Lipstick Masala

Wise men have said that the eyes are the window to the soul; what they forgot to mention is, the cheeks are the drapes that adorn said window. Just as one can feel the emotion emanating from your pupils, excitement is further depicted in the deep flush of your rosy apples while despair can be perceived through your sallow, colorless skin. But, unlike the eyes, which cannot be masked, the cheeks are yours to camouflage – you can imitate the perfect pink cheeks with the right blush and dupe the world into seeing exactly what you want it to.

But, before you excitedly reach for your favorite makeup brush, stop for a minute and inspect the consistency of your blush. What most ladies tend to forget is that just as with products like foundation and eyeliner, it is important to find the right formula for your cheeks before settling on a color. The wrong consistency can exacerbate red, bumpy skin while the right one can give off the impression of “just coming in from the cold” winter cheeks.

We are given a myriad of options when it comes to blush: cream, liquid, creamy liquid, cream sticks, stains, tints, powder, the list is endless. So, which one to choose? The answer is a mixture of preference, weather and most important, skin type.

Here are the three main categories:

Liquid:

This category includes tints and stains and gels. Some artists claim this is the most natural looking product as it “sinks” into the skin. Make sure to start out slow and apply a little product, then build it up as you go along, as it is hard to remove.

Pros: Stays put in high heat, does not slide off your face by the end of the day (long lasting power), natural looking flush, can also be used as a lip tint.

Cons: Have to work fast to apply as it is difficult to blend, will stain your fingers along with your cheeks, if you have bad skin will emphasize your spots.

Great for: Oily-skinned gals
Avoid: Dry-Skinned ladies (will emphasize any flakiness, is not moisturizing in the least)

We recommend: “Cheek Stain” by Tarte and “BeneTint” by Benefit, both available at sephora.com

Cream:

Includes sticks, pots and tubes. The best choice for a “dewy” look, great all year round, but especially youthful and fresh looking for the spring/summer.

Pros: Easy to apply and blend, if too much is applied is easy to remove, moisturizing, most have good lasting power

Cons: Can look caked on if not applied or blended correctly, can make skin look oily in humid climates

Great for: Dry-skinned and mature skin types
Avoid: Oily-skinned gals (the moisturizing properties will make you look shinier than a disco ball)

We recommend: “Cream Blush” by Revlon and “Crème Blush” by MAC, revlon.com and maccosmetics.com, respectively.

Powder:

The most commonly used blush available mostly in pressed and loose powder forms as well as minerals. Extremely wide variety of pigments and ranges from fine to regularly milled consistency.

Pros: Matte finish, easy to apply and blend, can be built up and blotted off if too much excess, great for both warm and cold climates

Cons: Lasting power can vary greatly from product to product, but generally not as long lasting as cream and liquid, more “made up” look than cream and liquid, can appear cakey or clownish if too much applied

Great for: Both Oily-Skinned (will help reduce shine) and Dry-Skinned (do not exacerbate flakiness) ladies

We Recommend: NARS for the deep pigments and Milani for the price, narscometics.com and milanicosmetics.com, respectively.

Lipstick Masala Suggests: Because summer is here and light, fresh looks are all the rage, set aside your normal powder and try out the liquid and cream blushes. Once you have determined the consistency that is right for you, choose a shade that reflects the colors of the season we’ve shared with you, i.e. girly pinks and corals, and leave the darker colors for when the cool air sets in. Happy hunting!