Blush

From application techniques to color selection, blush, much like eyeliner, can be tricky to get just right. "My blush philosophy is, I use it not only to get a flush of color, but I use it to sculpt the face," explains Kate McCarthy, Glo Minerals' national makeup artist. And when it comes to color, McCarthy has a few tips on how to make the hue-selection process a whole lot easier. Check them out when you read more.

There's something undeniably Spring about youthful pink hues, but this season we're loving the more sophisticated version of the color on blushing bottoms. Lest we make you blush, we'll avoid the cheeky puns and delve straight into what we love about the splash of color on our trousers and billowy, slouchy silk pants. Just as the styled set below shows you, treat your blushy bottoms as a neutral, then add on the chic printed separates and layers à la Fearne Cotton, Maria Sharapova, and Rachel Roy. We like to think of them as the equivalent of military-hued pants in the Fall; they'll go with everything this Spring, and just as olive cargoes lent a decidedly cold-weather tilt to your look, these will do just the opposite, giving fresh seasonal chicness to whatever you put on.

At this year's fashion weeks all over the world, models were spotted with rosy shades around and beneath their eye sockets. This week, it hit the big time, coming down the runway at Chanel haute couture. Since it seems like this particular application style may be a big couture trend, I thought I'd try to make it wearable in real life. So to check out my attempt at making high fashion street-ready, just keep reading.

You've probably seen mood-changing makeup before, but have you ever seen makeup that's formulated to change your mood? Next month, Physicians Formula is launching a heart-shaped mosaic powder and blush made using principles of color therapy, texture therapy, and aromatherapy. Scented with violet to bring on feelings of well-being and Arctic rose to mimic the effects of endorphins, these Happy Booster cosmetics might not replace your therapist, but the cute design will definitely make you smile.

This might sound totally weird, but my favorite blush right now is Clarins's delicious-smelling Rouge Prodige ($24). Why lipstick as blush? I've got dry skin, so moisturizing lipstick formulas don't desiccate my skin like powder blushes, and long-wearing versions deliver the kind of lasting color usually only available from cheek stains. Plus, you only have to buy one product instead of two coordinating shades. The color I've been using, Red Prodige, is a nice primary red that will work on most skin tones, and it delivers a sheer, natural-looking wash of cheek color that's very blendable. Plus, this stuff smells like rainbow sherbet, and your kisses will be memorably sweet. It's not a cheap product by any stretch of the imagination, but as a combo deal I'm extremely fond of it. If you've got dry skin and you're willing to experiment, it comes highly recommended.

In today's New York Times, writer Ricki Morell discusses her mother's panic upon discovering that her beloved Camay soap has become nearly impossible to find. While it hasn't been discontinued, and it's still sold through distributors online and abroad, you probably won't have much luck finding it in your local drugstore.

This got me to thinking about products I wish were easier to find. I've been using Bonne Bell's famous blush gels since my younger years but can only seem to purchase them through the company directly at this point. What about you? Whether it's due to nostalgia, a bit of sensory memory, or some other reason altogether, which longtime beauty favorites of yours do you wish were easier to find?