Use Different Shades of Blush to Shape and Define Your Cheekbones, Jaw and Nose

Did you ever buy a quad or trio blush, and wonder what you're supposed to do with the colors that aren't the ones you want to use as your blush? If you're still wondering, read on. Blushes in multiple colors are intended to help you define and shape your facial features. Besides adding roses to your cheeks, you can make your cheekbones and jaw bone stand out, slim the look of your face, change the apparent width of your nose, and all without resorting to plastic surgery.

The two quads in the photo are from Smashbox, but you can do the same thing with CoverGirl's Instant Cheekbones blush trios, or by picking three or four different shades from your own blush stash. You'll also need an angled blush, a light brush for highlighting, and a blending brush (see second photo).

Because my coloring is fair with cool undertones, I've chosen some light shades for my face. Choose the colors that will work for you. You'll need a pale shade for highlighting, a dark shade for defining, and a medium shade for blushing.

Using the lightest color (for me, that's the bottom color on the quad to the right in the photo), use the light brush to pick up a little color, and sweep it from the temple down and over on the outer edge of each cheekbone. You're highlighting to make the bone stand out, so don't use too much color. Then sweep a little more of the lightest color along your jaw bone.

With the angled brush, pick up some of the darkest color. Look in the mirror, and suck in your cheeks. Dust the dark shade down the sucked-in part of your cheeks. Then let your cheeks out, and smile big. With the dark end of the double-ended brush, pick up the medium shade and swirl it over the apples of your cheeks, then blend.

Not done? Grab the angled brush again and sweep the dark color just under your jawbone on each side. The highlighted jawbone will make your jaw stand out, while the dark color beneath the jawbone makes the skin under the jaw recede, leading people to compliment you on your great bone structure instead of thinking to themselves that you're getting a little plumper.

To define your nose, sweep the lightest color down the center of your nose with the light brush. With a small defining brush (not shown), pick up the dark shade and sweep it lightly down the sides of your nose - not on the nose, but on your face just next to the nose. Again, the highlight will draw attention to the bone, while the dark color will make the sides of your nose recede, giving you the look of a narrower nose.

Three or four simple steps, and you'll have people wondering if you had "work" done, and only you need to know that it's just make-up!