Cindy Crawford knows a thing or two about makeup. The model and founder of Meaningful Beauty has sat in many makeup artists’ chairs over the years, and recently shared with Allure her “modern take on that classic ’90s supermodel look” that helped her rise to fame. From filling in her brows to contouring her face, we’re trying all her tips. But we especially love her tried-and-true trick for applying blush: Smiling!
Crawford doesn’t keep her favorite products a secret either. She uses Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheek to Chic Blush in Pillow Talk Original. And, it’s kind of a two-for-one: The palette includes a darker, more pigmented blush on the outer edge and a lighter highlighting blush in the center.
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The blush has two shades in every compact. You can use either one alone or swirl both hues for a blended look.
“This is the way I learned to do blush. You know, smile,” she says in a video while applying the product to the apples of her cheeks. “If nothing else, you get a smile in for the day.” She adds that you can brush your blush upward to the outside of your eyes for a little lift, but that she prefers it right on the apples. Then, she uses her foundation brush to blend and smooth it out. “People tease the ’90s big girls because we love blush, but what can I say? We do. We love blush,” she says.
While Crawford uses the darker color for her ’90s look (she says the lighter one would make the look too modern), the brand suggests applying the outer shade up the cheekbones and brushing the middle shade on the apples of the cheeks, then blending.
The blush comes in nine shades, but if you want to be like Crawford, choose Pillow Talk Original. (And if you’re not a fan of powder blush but like this color, Charlotte Tilbury also sells an easy-to-blend cream formula in the same shade.)
Nordstrom shoppers say this blush is worthy of its supermodel status.
“I recently got my hands on the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic blush in the shade Pillow Talk, and I must say, it’s amazing,” said one. “The color is the perfect neutral that goes well with any makeup look. The product feels smooth and blends effortlessly, giving a natural and healthy flush to my cheeks. I especially love the two-toned design which allows for customizable color intensity.”
Said another: “I own far too many blushes (it is my favorite type of makeup), but this is my go-to blush in Pillow Talk. It is a pop of color that you can build up, but also subtle enough for wearing into the office. I enjoy the two-tone option of the Charlotte Tilbury blushes, but a lot of the time I swirl the two colors anyway for a nice blended blush.”
One thing to note: Some users say you need to handle this blush with extra care. “Pillow Talk is a repeat purchase for me, I absolutely adore it,” shared one reviewer. “My only complaint is that the powder will usually break up before I’ve even hit the pan, and even without previously dropping it, this can make future use messy and I usually have to replace it sooner.”
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Clear the catwalk: We’re one step closer to becoming a ’90s supermodel.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
