Summer Cheeks!



As the weather is getting warmer, I have been experimenting with my make-up to achieve that 'summer glow'! I absolutely love make-up but I am really not very good at applying it and blusher was my limit when it came to cheeks. But recently I have tried really hard to master contouring and highlighting and although there is still a long way to go, I feel that I am happy with the result that I create!  

As you can probably tell, this blusher by GOSH in the colour 'Flower Power' is well loved! (Click here to buy!) I think it was a mixture of travelling with it and months of vigorously tapping my brush on the side that made it like this! I am reluctant to waste it though because it is just the perfect natural blush colour for me. It is really pigmented and long-wearing and I have not used any other blush for about a year!!!

My little technique for applying blush is to smile and push the product onto the apples of my cheeks first. I then blend it out in circular motions. I find that this avoids a stripe of pink on my face and creates a really natural flushed effect. I use the Estee Lauder Blush Brush which is the perfect cheek shape and size. It is super soft and just really great at applying blusher. It should be because it is £30! (Click here to buy!)

For highlighter and bronzer, I use the Sleek Face Contour Kit (Click here to buy!). I don't use the blusher in the kit as often because I prefer a blusher without very much shimmer.

I use the powder brush from the Models Own 5 Piece Brush Set (Click here to buy!). It is small enough to accurately apply the highlighter onto the cheekbones. I especially make sure to tap off the excess product because the Sleek highlighter is extremely pigmented and shimmery. It reflects the light beautifully and brightens the under-eye area. My technique is to sweep the highlighter under my eyes and along my cheekbones.

I also use the Models Own brush for the bronzer which is not ideal. I think that it would be better if it was angled and more tapered. I find contouring the hardest and I am still practising but my technique is to suck in my cheeks and turn my head to the side to find the shadow in the hollows of my cheeks. Then, I take a tiny amount of product on the brush and starting at the top of the ear, I brush backwards and forwards in the hollows of my cheeks. The angle of my brush is from the top of my ear to my mouth. I do not let my brush come as low as the corner of my mouth and try to concentrate more product on the side of my face rather than the front. I then apply bronzer in circular motions to my forehead and temples and on my neck and under my chin to bronze up the parts where the sun would naturally bronze.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed watching my attempts at creating summer cheeks! 
Please feel free to leave comments with ideas for improvements!