After a summer when blush “had to” be seen from across the room, beauty trends are taking a step the other way: anti-blush. I talked about it with LIFE.ro, and here is how you can get the look without buying anything new.

What anti-blush is, and why I like it

In short, anti-blush means less obvious colour and more depth. Instead of bright pink on the cheeks, the cheekbones are softly shaped with a diffused shade that makes the face look fresh and healthy.

I really like it. It is a return to natural, effortless make-up and to the idea of toning down excess. It also feels like a lovely transition into autumn, when make-up moves to a different colour palette anyway.

Less is more!

My three-drop recipe

You don’t need a miracle product. The textures that work best are creamy, liquid or very fine ones that you can apply in thin layers. This is the trick I always use on my clients and on photo shoots when I want to shape the face naturally rather than loudly:

  1. A small drop of foundation.
  2. A drop of liquid contour, or a foundation two shades darker than your skin.
  3. A drop of liquid blush, or a lipstick in nude, pink-nude or mauve.

Mix them together and tap the mix onto your cheekbones with a foundation brush. Then set it with a loose translucent powder, so the cheeks last and the effect stays fresh.

If you only have powders

Dry textures work too. A bronzer or a matte eyeshadow in a neutral shade does exactly the same job. Two rules matter:

  • The shade: neither too orange nor too grey.
  • The amount: very little product, blended really well. You want depth on the cheekbones, not a patch of colour.

The right shade for your skin

The goal is colour that looks as if it comes from within the skin. As a starting point:

  • Very fair skin: nude-pink or a very pale mauve.
  • Medium skin: desaturated terracotta or pinkish brown.
  • Deep skin: deep berry, plum or cocoa.

If you want to understand how to choose colours for your own skin, that is exactly what we practise at the AutoMakeUp workshop: face shapes and colour theory, on your own face.

A new name for an old technique

Why does such a simple technique need a label like “anti-blush”? Because beauty trends are consumed very quickly, and an intriguing name is easy to remember and share. It sparks curiosity.

The trend takes its cue from Korean beauty, which focuses on natural beauty and healthy-looking skin rather than on colour and contrast. In reality, the technique has existed for decades. Presented as something viral, it gets an identity: a hashtag, a tutorial, a conversation. “I’m doing anti-blush make-up today” sounds cooler than “I’m wearing a more natural blush”, doesn’t it? That says a lot about how we consume trends today. Still, I’m glad it’s here: it brings something really beautiful to the routine of everyone who loves make-up.

If you want to master the basics, from skin prep to smoky eyes, you will find them step by step in my online course AutoMakeUp.

Source: LIFE.ro - Anti-Blush: trucul care ne face să renunțăm la blush (in Romanian). Photo: LIFE.ro.