Back in the ‘80s, iconic makeup artist Way Bandy coined the color contouring “drape” technique, in which he used bright Blush to sculpt the face in decidedly dramatic fashion. (He often paired it with deep blue eyeshadow and glossy red lips—it was the ‘80s, after all.) But at today’s Valentino Spring 2018 show, makeup artist Pat McGrath offered up a modern twist on the statement-making blush.

Teamed with naturally glowing skin and nude glossy lips, McGrath swirled vivid rouge—in bright fuchsia on lighter skin tones, and peachy bronze on darker ones—along the highs of the cheekbones, all the way up to the lids, brow bones, and temples, deftly blended outward for an ombré effect. To punch up the matte pigment, and further open the gaze, McGrath also dabbed iridescent highlighter on the inner corners of the eyes.

The soft-focus washes of color, particularly when worn with the rosy, intricately-embellished evening gowns that swanned down the Runway, were high-impact, yes, but also romantic and elegant. The takeaway? So long as the rest of the face is pared back, pronounced blush and a little bit of strobing can strike the perfect balance between retro and modern.