For a blush that is too dark, I scrape it up into a fine powder with a toothpick. I then mash up any remaining chunks with the blunt end of a make-up brush handle, and put it in a new 1cup size Tupperware container with a screw on lid that I have bought only for use with make-up. Mix some baby powder (cheapest) or face powder in it until it is as light as you want it (stir & shake well with the lid closed). I have turned a very dark unusable blush into a very sheer wash of color that I could build up slowly for a very natural look. An added plus to this method is that your blush will now last you a really long time. If you are not ready to start mashing up your make-up just yet, another option is to dip your blush brush in face powder before you pick up the blush color from the pan to dilute it. If you want the color to go on even lighter, dip the brush in the blush pan first, and then in the face powder. These methods are also great for making brown blush more wearable. Always make sure that you knock any excess blush color off the brush before applying to your cheeks to avoid a too-heavy application.
For a blush that is too bright, you can also try the above methods. You can also try applying face powder over it to soften the color, or buffing some of it off with a cotton ball. I prefer to mix a too-bright blush with some brown blush to tone it down without lightening the color. This is also perfect for making a too-purple blush wearable. Mash the blush up in the Tupperware container (I also set aside a little bit of the blush in its original color to help me compare while I'm perfecting the new color mix), and slowly add small amounts of the brown blush. You may not need very much brown at all. Scrape the brown lightly off the pan with a toothpick or a Popsicle stick. You could use some medium brown matte eyeshadow instead, but I think you will get better results with a blush, since eyeshadow color may be more concentrated. Blush is also cheaper and you get much more of it. I like to use Wet 'n' Wild Baked Earth.
For a broken blush compact. Just mash up the rest of the blush and put it in a Tupperware container as described above and use as a loose powder blush.
To apply a loose powder blush, dip the blush brush only in the film of powder on the sides of the container to avoid picking up too much blush on your brush. Then tap the brush on the edge of the sink to remove any excess.
Frosted Blush. I don't care for the look of frosted blush. I'd rather see frost on lips or eyes. Since frost is really only appropriate for nighttime, and matte looks great both day and night, buying special frosted products for only nighttime or special occasions can be a money waster. If you want a little frost to highlight your cheeks for a special evening, here's how to do it without spending money on an additional frosted blush. Apply a light colored frosted eyeshadow (creme or powder) to the tops of your cheekbones. If it is a powder shadow, use a brush and apply it lightly. With a powder you could also apply it all over your cheekbones on top of your blush. Gold, Silver, Pink, Peach, Champagne, and Beige can all work. If you don't own any light frosted eyeshadows, Wet 'n' Wild makes a frosted highlighting powder you can use anywhere on your face. You get much more product for your money than you would with an eyeshadow. If you own one, this is the time to finally use the light frosted half of that blush duo.You can also use a light colored frosted lipstick on the top of your cheekbones instead. Wet 'n' Wild makes a frosted gold lipstick, a champagne, a silver, frosted beige and pink-beige lipstick and many other light colored frosted lipsticks which would all work well. You could also use any frosted light pink or peach. Another option is to just use a frosted colored lipstick as your blush. To make a cream blush frosted, mix in a little light frosted eyeshadow (cream or powder) or a little frosted lipstick
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