4 ways with… gel blush

Gone are the days when the only product women had to inject a little colour into their cheeks was a pot of rouge, or a one-dimensional terracotta powder blush.

No, these days there are a plethora of possibilities when it comes to making up our faces – but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t jump at the chance to use one simple-seeming product if it could multi-task like a master. And as it happens, we’ve got one product that can offer you the pop of colour to your cheeks you so desire, and much, much more…

It’s called gel blush. It’s relatively new on the beauty scene (and yes, it’s somewhat different to cream blush in that the formulation is more silky than creamy), but let me tell you, there isn’t much it can’t do. Right now we’re loving Barely Blushing from Napoleon Perdis, and the many ways in which we can enjoy it…

As a cheek colour – to state the obvious, this product is perfect for adding a subtle hint of colour to your cheeks. A gel formula is ideal for those who want control over the colour intensity of their blush, or are simply after a more sheer finish.

As a lip tint – packaged in a lipgloss-style casing, this sheer tint glides onto the lips perfectly, giving them a gorgeous stain without the tacky feeling.

As an eye gloss – we all know powdery or creamy shadows can cause creases on our eyelids. The beauty of a gel formulation is that it sets in place in seconds and provides a gorgeously gleamy sweep of colour that goes perfectly with lashings of black mascara.

As a face illuminator – gel-like formulations are also really helpful in creating an illusion on the face – that is, a brightening effect or a distraction. Apply a small amount of Napoleon Perdis Barely Blushing down the bridge of the nose and around the jaw line and brow bone to make the face appear instantly thinner and more radiant.