“Look up, laugh loud, talk big, keep the color in your cheek and the fire in your eye, adorn your person, maintain your health, your beauty and your animal spirits.” –William Hazlitt
In an ongoing mission to inject what Tom Pecheux, calls “fashion… naughtiness… and above all youth” into the 66-year-old brand, the Estée Lauder Creative Director has introduced 16 fresh new shades to the Pure Color Blush collection. “Cheeks comes to life when you accentuate the highlights and contours—it’s what defines a woman.” says Pecheux of correctly applied color.
His creative color palette includes subtle nudes, mauves, and peaches as well as more daring electric pinks and rich plum shades which come in satin or shimmer finishes.
Here, Tom Pecheux gives us his tips and tricks for glowing, sculpted cheeks.
What distinguishes this new collection from others?
When you create a new blush collection, as a makeup artist you try to make sure that you have everything in your kit for everyone, for every occasion. So we created a very wide color selection that will fit every tone for any occasion from a light whisper of color to deep and dramatic.
How do you recommend determining the right shade of blush?
First, you need to define what you are looking for: whether it is a warmer touch or a fresh and fruity pop of color. Also, you need to decide where you want to apply your blush. Is it going to contour your face or color your cheeks? If you want to contour your face, choose the shades that have a brown base and are a little bit darker than your skin tone so it blends without looking harsh. If you want to color your cheeks, look for shades that are more pink, tangerine, raspberry and melon, and apply perfectly on the apples of your cheeks.
What are your tips for correct application?
I like to use the Estée Lauder Blush Brush and I grab a little bit of color at a time. Take the brush and sweep it once across the blush (of your cheek) and then tap the brush on the mirror to make sure the pigments get worked into the brush instead of just sitting on the top. This will make the color go on evenly—not patchy or streaky.
Some of your picks are very bold. What look were you imagining when creating these bright shades?
When I created this collection, I was thinking fashion and attitude. Fashion is never looking for weakness and loving all looks and colors and I created a collection that can do everything. Fashion loves character, power, individuality, and high femininity and this collection represents those same characteristics.
What eye and lip would you recommend to pair with these bold blushes?
I love the bold shades of blush and picked three favorites that were introduced as a limited edition in 2012 through select stores. When doing a bold blush, pair with either a bold lip or bold eyes. This will create a perfect balance to the face with just two points of color. If you do all three, then you will have too much vivid color and it will not look as sophisticated as you would like.
