Beauty Files #002 | Black Women & Blush – Do Black Women Really Need It?
I know it’s late….and you ladies are probably about to pass out! But naturally my brain goes eight-billion miles per hour. I was just having a recent conversation with a good friend of mine, and we got on the discussion of cosmetics. I don’t often wear make-up…and when I usually do, there always has to be some kind of event or specially occasion – that leaves my face a wide open canvas for various colors thanks to some of today’s hottest make-up brands. But there is just one subject in regards to make-up that always boggles me to death. Black women & blush….do we really need it? When I was a kid, I used to watch my grandmother apply her make-up while humming to Opera tunes. Funny enough, I used to crack up at the fact that she hummed away to Luciano Pavarotti while applying bucket loads of pink blush along her cheek lines. And I completely hated it! I swore up & down that blush was something that would NEVER be applied to my own face. Until one day, I found myself at a local department store make-up counter wanting to get my face done. All I wanted was a clean & fresh look…nothing out of the norm! Then came the drama – when the department store associate wanted to put blush on my face. I had to tell her NO and a side dose of abrasiveness! It was like the exorcist part 3…leaving both me & the sales associate battling over her wanting to use blush on my face. She told me & I quote “ It will bring out your face more” – automatically I was saying to myself “ Is this chick crazy?”. So then came my love of ultra glossy magazines, which featured images of some of our favorite black celebrities who often don blush. You’ve probably seen it on the faces of Naomi, Tyra, Kerry Washington, Lil Kim (especially), and various other black celebrities. So my question for all of you ladies ( on this Thursday night) is…..Do Black Women Need Blush? Or Is It All A Myth? This has to be one of those questions need some answers. More after the jump!
Do Black Women Need Blush? Check Out Some Of The Faces Below:
Additional Photos: Getty Images, Splash, WireImage
Comments
Comment from candy corn
Time May 29, 2009 at 3:02 am
tee this is definitely a tricky question! i am biracial and i’ve personally seen my mother use blush and she is black. i hated the look as well on darker skin tones. but there are some folks who look fab with it on.
Comment from caprice
Time May 30, 2009 at 1:23 am
hey tee tee girl you are really digging deep on these posts huh? but I so feel you on the blush on black women. i can totally understand maybe a dash or two on lighter skin women but once I see that or bronzer on cheek bones of dark women I cringe. because they always manage to look like stone face statues dont you agree?
Comment from starbox
Time May 30, 2009 at 1:36 am
of course blush is for everyone!… with the hundreds of makeup companies..there are plenty of blush colors that fit for women of darker skin tone.
Comment from TEE
Time May 30, 2009 at 10:22 am
See that is my point…there is blush for women of dark skin tones – WHY??? What black woman do you know posses rosy cheeks? What is the purpose of using blush? Blush accentuates the faces of fair skinned women! And why do black women feel the need to put something on such as blush. Everyone claims that it brings out the features of darker skinned women….but how? It still doesn’t kick start any logical explanation.
Comment from Meena
Time June 1, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Well, as a dark skinned, black woman. I wear blush. I love the way my cheeks look when they are rosy. And I get TONS of compliments. I think if you are light skinned, you find a nice pink or bronze blush for your face. If you are dark like me, a nice rosy cheek is beautiful. I think it depends on the person, it depends on the face, it depends on the cheeks. More power to the black women who take chances, who embrace makeup….I even think the black women who pull off red lipstick deserve an applause, bc as you know that mess is not easy.
Anyway, I don’t wear tons of makeup, but I do have blush on almost everyday.
Toodles.
Comment from TEE
Time June 1, 2009 at 4:03 pm
You know what I kind of love? BRONZERS! I might have to focus on the whole Bronzing thing right quick! Now that is something that I love on AL skin tones – especially through the summer & beginning of fall. I still can’t get myself to rock blush…lol
Comment from Female Hustler
Time June 2, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I must say Kerry Washington blush is gorgeous!I think all skin tones can wear blush, as long as it is not over done like we see in runways.
And for women of color don’t be afraid to experiment!Just find the shade that works for you.
Comment from Nani
Time June 27, 2009 at 5:04 am
I’m Chicana, and in the summer i get brazilian dark, I have never been big on blush, and i think most women don’t need much make-up, just a good pair of eyebrows, moisturizer for the body, some sort of lip gloss/tinter/chapstick, eye dust, and maybe a good pair of lashes if yours are thin like mine.
Blush always reminds me of my aunts and i’m afraid to use it.
I’m a bronzer type of girl.
Comment from Latosha
Time July 23, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Hi, I think that its okay for Black women to wear blush and bronzer because it brings out your face. Just as long as its done correctly. Now if you have a lighter complextion dont apply a really dark blush and vice versa. I would say if you decide to wear it make sure its not overdone.
Comment from Sari Norris
Time October 2, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I think when done poorly on any complexion blush or even bronzer can be a unexplainable or even clown like. However, when done correctly they can be used in combination to bring out features that might have gone unnoticed with out the extra high lighting.
Comment from Dollface
Time May 29, 2009 at 2:43 am
I’m a makeupartist, and I’m also black. I think it depends on ur complexion. When it’s done right and compliments the skin the right blush is gorgeous.