A glazed flush rules the return of runway beauty

“Why did we get into fashion and beauty?” This was a question that many didn’t even know needed answering until bare-chested, corseted Leon Dame came stumbling down the moon-dazed underbelly of Pont Alexandre III straight out of a Brassaï scene. Maison Margiela Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 by John Galliano shall go down in history as one of the best fashion shows ever. Outsiders felt seen among the band of porcelain doll outcasts; the jaded and the bored have plenty to marvel with Galliano’s interpretation of Margiela codes and makeup icon Pat McGrath’s artistry on full blast in a way only a runway reunion between these two can deliver. For those of us who don’t have the guts to don Edwardian corsetry or hip pads just yet, we can always take the Margiela magic with us in porcelain-like skin and glazed blush.

Straight from the credits: Pat Mcgrath Divine Blush: Legendary glow colour balm in peach Lotus

McGrath used this multi-tasking product to amp up the complexion’s dewy, glassy finish with a painterly, watercolor-like touch of color. It stands out from letting nourishing emollients and humectants like shea butter, squalane and passion fruit extract create a glow, keeping skin soft, smooth and supple while adding buildable color and luminosity to your lips and cheeks. “Trust me, it's a game-changer for achieving a lit-from-within glow that will leave you feeling absolutely radiant,” she has said of the stick product. This particular warm peach shade was swiped then stippled with a brush all over the apples, built up alone or as a base for dramatic shades like yellows and mauves under airbrushed gloss.

Beginner-friendly: Patrick Ta Major headlines double-take creme & powder blush in she’s so l.a.

Blush is one of the most intimidating things to get right in makeup, which is why Patrick Ta, makeup artist to the stars and a favorite of the TikTok generation, made it easy with a two-step product. “Apply powder with a fluffy complexion brush, then layer on cream to the apples of the cheeks with fingertips or a foundation brush for a dewy, life-like glow,” Ta recommends. This bronzy shade has the perfect wash of red.

Surreal radiance for everyday: Hourglass ambient lighting powder in sublime flush

A classic for a reason, Hourglass pioneered radiance — not shiny or glittery — as early as 2014 using its Photoluminescent Technology to exhibit depth and dimension. A decade later, it is still unreplicated, thanks to its actual formulation: the hand-made powders use an advanced miscelare technique — which means “to mix” in Italian — to create swirls of pigment and powder; no two compacts are alike, resulting in seamless, soft-focus and multidimensional color. Sublime Flush, a universally flattering soft pink fused with lilac, packs a punch without being too in-your-face for everyday.

Long-lasting flush for textured skin: Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in honeysuckle

Blush-focused and dewy looks often alienate those with textured skin because these two trends, with the wrong product, can emphasize textured, uneven complexions. Amazonian Clay, an ingredient found in clarifying masks, is the star of this blush. It minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. It also blurs out the look of texture and enlarged pores. And because your skin’s natural oils aren’t acting up under the makeup, blush wears better and longer. Get the runway look by diffusing this bold black cherry shade around the edges; then layer it with a highlighter stick on the high points of your face.

A k-beauty twist: Nudestix nudies matte all over face color blush in sunkissed pink

K-beauty is all about targeted, pinpoint applications, and Nudestix (which, while made in Korea, is not a Korean brand) is a staple in many Korean makeup artists’ kits for the way their balms just melt onto the skin. Unique in this list is this new kind of blush: nude blushes, which are essentially soft, matte and monochromatic nudes made to be used in place of contour without that telltale hint of grayness; it’s less about creating shadows than a gradient of shades on the face. Nude blushes are best for contouring the depths of the eyes, sides of the nose, cheeks, and lips before going in with a pop of color.

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In the Philippines, Pat McGrath, Patrick Ta, Hourglass, Tarte, and Nudestix are available online at sephora.ph.