A beauty enthusiast’s version of “If you had to take just one item to a deserted island…” translates to something more like “If you had to choose just one makeup item…”. For me, the answer quickly comes to mind—simply, undoubtedly, unquestionably, blush.
From asking this question to friends, I received varying answers: from concealer to mascara, to lip balm—and I agree, all of these are great tools for enhancing our features, but there is nothing quite like the look of a flushed complexion.
The absolute glow and life that blush gives the face—may it be powder, cream, or liquid—is unparalleled. It’s interesting to look back at earlier times and learn about the reasons our predecessors started coloring their cheeks in the first place. In Ancient Egypt, red ochre was treasured by women as it was their great ally in giving life to their cheeks and lips, always second to their boldly kohl-lined eyes. The Greeks, on the other hand, crushed mulberries to give their complexion a red-violet glow.
There is a certain sense of empowerment and confidence that a dab of blush may give us. Even when we don’t carry a blush in our bag, I have seen (and done) the simple act of pinching the cheeks, which ultimately just increases the blood circulation and gives that youthful, rosy effect. This ritual inevitably reminds me of my friends and me during middle school whenever we didn’t have makeup with us—we would call it natural blush. “Ponte natural blush!” we would say. Put on natural blush!
I have recently learned (and adapted to my makeup routine) that the way we put on blush has a seemingly large effect on how our face looks. If we want our face to look more lifted, apply the blush from the cheekbones and upward, just below the area where you use a highlighter. On the other hand, if your goal is to make the face look fuller and rounder, apply on the apples of the cheeks.
I would say that this love of blush started fairly on in life when I first began wearing makeup. Lately, though, I have gone through several different blushes, and I can say that there are three that have captured my heart. I’ve used them together (as in layering), I’ve used them separately, and they simply radiate life on the cheeks.
My favorite of the three would have to be Chanel’s Joues Contraste in the shade “In love” (think warm-toned sunkissed with a satin finish), which has a beautiful powder silky-soft consistency. Second, I would say that Glossier’s Cloud Paint Blush is incredible. As they describe it, it is “the most user-friendly blush under the sun,” which makes you look like you’ve been under the sun, especially if you try their shade Beam, which is a soft coral shade. Its lightweight liquid consistency makes it ultra-blendable and layer-able. Lastly, my most recent discovery is Freck Beauty’s Cheekslime Blush + Lip Tint with Plant Collagen, which is vegan and Clean at Sephora and long-lasting and highly blendable, all while infusing your skin with mighty collagen. I find their shade Cuffed to add just the right amount of a soft pink to my cheeks.
If I could truly have one makeup item with me, it would be blush, no exceptions. Blush is the one thing that I’ll put on when I run errands, see friends, and even go to my 8 am class. It just makes me feel lively and not like I’ve spent the entire day on my computer doing work. It gives the illusion—even when it is not the case—of having just worked out, or have just received exciting news, or being so, so happy that it’s inevitable to have that positive glow. Cheers, to blush!
Words by Marian Hawit.
Graphic by Carlota Sosa.