There are some makeup rules that are meant to be broken and one of those is blush placement. We’ve been taught that blushes should be applied at the apple of our cheeks or swiped along our cheekbones for a chiselled look. This is the norm we’ve accepted and we’ve never known an alternative — until a certain Momoko Ogihara showed us another way. Introducing the Momoko Makeup look.
What is the Momoko Makeup look?
Popularised by Japanese influencer Momoko Ogihara, the eponymous makeup style is all about putting on subtle blush right under the eyes and pairing it with a subtle eyeshadow look and muted lipstick. It’s similar to other popular Japanese makeup styles like Igari (also known as the drunk blush) and Byojaku. But there are key differences.
Igari uses blush generously; the brighter, the better. It’s used to mimic the way some people blush after a night of drinking called “the red face” or "Asian flush". People who are going for this look usually use very pigmented types of blush and they’re usually in cream form. On the other hand, the Momoko Makeup look usually calls for a light-coloured blush (think peaches and pinks) that’s gently applied under the eyes. It’s supposed to look subtle and barely there.
However, don’t mistake Momoko for Byojaku. Byojaku makeup’s aim is to make eyes look tired. Momoko makeup is used to give the face an uplifted, cheerful appearance that looks natural. Momoko Makeup is also different from draping which is when you use blush to contour the face. Momoko Makeup is about giving the face a hint of colour just like when you’ve just finished a workout. Now that that’s cleared up, here’s how to do the Momoko Makeup.
