Skip These Blush Colors If You Have An Older Face

Blush can do wonders to liven up our faces, and it's especially key for those on the mature side who want to look a little more youthful. As we age, we naturally lose pigment in our skin, and this is where blush becomes the MVP of makeup. Adding a pop of color instantly lights us up and makes us appear younger. However, the wrong color can do the opposite, and as a longtime makeup artist with over 15 years of experience, I'm here to advise you on what colors to stay away from. 

Warm colors like coral and peach give fair skin a beautiful glow, but you should avoid anything that veers toward orange, as it will look overly ruddy. The same goes for brown. Bronzers are fine for giving your cheekbones definition, but I don't recommend it as an overall blush. If you're more of a cool-toned babe, pinks and soft mauves are great blush choices that'll give you rosy, feminine coquette cheeks. For folks with darker skin, a gorgeous terra-cotta shade with a hint of red is perfect, as it'll really make the cheeks come alive. Darker shades like berries and wine are also ideal for deeper skin tones. Don't opt for too-red shades, however. They'll look harsh against mature skin and highlight any discoloration you may have. 

Aside from color, texture also plays a key role in keeping your face youthful, and you'll want to rethink using your tried-and-true powder blushes moving forward.

Powder blushes are staples in our makeup collection, but as you age, they can settle into fine lines and make your skin look dry. This is when you should ditch the powder and say hello to liquid blush. It'll give you a more satiny finish and add a glow to your face while providing a silky blurring effect. Liquid and cream blushes may take some getting used to, especially if you're used to grabbing your dry palette and a fluffy brush. However, they're pretty simple to use, especially if they come with a doe-foot applicator like the L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Le Liquid Blush. After applying foundation, simply place two to three dots on the high points of your cheeks, and blend it out with a flat kabuki brush, a must-have in your makeup collection if you want perfectly blended makeup that'll create an overall younger look.

For cream blushes that come in a pot or a compact, all you'll need to do is swipe some of the color onto a flat brush. Blend it onto the apples of your cheeks, and bring the shade up toward your cheekbones. You never want to place the blush lower than the hollows of your cheeks or you'll drag your features down. A formula with a hint of shimmer is also great for older faces, but skip ones with too much glitter. After all, you want a dewy finish — not to resemble a mirrorball.