The fresh-faced ‘boyfriend blush’ trend inspired by two unexpected Royals
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Boyfriend jeans. Yup, heard of them. They’re slouchy in a way that suggests you’ve borrowed them from your man – in fact, their first airing may have been in 1961 when Marilyn Monroe wore them in The Misfits. The boyfriend shirt. Yup, heard of that too – the baggy, button-up style beloved by the Duchess of Sussex, who collared it for her first public appearance with the Duke at the Invictus Games (the design was actually called ‘The Husband Shirt’, so possibly a sartorial form of semaphore). But are you well-versed in ‘boyfriend blush’? No, me neither. At least I wasn’t until recently – when I noticed it popping up on my Instagram feed.
So what is it about boyfriends’ cheeks that we are meant to aspire to, you may well be asking yourself. If your boyfriend or husband’s cheek is rather rugged and weathered, you would be correct in thinking that his is not the type one is meant to emulate. The aspirational look is smooth yet outdoorsy. Think a young Prince William or Harry, fresh from the rugby pitch or with that straight-off-the-polo-pony glow. A chic cheek that has been exposed to the fresh air and is thoroughly well-circulated and flushed.
Now I know what you’re thinking. Might this make you look like your rosacea treatment has failed or you’re having a hot flush? Well, hear me out. I had my make-up done for a shoot the other week by pro Amanda Clarke, and we really started getting into the look. ‘We’re talking zero contouring here,’ says Clarke. ‘It’s more about creating a soft, diffuse flush. You’re channelling a sporty, healthy vibe. It’s a little bit jolly hockey sticks.’
So you’re not aiming blush at the apple of your cheeks, for instance. Rather, you’re letting it bloom over a much wider area. Some tutorials suggest dabbing it along the lower edge of the cheekbones, back towards the ear, and then, in a counterintuitive move, taking it down towards the jaw, almost creating a triangular shape, before buffing and blending it out.
To try it, Clarke suggests you start by ditching full- and medium-coverage foundation and opt for something more translucent, such as Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF 50 Tinted Veil (£38, Cult Beauty). Then, for the blush itself, steer towards sheer, malleable, blendable textures.
Cue a trio of terrific options. First, there’s the new Nudestix Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30 (£26.50, Cult Beauty). In flattering shades, it comes in a squeezy little tube. I’ve been using Pink Sunrise, applying it roughly in that triangular shape and blending with my fingertips (btw, you will need an SPF base underneath to ensure your whole face is protected from UV).
Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush, £26, Space NK; Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF 50 Tinted Veil, £38, Cult Beauty; Nudestix Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30, £26.50, Cult Beauty; Jones Road Miracle Balm, £36, Jones Road
Clarke is a big fan of Jones Road Miracle Balm (£36, Jones Road). ‘As you’re not applying in the traditional way, you can blend with a stippling or bronzer brush – because they aren’t angled and are fatter than a regular blusher brush, you can easily create that blown-out, cloud effect.’
If you prefer a powder, Selena Gomez’s brand, Rare Beauty, is drumming up a huge following and for good reason – the textures are super-elegant. The new Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush (£26, Space NK) is a sheeny dome of loveliness, sitting pretty in the compact, and conjures a radiant finish. Again, blend with a brush.
And lastly, if you like what you see, you can go for a rush of full-out, sports-day energy by adding a subtle smidge of blush across the bridge of your nose, before swirling it lightly over the two prominent outer ‘circles’ of your forehead, near your hairline. Then it’s off to the bar to toast the match winners. Which means you might end up with even more of a flush, but that’s another story.
