I’d wager to say that most of our grandmothers and mothers owned at least one red blush. My mother did. Like many other black women of the ill fated, orange-tinted, Fashion Fair generation there was at least one vibrant, brownish-red blush compact that my mom absolutely loved and a red latex sponge applicator floating around our house at any given moment. I loved to sniff her Fashion Fair makeup (I’m digressing but true heiresses to FF mothers know what I’m talking about). Looking back, it was genuinely 80’s on my mom but she felt pretty in it and was pretty in it because with her radiant smile, it transformed on her face.

Red blush is beautiful but tricky, no doubt about that. Pulled off right, You’ll look perfectly flushed and youthful. The key to how to wear red blush for black skin (or any skin tone for that matter actually) is to make sure your face is balanced. You want a canvas that’s smooth and even toned so make sure your foundation and concealer has covered up any redness in your skin before you try red blush or you’ll end up looking like you’re in a perma state of embarrassment.

start with a really good foundation primer to ensure that your skin is a smooth base for your blush application. on Marie‘s skin i used Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer which has a slight golden tint that plays well with her red blush. i then added Red Blush to the apples of her checks and blended it out very lightly to her temple area since to play on her beautiful oblong face shape. on her eyes, i decided that something lighter than black or blue was ideal so i used Bare Minerals Always Charcol Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner. it’s a perfect, feminine and sexy dark charcoal grey when black kohl liner is too much. to finish off her look which was fully appropos for L.A.’s 100 degree fall weekend, i donned her lips with Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Color Totally Toffee #215 which is a beautiful pinkish nude tone. her look came together nicely and all of the colors together reminded me the entire time of a ballerina. more specifically, Misty Copeland and this video.

ON MARIE:
Red Blush* – Nars Exhibit A Blush, NYX Red Cheeks Rouge Cream Blush (best for dry skin), Josie Maran Getaway Red Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée (best for dry skin), Sephora Collection Flashy Fuchsia Double Contouring Cream Blush (a bold pink red) (*the exact color Marie is wearing has been discontinued but these are also wonderful options)
Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer
Bare Minerals Always Charcol Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner
Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Color Totally Toffee #215.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN WEARING RED BLUSH:
Use a light hand; red blush is often highly pigmented and it’s better to build slowly.
If you are new to red blush, apply your primer, foundation and blush first. That will help you build your look around the color.
Try this look with a tiny dollop of luminizer or luminating primer to give it a more glam effect.
Go for softer black and deep charcoal liners for your eyes unless you want a harder more Gothic look.
Pink lipstick looks great with red blush because it’s complimenting not competing, so if you really want to wear red, go for a pinkish or even orange red lipstick.
Keep in mind that red blush looks great with winged liner as well. #makeupforblackwomen #youarebeautiful

The Face: Marie Young. The Makeup + The Hair + The Photography: Angel Jordan.

Underneath your makeup, it's a stubble hint of golden, dew that perfectly comes through. We love, love, love this primer and radiate your skin it does. Talk about instant, sexy, dewy glow.