If you’ve ever caught an episode of a fashion design reality show or taken a basic home ec course, you should be familiar with the concept of draping. It’s when fashion designers and crafty seamstresses manipulate and arrange fabric to create amazing articles of clothing. What you might not know is that draping has another meaning when it comes to makeup. In the realm of beauty, draping is a technique for applying blush, where makeup artists and amateurs use face makeup to “manipulate” their facial features. You’re likely used to sweeping blush onto the apples of your cheeks for a flushed makeup look, but that isn’t the only way to wear it. The latest trend in blush application involves using it to chisel your cheekbones, in place of contour powders and creams. To start sculpting your face with blush and try the makeup technique of draping for yourself, you can follow our tutorials for draping with both powder and cream blushes.
How to Drape with Powder Blush
Do you typically choose to carve out your cheekbones with a contour powder? If that’s the case, you’ll want to stick to draping with a powder, too. Try the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Blush.
Step 1: Brush blush onto cheekbones. Start by picking up a contour brush rather than a blush brush. (A contour brush will be better suited to creating definition, whereas blush brushes typically make for a softer, diffused look.) Suck in your cheeks and pucker your lips to help see where your cheekbones are. When you can pinpoint that line, apply blush along it, going from the top of your ear to the outer corner of your eye.
Step 2: Carry it up to the temples. While cheekbones tend to get a lot of attention from contour powders, they aren’t the only spot on your face that can be sculpted. Bring the blush up to your temples to further define your face.
Step 3: Use powder to blend out. We’ve all experienced the sad situation of putting on way too much blush. If you’ve been too heavy handed while draping, use a face powder to make the look less severe. Dip a fluffy brush into the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder, picking up a small amount of powder, and blend it over top of the blush.
How to Drape with Cream Blush
Do you prefer to define your face with cream contouring products? If the answer is “yes,” reach for a cream blush to drape with.
Step 1: Apply blush with a makeup blender. Cream blush is often applied with the help of fingertips, but that isn’t the best option for draping. Using a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Contour Blender, will give you more control and allow for more precision. After picking up product with the makeup blender, press it into your skin along your cheekbones and temples.
Step 2: Bounce the blender to soften lines. Just like with contouring, you don’t want to leave behind any harsh lines. Bounce and roll the blender against your skin to smooth any spots where a line is too visible.
Step 3: Set with powder. Cream products have a tendency to shift throughout the day. To ensure this look lasts, apply a light layer of translucent powder.
How to Complete Your Cheeks
Draping may be a beauty trend that makes a serious statement, but it doesn’t make for a full face. To finish your look—whether you used a powder of cream blush—there are still a few more steps to follow.
Step 1: Top cheeks with highlighter. Draping eliminates the need to apply bronzer, contour powder or cream, or more blush, but that still leaves one product to place on your cheeks—highlighter. Using the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Shimmerista Highlighting Powder or L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette and a fan brush, sweep an illuminating powder above your cheekbones. For an extra dose of glow, highlight the bridge of your nose and the inner corners of your eyes.
Step 2: Spritz with setting spray. To lock in your look (even if you already used setting powder), give your face a few spritzes with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray.
Next up: 8 Blush Mistakes You Could Be Making.
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