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With winged liner as sharp as her wit and contour as lethal as her comebacks, Maura Higgins has long been a beauty inspiration to the Irish and the Brits following her stint on Love Island. Now, after her recent turn on The Traitors, the Irish reality star’s hair and makeup is attracting the attention of fans here in the US. And what have we noticed? During her post-Traitors press run, she's started to switch things up in the blush department in the most interesting way.
We spotted it when Higgins hosted the red carpet for the premiere of A24’s latest film, The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Her blush is significantly higher and seems to be placed underneath her eyes, creating an especially snatched look (as if Higgins needed any more snatching). When we dug a little deeper, we noticed it’s something she’s been playing with a lot recently, working with makeup artist Patrick Ta who is long known for his love of blush and his unconventional application approach.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: Maura Higgins arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of A24’s "The Drama" at DGA Theater Complex on March 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
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Under eye blush, which starts (you guessed it) under the eyes and extends to high points of the face, isn’t a new technique. When used under the eye and swept out towards the temples, it “sculpts and accentuates the highest points of the mid-face,” says makeup artist Andrew Denton. “The proximity to the eye adds width to the upper cheek due to the high placement, and that connection between the outer eye and the highest part of the cheekbone creates a lot of lift,” he adds.
Not only that, it can counteract darkness under the eyes, too. "If you’ve used color-correcting concealer, adding a pink-y powder blush on top will not only help set the concealer, but will also help neutralize any blue tones your concealer is struggling to tackle,” Denton says. This technique has inspired many brands to develop pink-toned setting powders, including the One Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder, Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder, and the Catrice Bright and Blur Setting Powder, all of which are Allure editor love and use.
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In a recent GRWM video, Ta demonstrated his layered blush approach on Higgins—and we took notes. He begins with a liquid blush in a bubblegum-pink shade (perhaps a new launch for Patrick Ta Beauty?), placing it directly on the middle of her under eyes and blending out with a fluffy brush. He follows this with liquid concealer applied along the inner and mid under-eye areas, avoiding the outer area to allow the blush underneath to peek through (he used his Major Skin Soft Blur Brightening Concealer, but we also love the Armani Beauty Perfect Glow Concealer, which won a Best of Beauty Award last year) . Next, Ta uses translucent loose powder to set the liquids and creams, which he then tops with his Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duos in She's Seductive and She's a Doll.
“I used here is my Transition Blush Technique, which is all about creating a seamless gradient so the blush melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of the makeup,” Ta explains. “It’s perfect for anyone who feels like their blush can look patchy or disconnected from the rest of the face.”
It’s a look that can be easily adapted for everyday wear. Denton notes that it's a helpful technique for days when you feel tired and “want to appear lifted, bright, and energized.” He recommends sticking to a blush shade you’re confident with, keeping placement lifted and high on the face, and never covering your entire under-eye area with blush, as this can draw the eye down when incorrectly placed.
As for Higgins, after experimenting with Ta, she appears to be a convert. The star has worn under-eye blush four or five times since, so it seems that she's staying 100% faithful to this clever little blush hack … for now.
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