Q, Is there any basic rules about what blush to buy? My sister has very light skin and I think she wears her blush too dark. I have darker skin and that same blush looks ok on me. I know it’s hard to say for sure without seeing someone but do you have a basic guide we can follow?




A. Natural cheek tones, like skin tones vary from person to person. I could write a whole chapter on how to use the color wheel, the base color in your complexion, the amount of red or yellow you have in your skin, etc… The best solution is to visit a salon or spa with a makeup artist. Bring your makeup bag in with you. Have the specialist go over your skin, give you a makeover with their product and then have them do a comparison and evaluation of your entire makeup bag. If a color is wrong for you, give it away or throw it away. Don’t wear what does not look great on you. That is my best advice to anyone interested in updating their makeup or their appearance. Now to really answer your question, I can give you some very basic guidelines. Soft pink color tones are ideal for light skinned people. Peach tones tend to be the best for medium skin tones and that would be the largest majority of people. Peach toned blushes are the most recommended. Darker skinned women look best in plum or grape based shades. Another way to blush is a bronzer. All skin tones will look good in a version of a bronzer. Lighter bronzer tones for lighter skin, medium bronze for most of us, and darker bronzes for darker skin. The reason bronzers tend to be more universal is that they more closely match the way our skin darkens naturally in the sun. My advice to anyone who plans on spending money on makeup is always to try before you buy. Go someplace, I advise a spa or salon, and have someone help you find the shades that work best on you. Then buy only what you think looks great.