Beauty Solutions

Get a Healthy Looking Flush that Lasts All Day with Long-Wear Cheek Color

For my final installment on long-wear makeup, I put the focus on cheeks. We look healthier when our cheeks have a bit of color. A pop of pink blush gives a rosy glow. A few swipes of bronzer give a sun-kissed look. But lovely cheek color we apply in the morning tends to fade as the oils of our skin mingle with our makeup, so I often turn to long-wear formulas to maintain a healthy flush throughout the day.

Waterproof Powder

IT Cosmetics Get Wet Waterproof Highlighter and Bronzer ($32) is incredibly unique. It’s a set of three powders that are waterproof and formulated with vitamin E to keep the powders from clinging to fine lines and wrinkles. I don’t know of anything else like these. Get Wet includes a bronzer and two highlighters. It’s a great set for getting a warm glow and for contouring the face and body – and you’ll be fine if you go for a swim.

It’s especially good for contouring, because the bronzer is matte. But if you prefer a shimmery bronze, just swirl your brush into the bronzer and one of the highlighters. I wrote about this set and demonstrated it in a video recently in a post about bronzers. It’s available at itcosmetics.com, hsn.com, and beauty.com.

Stains

I started using stains a couple years ago when I was looking for something that wouldn’t fade on my sister’s wedding day, which was on a crazy hot summer day in the Midwest. I picked up a stain from tarte and used it on everyone in the bridal party. We all maintained a beautiful, rosy glow even as we sweat through the outdoor wedding photos. After that, I was hooked on stains. I also love that they multi-task and can be used on lips, too. My favorites are from tarte and benefit.

tarte
Eco-chic tarte has a full range of Cheek Stains ($30). Each one has an all-natural, gel formulation that comes in a push-up tube. Since it’s a solid, it’s one of the easiest stains to use (also great for travel – no dripping or leaking bottles). It’s easy to blend and doesn’t dry so quickly that you have to race to blend. But once it dries, it stays in place all day. There’s no alcohol to dry out skin and no oil to clog pores.

Don’t be afraid of how dark some of the colors look. They go on sheer and look natural. They’ve made some lighter shades more recently. But I still prefer the darker shades, because they simply give more color without looking overdone. I’m a longtime fan of tickled, which is a pretty, sheer peach-red shade, and sunkissed, which is a great bronze. tarte cheek stains are available from tarte, Sephora, and beauty.com.

benefit
benefit also makes fabulous stains. My favorite is posie tint ($28), which is a sheer poppy pink. It has a liquid-gel formula that’s easy to blend and doesn’t dry super fast. If you want something more rosy, definitely try benetint ($28) – it’s a classic.

Do Tell

Do you have a problem with fading cheek color? Have you ever tried any of the products I recommended? Do tell.

P.S. Check out the newly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from amazon.com, beauty.com, Benefit, Sephora, and more.

« Adapted, Deliverance |  The things I find in my closet…. »

© 2009 THE COVETED.