This makeup trend might be hard to master, but it’s worth the effort

Cheeks are often the forgotten beauty spot, but forget at your peril, as make-up artist Bobbi Brown so succinctly points out. “A touch of colour will make your skin look alive and pretty, and blush is that perfect pop of colour,” she says.

The latest inspired trend, sunset blush, hit TikTok hard when beauty creator Alissa Janay posted about it and nearly 10 million views later, it has become one of the hottest beauty looks around. In Janay’s post, she dots on two dazzling, highly pigmented fuchsia shades of liquid blush near the temple, two dots of bright orange blush next to them in a line and placed on the top of the cheek bone, and then a dab of golden closer to the eye. The look is completed by skilfully (and I mean skilfully) blending them all strategically together, and so this beautiful gradient-effect sunset blush is born.

The cheeks are the hero of this look – go subtle on the eyes.Credit: Fernando Gomez/Snapper

To create the perfect base to complement this solar-inspired look, go for a glossy, tinted base over well-primed skin. For a primer, we love Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating ($76), followed by Chantecaille Future Skin ($149), an illuminating gel-based formula that is lightweight and buildable.

Now for the high-octane blush. Getting this look right can be a little tricky as you don’t want the colours to merge into a blob. First up, you need to work with products that have the same consistency. Choose two liquid blush shades and a liquid highlighter. For a shot of brilliant fluoro orange, try elf Camo Liquid Blush in Gorge Orange ($20), and for the hottest fuchsia, we love Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Lucky ($45). The finishing touch is the golden liquid highlighter; this creates an angelic halo-like shimmer. Try Milani Conceal + Perfect Liquid Highlighter ($10), to create a gorgeous golden glow.

Perfecting this look all comes down to blending skills. The trick is to blend each shade individually using a damp angled sponge like the Kryolan Angled Sponge ($7.50), with a different spot for each shade. Next, use a blush brush such as the M.A.C 129S Powder/Blush Brush ($81), to soften the edges. This really is a work of art.

As cheeks are the hero of this look – go subtle on the eyes. Janay has used a golden highlighter on the brow bone and a touch of winged eyeliner. The wing is not too overbearing, try a soft brown eyeliner pencil like Bobbi Brown Soft and Smokey Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick ($57), and for lips go with a glassy clear gloss. Our pick is the clear Huda Beauty Faux Filler Gloss ($33).

ASK STEPH

What is the best mascara for lash extensions?

Oil-free mascara is essential to keep the extension bond intact. We love Benefit They’re Real! lengthening mascara, $49. It comes with a moulded wand that coats lashes without clumping.

Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.

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