Subtle Pink Cheeks

Subtle pink cheeks are youthful, healthy and glowing. They also make the skin look warm, fresh and awake. When used on the face, they provide a subtle highlight to your complexion that is especially flattering in photographs.

When applying a pink blush to your cheeks, use a round brush and dab it into the color before applying it directly onto your skin with quick circular motions in an upwards direction from underneath towards the outer edges of your cheekbones (like so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxzC1gV7eg4).

Subtle Lips

Subtle lips can be a wonderful way to add some boldness to your look, especially if you’re not comfortable with the idea of obvious color. Here are some ways to make subtle lips work for you:

• Apply lip liner first. This will help even out the edges and keep your lipstick from bleeding into unwanted places around the perimeter of your mouth.
• Use a lip brush for more precise application. This is especially important if you’re using darker colors or doing something like lining just outside of the natural lip line (which I do a lot). Using an angled brush like this one makes it easier than ever before!

Subtle Eyes

Subtle Eyes

• Apply a light layer of highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. If you don’t have a highlighter, use a lighter eye shadow instead. The point is this: if you’re going for subtle, don’t go for the obvious.
• Use mascara on just the tips of your lashes (or skip mascara altogether).

I think it’s important to start the client out with a subtle look and build upon that. This gives them time to see the color on their skin. We can always do more, but we can’t take it back!

I think it’s important to start the client out with a subtle look and build upon that. This gives them time to see the color on their skin. We can always do more, but we can’t take it back!

A few years ago, I had a client who wanted bold highlights in her hair and ended up looking like she had been attacked by a flock of angry birds. No matter how much I tried to tone down the look, it always looked too harsh and unnatural on her skin. (And yes, this was even after toning.) She didn’t know what she wanted until we started over completely with less color in her hair—a neutral base that would allow us to build upon the look instead of just adding more color until we got exactly what she wanted.”

Achieve a natural look with your highlights, enhance your features and never cake on makeup again.

You can achieve a natural look with your highlights, enhance your features and never cake on makeup again.

You can start by highlighting the contours of your face to build a subtle look. Then, if you want to go bolder, you can add more highlights around the eyes and eyebrows for an even more striking effect.

If you’re going for a subtle highlight look on top of having darker hair or skin tones, adding some light brown/blonde into the mix will help brighten up any complexion without appearing too harsh or harsh against lighter hair colors like blondes and redheads