Brush Up Your Blush Game

Blush has the power to perk up your whole look, which is why you’ve been wearing it since that first day your mom said you could. Instead of brushing it on your apples, go with a swoopy W for a winning complexion.

BY LISA D E SANTIS

TikTok creators and makeup artists are raving about the healthy-looking, cheekbone-chiseling results of the W blush technique. Good news: It’s a breeze to re-create IRL.

1

DO THE W

Just as the name implies, the goal is to draw the letter W across your face. Use a big, fluffy brush. Start at the top of one cheekbone and trace your brush down to the apple, then up to and across the bridge of the nose; mirror the V shape on the other side to complete the look, says celebrity makeup artist Mariela Bagnato. The higherthan-usual blush lifts your face, while the color on your nose gives a convincing faux glow because that’s where the sun would add color (if you weren’t slathered in SPF).

2

FIND YOUR FORMULA

Whether you use cream or powder is up to you, but it’s important to note that those with oily skin may want to avoid an oil-based formula, since it will be applied on the nose, your most grease-prone spot.

3

CHOOSE YOUR COLOR Pink? Coral? Rose? For the most flattering shade, find the one your cheeks turn when they’re naturally flushed (like after a workout), Bagnato says. Shop our favorite new picks on the right.

1 Sephora Collection Pro Blush Brush #99, $30; sephora.com 2 Chromafusion Blush in Darling Pink, $14; marykay.com 3 Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush in Nearly Rose, $21; rarebeauty.com

4 LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush in Empower, $16; sephora.com 5 Moone Rich Berry Blush, $29; benefitcosmetics.com

NOW THAT’S BEAUTIFUL

Ouai to Go

In case you’re not among the more than 2 million people who follow the brand Ouai on Instagram, allow us to introduce you. It’s pronounced “way,” and it was founded by hairstylist Jen Atkin, who’s beloved by celebs like Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez. Atkin and her team built their brand on listening to what customers say. Example: When fans fell in love with the scents in their styling products, Ouai started making perfumes. The products are top-notch, and so are the company’s values. They have super-inclusive messaging and donate funds to causes we can get behind. Most recently, they’ve supported Period (a nonprofit that’s working to eradicate period poverty by, among other things, increasing access to menstrual products), LGBTQ youth groups, and Wags and Walks (a nonprofit that’s helping to decrease the number of dogs euthanized in shelters). Come for the Wave Spray; stay for a brand that’s making a difference.