The fall of matte make-up has been a long time coming and things in the beauty world have become increasingly shinier since matte reigned supreme around ten years ago. We’re now instructed by those in the know to glaze our faces feature by feature, starting with glass skin, alighting on glossy lips, and now via powder blush.
Once solely a matte product, powder blush has fused with highlighter to give it a modern finish — but, crucially, with the lasting power of powder. Before this new frontier of powder blush, make-up artists would often blend liquid blush and highlighter for a similar effect, but doing so on a day-to-day basis has two disadvantages. First, it’s a bit of a faff as getting it right relies on getting the precise right blush to highlighter ratio, and, second, liquid blush by nature doesn’t necessarily last as long, and might not be a good fit for oilier skin.
Enter the new hybrid, which make-up artist Bunny Clarke tells me is, “definitely the modern way to wear blush.” Expect a hit of colour combined with pearlescent spheres that will make your skin look reflective at the same time.
As with blush of the usual variety, you can sling this wherever you want colour. Make-up artist Jessica Kell advises, “using it to pop the apples of the cheeks by using a buffing brush in circular motions for a fresh, summery feel, or applying it softly peaking out from your bronzer or contour along the tops of cheekbones to warm up a sculpted look.”
Before you make inroads, both artists have advised that any product containing highlighter will of course exacerbate the appearance of texture, so it might be one to swerve if you have active acne or scars on your cheeks and feel self-conscious about them.
These are the best new blusher-highlighter products availale to buy now...
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush
Expect a whole lot of pigment from Selena Gomez’s brand, which consistently delivers high quality make-up in excellent shade. If you want just a whisper of the sheen and colour, use feather light strokes with a small amount on the end of the brush.
Buy now £26.00, Space NK
Fenty Beauty Hot Cheeks Baked Blush
Containing hyaluronic acid to draw and keep moisture at the surface, this adds sheen and colour as well as encouraging a look of dewiness while wearing. I’ve been wearing the Juicy Peach hue nonstop lately and can confirm it gives the instant illusion of health.
Buy now £24.00, Selfridges
bareMinerals Highlighting Blush
Offering a little blur alongside the colour and highlighter, this is the one to go for if you want your skin to look a little soft focus.
Buy now £27.00, Look Fantastic
