The Southern Grandma Secret To Your Best Makeup Look

There is a wisdom that develops over time that applies to many areas of life, including beauty; and our Southern grandmothers have seen and done it all when it comes to beauty trends, whether they like to look back at old photo albums to reminiscence on purple eyeshadow or would rather not have evidence of their perm phase at all. 

My grandmothers have always been a source of inspiration, especially for beauty tips and tricks that transcend time. Because, yes, Clinique Black Honey is still that good; and, yes, Vaseline does still make your perfume last longer. When asked what old-school makeup trend has remained just as flattering as the decades have gone by, their answers were the same: Powder blush, and lots of it. 

Why Southern Grandmas Say You Need More Blush

It’s not uncommon for Southern women—who unabashedly like to get dolled up—to be accused of having “blush blindness,” meaning that we tend to be a bit heavy-handed when applying. Yet, we’ve clearly been onto something because, inspired particularly by the blush-heavy eras during the 1930s and 1980s, applying an overly generous amount of blush has started to come back during the 2020s, primarily as a way to make a statement with even the most subtle makeup. And while liquid blush has been the trending product of choice, powder blush can actually help set your makeup to stay, while contouring your cheekbones just as well.

Southern grandmas could have told you that much, as they swept on extra powder blush before heading out the door. Blush brings your face to life more than any other makeup product, alongside a trusty lip color. At its core, blush is supposed to evoke a healthy, radiant complexion, and there’s confidence to be found in that. Southern women don’t strive to be subtle, because why not overdress, even to stay at home? Or wear lipstick to the grocery store? Why not go for it? 

Even if you are skipping the full face of makeup, consider a dusting of blush to give yourself a natural flush; and if over-applying powder blush is wrong, we don’t want to be right. 

More Southern Grandma Makeup Tips

Choose a Semi-Matte Lipstick 

While lip gloss has largely remained the favorite tube of the past two decades, a more natural-finish lipstick offers a dose of longer-lasting color and an inherent elegance.

Soften Your Eyeliner

Applying eyeliner has rarely been called easy, and blasting your pencil with a bit of heat from your hair dryer is a quick way to ensure it goes on smoothly and dries down to stay.

Consider Brown Mascara

There was once a time when women would tailor their mascara color to their hair color and face complexion, and brown mascara tends to be more flattering on many people. It offers a softer, more natural appearance.