Blush can really only go so far.........your guideline to apply blush is:
+ not below the bottom of the nose..........(you'll look cold)
+ not pass the middle of the eye - towards your nose..........(you'll look sunburned)
+ not beyond the arch of the eyebrow when going around your temple............(it'll look dirty)

If applied beyond those 3 guidelines, blush just looks 'off'. Here are some tricks we do for photography to help 'emphasize' a person's features:

1. To emphasize bone structure.......... Apply blush or contour underneath the cheekbone. Not sure where this is? Try the '2 finger' technique. With your first two fingers, (forefinger and index) line your forefinger above your ear, the index finger below your ear (if you cross your hand across your face......it'll be easier!). Make sure the bottom finger is lined horizontally across the face.................By applying your contour between the two fingers, you'll always get it underneath the cheekbone.............Want stronger cheekbones? After applying underneath the cheekbone, apply some more just in the temple. Keep the top of the cheekbone blush-free. This illusion of depth, highlight and then depth again will make the cheekbone stronger. The illusion? By applying blush underneath the cheekbones, you make your face appear wider, and you create more attention to your hair. You're actually drawing a line that leads the eye directly to your hairstyle. Great for emphasizing an evening look, or for a bridal look.
This also works when applying blush on the apples of the cheeks and then applying the color strongly back towards the ear. You'll still get the same 'optical illusion' line effect. Just note, you'll also be emphasizing your nose. (The line goes both ways!)

2. To make skin look clearer and emphasize your lipstick!............. smile! And apply on the apples of your cheeks. Blend back, but don't go any further than the outside corner of the eye, or the actual apple of the cheek......... by just keeping color on the front of the cheeks, you give the illusion of clearer skin, and you will also emphasize your eyes.


3. To make your eyes stand out..................Every magazine editor will tell you that if they can get you to "look" at a cover at the model's eyes, you'll pretty much buy it. Why? Eye contact is a very powerful tool. Here's a great optical illusion............apply your blush starting near the outside corner of the eye, then go up to the temple, and then up on the forehead, as far as the arch of the eyebrow. You're almost drawing a letter "C" around your eye. What this does is give the illusion of a half circle. What our eye tries to do is complete the circle by continuing around................around your eye to be exact. You create a stronger focus on the eye, and more eye contact. It really does work!--