Being a fair skinned Mum I’m always conscious of being sun smart… Not too little, not too much! So how do you maintain a healthy radiant glow all year round without the constant maintenance and costs of tanning products and services?

I’m happy to say the solution is simple… Find a beautiful bronzer or blush to give you an instant, time and cost effective all year round natural radiance.

So how do we get it right without looking like a throw back from the 1980’s?

Is there a perfect shade for you?

There is a general rule that a soft blush suits a fair skin tone, peach and bronze hues look perfect on a medium to olive skin tone and apricots through to deep pink-red blushes are perfect for darker skin tones.

In saying that you can mix up your cheek colour from blush to bronze depending on the occasion, the season and your individual style for the day. There is really no right or wrong.

Perfecting the application

Cheek colour must always be applied once you have completed your base (moisturiser and foundation), eyes, brows and lips.

There is a wide variety of formulas from powders to cream blush and bronzers on the market, I would recommend a cream formula if you have dry skin or if you are concerned with fine lines. A cream formula will add hydration and won’t draw attention to any fine lines. A powder formula is great for all skin types and teamed up with a good blush brush it can be used to create contours and highlights to your cheeks and cheek bones.

Alternatively you can use both for more staying power and a deeper tone. Remember if using both a cream and a powder always apply cream based products first then apply your powder over the top.

 Simple steps…

First step, avoid using the small brush that comes with most compacts instead use a nice thick blush brush this will ensure you get a nice natural sweep of colour rather than a solid stripe across your cheek.

Secondly, look into the mirror and smile (gently). The area of your cheek that rises is referred to as the ‘apple’ of your cheek and is the best place to start applying your blush/bronzer for a nice youthful flush. There is no right or wrong amount of colour let the occasion or if you feel you need a little more colour than normal dictate the intensity of your glow.

Start with a little bit of colour in a soft swirling motion on and around the apple of your cheeks, build the colour by reapplying more colour until you reach your desired look. Don’t be too heavy handed and always ensure that the colour is blended with no visible streaks or lines.

For a beautiful sun kissed glow add a hint of blush or bronzer across your forehead, chin and nose… Be sure to use very soft strokes to add just a touch of colour.

Highlights

If your wanting to create a more elegant or evening look dab a little shimmer or gleamer along the highest point of your cheekbones. You know you have applied enough product once you have achieved a dewy, slight sheen across this section of your cheekbone.

Highlighters also look fabulous swept across your brow bone as well as a dab on your Cupid’s bow to accentuate the shape of your lips.

I truly believe that a great blush or bronzer should be an essential item in every women’s makeup collection. You can add a healthy sun-kissed glow or a perfectly pink flush to your complexion that will give your face an instant pick me up and the illusion of a more youthful appearance.

With Winter approaching now is the best time to play with new colours & highlighters and follow the above guidelines to add a healthy hint of colour to your cheeks!