Blush Anyway: Choosing Joy Over Perfect Skin

I feel incomplete without it.

Blush, that is.

Makeup artists often say not to apply blush on textured skin. I was blessed with beautiful skin when I was younger, but after all that allopathic medicine was put in my body, my skin has been suffering the consequences for years.

I am insecure about my skin. I used to be able to go out without makeup. Now, I can’t even go out the front of the house without wearing a mask. Makeup has literally been my mask.

My skin is already red from the MCAS/histamine flare (not acne/pimples) and it’s tricky to find a blush that will look natural.

And in my makeup ritual, blush is one of my favorite things to apply. So, when I got textured skin, it was so hard for me to give up blush. I did though, for a few years. But that didn’t make me happy.

Until one day when I decided to take back my joy and rebelled and applied blush.

I applied powder blushes. Oh, it didn’t look nice after a few hours. Since my skin is very dry and peeling, the blush that was sitting on top of the foundation also cracked.

It went on like that for a few months until I discovered that little gem above from Miniso. It’s the Minimalist. I wrote about it here. The post before this one also showcases this blush. I thought since we’re already on the subject of blushes that I should write this post, too.

I love this cream formula. Instead of sitting on top of the foundation, it melts into my skin. In the first post, you can see how it looked like after several hours.

With one of my bestselling books, How Does Orange Feel?

I used this blush at the Philippine Book Festival. This is me, flaring up, but as I said, the show must go on. My skin was red and bumpy, but the blush and my new favorite foundation (more on that soon) worked with me. I didn’t get cracked makeup even when I was at the event from before 10 am to 8 pm daily for four days.

From what I observed, for my redness and textured skin, I need a cream or liquid blush and the right shade, so it will look natural.

I’ve learned the hard way, to do what makes me happy. So many things have been taken away from me through the years and today, I take back my joy, even if it’s just through a simple blush…especially because it’s a simple blush.

Makeup rules be damned.

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'Til my next post,

Stay soft. Stay strong. Stay Glowing.

LET'S GLOW.

With elegance and quiet fire,

Lady E

Exhibitor and speaker at the Philippine Book Festival 2026

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