Blush is used to help make the face "glow". It is an important part of the makeup process, because it amplifies the part of the face that displays femininity. As girls reach puberty and become women, their cheekbones become more prominent. This topic will teach you how to apply cheek colour effectively. See the 'Cheek Colouring' video, in the Course Videos module. Gel and powder blushes are used for faces with more oily skin. Blush cream is used for faces with normal to dryer type skin. Blush should look natural. You want it to match the client's natural skin colour when they blush. You may not know what their natural blush colour is. In this case, just choose a colour that will accent the natural features of the face. You don’t want it to stand out too much. Don’t choose a bright red, unless the person has a very bronze or brown coloured skin tone. For clients with very fair skin, a soft pink or a tan colour with pink in it, is suitable. The blush you choose will depend on the client’s skin tone. A person with dark skin will need a lighter coloured blush. A person with a lighter skin tone, will need a darker coloured blush. Tip: If you are stuck, ask your client to clench their fist and hold it for ten seconds. The colour of the skin once they open their hand, is the one you want to match. Make sure that you are using a decent blush brush for powder. This is the area where you will especially need to use a quality brush. You can't substitute a quality blush brush for other tools, such as powder puffs or cotton wool balls, as they will work against the pigment in the blush. Blush is the last thing that you will add to your "masterpiece". Start by lightly sweeping a fluffy blush brush through your colour and then tapping it, to remove any access pigment. If it is a cream blush, dab a little on your finger. Start out with a little blush and then add to it as necessary. Ask your client to make a "fish face" (suck in their cheeks), so the apple of the cheeks becomes more prominent. If the client is smiling when you apply the blush, it will go on too low on the face. Start in the center of the apple and then blend the colour along the cheekbone. Dust off any excess powder, so that you are not giving them super rosy cheeks. Dot a cream or gel first and use a sponge to blend it in. Make the strokes back and forth from the side of the face, along the apple, towards the nose and back. If there is any excess blush, blend it towards the corner of the eye, or the ear. Make sure that you are always using a clean brush when you are blending and to brush downward at the end, when everything is blended in. This will let the hairs on the face lie along the skin. If there is too much blush, use a translucent powder to tame the colour. If you are using cream, use blotting paper or a tissue, to remove the excess blush. If you are using gel and put on too much, remove it and start over. Symmetry of the face is important and you need to keep this in mind, when you are applying blush to the other cheek.