Another tip from Eldridge worth heeding: “Don’t apply the concealer in a circle over the [eye] area. Keep the edges rough, as it will help with blending and will make the concealer look more seamless.”
Step 6: Cream contour
Cream contour and blush are interchangeable, but, Pagan says, “it’s better to create shadows with contour before adding color with blush.” Experts generally agree.
Eldridge and Burton both offer this rule of thumb: cream before powder. “By working in this way, you can create beautiful layers,” says Burton. “If you were to use a cream product, then add powder, and then go back to cream again, you risk ending up with a sort of paste-like barrier, which can leave the makeup looking cakey and artificial.”
I love the LYS No Limits Cream Contour & Bronzer Stick for when I’m doing a rush makeup job—the stick applicator makes it easy to contour quickly. When I have a bit more time, though, I’ve found that the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer, when thoroughly buffed in, creates a natural-looking sculpt.
Step 7: Cream blush
BeautyTok has shown us many ways to apply cream blush. Sunburnt blush focuses the color in the very center of your face for a just-tanned effect, while the doll-blush trend places it on the apples of cheeks for a smooth look. Experiment with different placements to find the one that best suits your face. In general, though, Sidwell recommends “adding blush to the outer apples of the cheeks and blending toward the center of the ear.”
I love the sunburnt blush look. Obviously, I’m less a fan of actual sunburn (as mentioned above, remember to include SPF in your beauty routine), and since I don’t aspire to achieve reddened cheeks the old-fashioned way, I use the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush (a pigment-packed liquid) or the Rhode Pocket Blush Buildable Hydrating Cream Blush (an easy-to-blend stick formula).
Step 8: Setting powder
To lock in your hard work so far, grab a setting powder (loose or pressed), a fluffy brush, and a makeup puff. Says Pagan, “I like to lightly sweep the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Blurring & Setting Powder under the eyes and T-zone with a brush first, then press the powder with a puff under eyes and spots prone to oiliness to seal and mattify.”
