An Ode to — Blushes |MEL & MUSE

NARS Taos (burnt brown-red), NARS Exhibit A (red), NARS Daydream (pink), and NARS Oasis (plum).

Out of my small makeup collection, blushes take up the majority. I can't explain the life-changing, euphoric awe I felt when I applied blush (correctly) for the first time. It was Clinique Sunset Glow, a blush reminiscent of aged red bricks. I know I'm an advocate of metaphors and all things symbolically vague, but trust me when I say that it really is like bricks (in the most flattering way.)

Because I never dabbled in any eye or lip makeup, blushes were a way to liven up my face and let me play with color. I really do recommend for anyone starting their makeup collection to invest in a blush because it's very multipurpose as well — eyeshadow, a darker color for a sun-burnt cheek contour, pigment on top of lip balm, etc.

When shopping for one, it gets SUPER intimidating because some brands host an entire spectrum (ie. NARS), so I actually recommend looking at a brand with a smaller collection because it will usually showcase the core shades — peach, coral, plum, red-brown, etc.

Once you have that base exposure, it's a lot easier to categorize which works for you and how you want to apply it to your personal style with different finishes and textures.