular in medieval Europe. Only the peasants and serfs had a tanned face.

Pale skin was a sign of wealth and refinement, aristocracy preferred the eerily glowing skin, and that was achieved by topping the cheeks with water and strawberries. In the Renaissance, Italian Countess Caterina Sforza revealed a recipe for rosy cheeks in her book "Experimenti". She mixed black sandalwood and ethanol, which remained on the face for eight days. Queen Elizabeth I did a lot for the development of face paint at the time of her reign. She created the popular egg whites mask to cover bumps and imperfections, which became popular in the rest of Europe after epidemic pocks disease.

British beauty guide "The Art of Beauty" suggested blush was extremely innocent, and the ingredients for blush were saffron, red sandalwood, brazilian wood and red pigment - carmine, who was brought to Europe by the Spanish conquerors of America. The color was made out of plant lice with dark red color. It is still one of the most important ingredients in the cosmetics industry. British Queen Victoria pushed make-up on the margins of society in the 19th century, declaring cosmetics indecent. Cosmetics were allowed only to actors and prostitutes. But, in reality, young women were still pinching cheeks and tapping beet juice, creating rose spots on the face just before meetings with suitors. And then, in the beginning of 20th century, French cosmetics houses Bourjois and Guerlain laid down foundations of today's market of beauty, where nothing could stop the blush.

TEXTURES AND TYPES OF BLUSHES

Selection of blush texture is quite easy, once you have found the right color match. If your skin is oily, be sure to opt for dry texture - powder or compact. Cream blush is good for dry skin, especially for darker skin, but it needs to be rebuild after a few hours. If your cheeks need more intense color, apply dry blush on the cream blush and you will set in in place.

SHADES

Applying blush is important because it gives another level of necessary freshness to the face. How to choose a shade that perfectly complements your complexion? The goal is to choose a shade that matches the color of your cheeks when they are naturally blushed. Decide on your perfect shade just after you exercise because that is when your natural blush is most visible.

If your skin is extremely bright with red undertones, choose cold pink shades, and avoid applying warm tones. It might look rough.

Pale complexion with dark eyes and hair loves vivid, peachy pink blush shades, while natural red-haired woman can use a range of pink and peachy shades, but should avoid coral.

Consider yourself lucky if you have a medium light skin tone and brown hair because you can use a myriad of shades, especially those of vivid and intense colors.

Purple pink and peachy pink shades are best suited for warm blonde with gold undertones in hair color.

If you have darker skin, begin applying cream bronzer to define the cheeks at the same time, then highlight them with peachy blush that contains some red pigment in it.

APPLICATION

In addition to refreshing, blush can change the shape of your face. How? The application in certain spots will elongate round face and shorten long face. Blush can also easily soften sharp face features.

1. Women with a square face shape will benefit with blush put directly to the cheekbones in a circular form. This will soften the angles.

2. If you have a diamond shaped face, the goal is to draw attention to the lower half of the face. Apply blush at the top of the cheekbones and gently stroke toward your ears to visually lower the eyes and highlight the cheekbones.

3. Blush is, as bangs, a great way to 'break' a long face. Apply color horizontally which will visually wider your face. There are two ways - apply blush on the cheekbones to the ears or start at the top of the cheekbones and finished at the temples.

4. If you have a heart-shaped face, apply blush to the cheekbones bottom, much like when you point out the contours of the face. You will balance and visually soften a strong jaw with moving attention to the cheekbones.

5. Add definition to a round face by touching the cheeks and applying blush below the cheekbones. However, avoid applying blush on the cheekbones, as this could lead to a more rounded face.

6. If your face is oval, concentrate blush on top of the cheekbones. You will eventually give a clear definition to the cheekbones with light brush strokes upward and back toward your ears.

Recommended blushes:

CHANEL POWDER BLUSH, #271 JOUES CONTRASTE VIBRATION

CHANEL LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW SHEER COLOUR STICK #20 BLUSH

BOBBI BROWN Pot Rouge #Calypso Coral

NARS Blush #Gaiety

Lancôme Blush Subtil #Shimmer Sunset Seduction

Lancôme Blush Subtil Cushion #Cerise Givree

YSL Blush Volupté #6 Passionnee

The column was published in the autumn issue of the storybook magazine.