I love bright blush. Lightly applied, it can make you look young and healthy and light up your whole face. For this reason NARS Mata Hari and Crazed will always have a place in my makeup bag. However, there are some times in our lives that call for something a bit more neutral. Namely, any occasion where you might be hitting the sauce. Or dancing. Or hanging around anywhere hot. You get the idea.

I have seen far too many photos of myself at the ends of long nights, looking alarmingly like a character in an Anne Rice book right after a "feeding." When you wear a blush that's meant to imitate your natural flush, and then your cheeks actually do brighten up on their own later in the evening, the compound effect can be decidedly scary.

Unless you're really going for the Kirsten-Dunst-in-Interview With the Vampire look, please do plan ahead and choose a neutral blush. There are plenty that look fabulous without appearing dull or bland. They don't necessarily have to be in the brown family; dusty pinks and peaches work great as long as they're not too bright. Here, a few of my favorites, in 3 different formulations:

Lancome Blush Subtil in Miel Glace is an oil-free powder blush in a delicate neutral shade with a bit of pearly shimmer. I am wearing it in this photo and hopefully you will agree that the freshly-fed vampire effect is absent, despite the glass of champagne in my hand. This is my "go-to" blush; it's hard to overdo it and it looks great no matter what's on your eyes and lips.

Susan Posnick ColorMe in Lilly is a loose powder mineral blush in a soft rosy shade (shimmer-free) that looks incredibly natural. Perfect for mineral makeup lovers, it's conveniently packaged in a self-dispensing pot with an attached powder puff and a mirror right in the cap! The color was inspired by the always-lovely Natalie Portman - and best of all, the staying power is surprisingly strong.

The Body Shop Cheek Blush in Heather Pink is a gel-based blush that dries down to a long-lasting powdery finish. Heather Pink appears dark and a tad bright straight from the tube, but blends to a gorgeous natural rosy hue. The staying power on this one is impressive, and it's also the bargain of the bunch at $12.50.