I've always taken a less-is-more approach when it comes to my makeup routine. Being a skincare obsessive, most days I skip foundation and prefer to wear just a subtle dab of blusher on my cheeks. It's my favourite product for giving my face an instant lift. Blush has this magic, transformative power of making a tired, perimenopausally foggy face look more glowy and alive.
But as I've gotten older, especially since I turned 45 and my skin has slowly started to sag southward, I’ve noticed that my trusty technique of applying it to the apples of my cheeks - the fleshest part that sticks out as you smile - isn't working well. I’ve been writing about this technique in my copy during my whole Beauty Editor career, but applying it this way, like I did in my 20s and 30s, dragging my face down rather than lifting it up.
Blush in midlife
Luckily, I've learned a new blusher application technique from makeup artists - and it works better on my midlife face: I place two fingers beside my nose and apply my blush on the other side of my fingers. Watch the video below to see what I mean. Placing the blusher closer and higher towards my temple and then blending it upwards into my hairline creates the illusion of a lift and really helps to define my cheekbones.
Celebrity makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis, whose clients include the singer Raye and TV presenters Myleene Klass and Lisa Snowden, agrees with the technique, explaining: "It automatically creates a shadow of the natural cheekbone. It feels strange, but instead of going directly on the bone, switch your action upwards. This ensures the blush looks youthful."
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3 expert tips for wearing blush in midlife
Lan shares her tried-and-tested techniques for us all to use at home...
1. Layer with bronzer and highlighter
If you prefer to use a powder blush, Lan recommends layering it with bronzer and highlighter for a fresher, more glowing finish: "Apply your bronzer first, softly working it upwards towards the hairline. Then apply a highlighter before merging it with the blush, using a big soft brush."
2. Apply it to other parts of your face
Don't forget to swipe a powder blush over your nose and cheeks, too. This keeps the look really glowy and natural. "Finish off with a mist of a hydrating spray to melt everything together and dissolve the powder," Lan adds.
© Shutterstock / Rido3. Don't forget your brows
Lan explains that blush isn't the only thing that can age you if you don't adapt. Brows also play a huge role in how fresh your face looks, as they help to frame your face and pull everything together. "Use a brow gel with fibres to fill in any gaps," Lan suggests. "It's underrated how much difference this makes to your whole look."
