RUBY REVEALS | How To Make Your Blush Work For You

When I work with clients, celebrities or women in my chair, I don't place blush automatically. I first look at the face and ask myself: What effect are we trying to create? Softness? Freshness? Lift? Definition? The answer determines exactly where the colour goes.

TECHNIQUE ONE: THE APPLE OF THE CHEEK

The apple of the cheek is the fuller, fleshier part that lifts when you smile.

Applying blush here creates warmth and softness. It brings life back into the complexion and mimics the way skin naturally flushes after a brisk walk, a laugh with friends or a day in the sunshine.

This placement is perfect when you want to look healthy, approachable and fresh. The effect is youthful without looking overly "done" because the colour sits exactly where a natural flush would appear.

To apply:

• Smile gently to find the fullest part of the cheek.
• Press colour onto the apple.
• Blend outward using light, sweeping motions.
• Keep the edges soft and seamless.

The result is a beautiful wash of colour that instantly brightens the face.

TECHNIQUE TWO: THE ORBITAL BONE

Now move that same blush higher.

The orbital bone sits along the upper ridge of the cheekbone, just beneath the eye socket. This area acts almost like scaffolding for the face.

When blush is placed here, something remarkable happens. The eye is drawn upward and outward. The cheekbones appear more defined, the face looks lifted and the overall effect becomes more sculpted.

It is one of my favourite techniques, especially for those who feel their features have become less defined over time or who want a more elevated look without relying on heavy contour.

To apply:

• Start higher than you think.
• Sweep colour along the orbital bone rather than onto the fullest part of the cheek.
• Blend towards the temples.
• Keep the colour diffused so there are no obvious edges.

The finish is polished, modern and naturally lifting.

Makeup isn't about rules. It's about understanding what different techniques do and then choosing the one that serves you on that particular day.

Want softness and warmth? Place blush on the apples of the cheeks.

Want lift and definition? Take it higher onto the orbital bone.

The beauty comes from knowing the difference and having the confidence to adapt your technique rather than applying makeup on autopilot.

That's the real know-how.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHEEK COLOUR

Once you've decided where you're placing your blush, the next step is choosing the shade.

I always encourage women to think less about trends and more about what they want the colour to do. Blush should bring life, warmth and balance back into the face. The best shade is the one that makes you look refreshed, healthy and like yourself.

Peach and Pink are wonderful everyday shades, adding freshness and brightness to the complexion. They mimic a natural flush and are perfect if you want skin to look healthy and radiant.

If you prefer a little more warmth, Nude and Tawny create a beautifully sophisticated wash of colour. These tones softly define the face while maintaining a natural, effortless finish.

For those who enjoy a little more depth and statement, Bronze adds warmth and structure, while Red delivers the most vibrant, enlivening flush. Applied with a light hand, red blush can be one of the most flattering and modern shades of all.

There are no rules. Experiment, stand back from the mirror and see how different shades and placements change the face. That's where the real confidence comes from

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

If you're unsure where to start, apply your chosen shade to one cheek using the apple-of-the-cheek technique and to the other using the orbital bone placement. Step back from the mirror and compare.

Same blush. Same face. A completely different result.

That's the beauty, magic and power of placement.