NYFW Tip Alert: How to Use Lipstick as Blush
Gucci Westman how on to use lipstick as blush at New York Fashion Week. Each day of New York Fashion Week the Yahoo Beauty editors will be sharing one life-changing beauty tip from the makeup artists, hair stylists, nail artists, and models we meet backstage.
Self-Portrait is a relatively unknown label — though it has been worn by Kristen Stewart, Rachel McAdams, and Kerry Washington already — but still Malaysian designer Han Chong booked one of the very best makeup artists in the biz for his New York Fashion Week debut: Gucci Westman. For the lace-heavy New York City–inspired collection, the longtime NYFW staple created a look that centered around skin that was “super fresh and luminous,” along with an “edgy, tough sort of look that would stand out because the [models] have this giant fringe that covers one eye,” says Westman. “Only one eye shows so you have to make it be something, so I wanted to do this combination of cream shadow that’s a beautiful khaki metallic green and black — it had to have a graphic element.”
The look by Gucci Westman at the Self-Portrait presentation. (Photo: Instagram)
The V-shaped swish of liner was perhaps the boldest part of Westman’s beauty look, but it was another area that got some interesting treatment. In an effort to keep the texture of the models’ skin luminous and hydrated looking, she skipped the powder blush and instead turned to two Shiseido lipsticks — Perfect Rouge in the rosy RS 711 and reddish brown BR 757 — to bring some color to the cheeks. “I’m actually just mixing these two for a little bit of contour and a little bit of color—to keep it really creamy and natural and easy,” says Westman.
Her technique was incredibly simple, and is easy to copy when on the run or in need of a little cheekbone pick-me-up without lugging products and brushes around. Westman dabbed the lipsticks directly on the models’ cheekbones, straight out of the tube, then used her fingertips to blend it gently. The focus this fashion week seems to be on real, raw skin and complexions that look ultra authentic, and this move is definitely in line with that.
Westman is personally not a fan of overdone makeup, saying that she finds the days of having a full face of makeup, powder and foundation “just not really relevant.” “Everybody doesn’t have perfect skin, so you might need some help, but there are so many great products like BB and CC creams — so many ways to make your skin look amazing without looking like you’re ‘done,’’ she says, adding, “I hate seeing heavy.” With this quickie beauty hack most any lipstick that works on your skin tone can be used. The finish is more dewy, and the color looks like it’s radiating from the inside of the skin out. And, says Westman, “It feels real and cool.”
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