Blusher always makes a comeback in Spring and Summer but it’s something that a lot of women are frightened of. However when you master it, you’ll love it. I worked with a cream blusher as it’s much easier to blend and I like a hot pink as everyone looks good in it. I used a stippling brush and placed it in the same place that you would do a contour, with the heaviest amount under the cheekbone. Then I blended it in quite an angular way, a little bit ’80s, but curving it back so it went into a C and then I took it into the temples for symmetry and shading. It’s the same technique as contouring and I also do the same if I’m doing bronzer. It’s about pulling the focus of the look up and it creates a harmony to the face and just pulls the look together. Apply the blusher first, buff it in and use a little powder blush over the top in a lighter pink so that you create a dimensional degradé feeling. Then I applied some foundation to the centre of the face, diffusing the area where it meets the blush so it all becomes a really beautiful blend. Even though it’s a strong colour, it’s not a hard look. I also avoided anything in the eyebrows to keep the rest of the face soft. I really curled the eyelashes, and added about ten coats of mascara to give it a ’70s fluttery lash. I didn’t powder the eyelids as I quite like the sheen and shadow of the natural eyelid. To finish it off you could use a little bit of lip balm if you don’t want to add extra colour but I thought it really worked for an editorial feeling to add that bright pop of lipstick. This look is an obvious nod to the women of Guy Bourdin, who often clash strong cheek colour with red lips. Wearing such an intense hit of blusher keeps the look strong rather than just pretty.

Eyelash Curlers by Shu Uemura
Joues Contraste Blusher in “Vivacité” by Chanel
Glamolash Mascara by Rodial
Studio Sculpt Foundation by MAC
Ambient Lighting Blush by Hourglass
Blot Powder by MAC
Pure Color Lipstick by cK One