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Making Us blush! Nowadays, there are so many different skincare strategies for anti-aging results. From serums to spa treatments, we have countless ways to achieve a youthful complexion. But many of these products and procedures cost a pretty penny! And with our busy schedules, we don’t have the time or the money to invest in a luxurious or lengthy option. We want to glow on the go!
Blush has always been our makeup hack for instant illumination. Rosy cheeks make Us look like we’re back in our glory days with a healthy flush. In fact, Madonna’s makeup artist Gina Brooke told Harper’s Bazaar, “The key to looking fresh is using a cream blush — it’s more blendable. To give your face a lift, put blush on the apples of your cheeks, then add a touch of highlighter on the center of the cheekbones and blend it up to the temples.”
As opposed to powder blushes, cream blushes deliver a sheer finish with an easy application. According to beauty insiders, cream blushes are a more moisturizing option — which can be beneficial if you have dry skin.
How We Picked the Best Cream Blushes
Need a fast fix for a fresh flush? We rounded up the 11 best cream blushes on the market! We consulted various beauty publications for expert advice and editor-approved essentials — plus included some of our personal favorites. All of these blushes are either top-rated or bestselling — the cream of the cream blush crop! And we made sure to choose products that come in multiple colors to appeal to a wide range of skin tones.
Pro tip from celebrity makeup artist Jillian Dempsey: “Smile, find your cheeks, and apply in a little circle. Gently sweep it out using your thumb or brush if you prefer,” she told Harper’s Bazaar UK.
These cream blush picks will leave your complexion with a dewy, natural-looking flush that is way more blendable than powder products. Simple and satisfying! Perfectly pink color that will make it feel like it’s summer all year long.
1. Ilia Multi-Stick
Long-Lasting Look
This multi-purpose product works as a tint for your lips, cheeks and eyes! Its formula repeatedly melts into your skin, and is suitable for makeup lovers at all levels. This cream blush apparently stayed put on Megan Fox’s cheeks for 10 hours while filming Till Death!
Pros:
- Tint for lips, cheeks and eyes
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Some customers complained about the consistency
Available at: Nordstrom
2. LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush
Buildable Blush
As Sephora’s first Black-owned clean cosmetics beauty brand, LYS is making history with its top-rated products. It’s packed with vitamin E, kaolin clay (which reduces the appearance of pores and limits shine) and avocado oil (which guarantees hydration). Shoppers also love the super soft texture!
Pros:
- Buildable and blendable
- Natural look
- Long-lasting
- Affordable
Cons:
- Hard to find — RAVE reviews
Available at: Sephora
3. Tower 28 BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush
Beachy Blush
If you’re searching for a multitasking tinted balm that will give your lips and cheeks a sunkissed glow, look no further! This Tower 28 provides the pigment without the cakiness and harsh lines. “All six shades impart a sheer, impossibly dewy flush on the cheeks, lips, and eyes with just a few pats of your fingertips,” Allure once wrote. “The addition of green tea and aloe vera gives skin a boost of hydration and soothing antioxidants, to boot.”
Pros:
- Multi-purpose
- Added boost of hydration
Cons:
- Some reviewers said the tint did not last long
Available at: Sephora
4. Glossier Cloud Paint
Cult-Favorite Cream Blush
This bestselling blush is hardly a best-kept beauty secret, but it’s certainly a cult-favorite! As Harper’s Bazaar says, “True to the brand’s ‘you, but better’ mantra, Glossier’s Cloud Paint brightens the skin while remaining low-key. The finish is airy and translucent, and there’s a shade to suit everyone.” And just like a painting, the result will be a work of art!
Pros:
- Soft-focus effect
- Sheer finish/natural glow
Cons:
- Some shoppers said application is difficult
Available at: Glossier
5. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush
Selena’s Selection
Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is known for its buzz-worthy blushes. The liquid-like cream may melt into a “second skin,” allowing for a natural finish that shoppers love. It’s free of formaldehydes, sulfates, parabens and more — making it a clean option we can all enjoy.
Pros:
- Water-resistant
- Blendable
Cons:
- Color doesn’t last very long
Available at: Sephora
6. Nars The Multiple in Orgasm
Peachy Keen
An absolute icon in the beauty world, Nars Orgasm blush also comes in cream form! This multi-purpose product adds shimmering color to eyes, cheeks, lips and body. If you’re looking to add dimension and highlight your best features, this mistake-proof product could be what you’ve been waiting for!
Pros:
- Multi-purpose — works as blush and bronzer
- Universally flattering
Cons:
- Some say the color doesn’t last long
Available at: Ulta
7. Tata Harper Vitamin-Infused Cream Blush
Bell’s Blush of Choice
Looking for a naturally radiant flush? Take a page out of Kristen Bell’s book by trying the Tata Harper cream blush. The Veronica Mars actress told Allure that this weightless product is one of her go-to products in her everyday makeup routine! *Immediately adds to cart.*
Pros:
- Weightless
- Sheer
Cons:
- Sheer finish isn’t very pigmented
Available at: Amazon
8. Chantecaille Cheek Gelée Happy Hydrating Gel-Cream Blush
Glowing Goddess
If you deal with dry skin, say hello to your new makeup bag BFF. Ecstatic Nordstrom reviewers declare it the “best product ever,” and claim it’s the “only brush [they’re] wearing now.” This lightweight, hydrating blush has the staying power of a stain and the freshness of an emulsion. Win-win!
Pros:
- Blendable
- Natural appearance
Cons:
- Some say color is too sheer
Available at: Nordstrom
9. Maybelline New York Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
Drugstore Dream
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline. Allure reports, “Maybelline New York debuted its Best of Beauty-winning Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush during New York Fashion Week and subsequently shot straight into the hearts of the Allure staff.” This brand-new blush has already garnered glowing reviews for its natural and fresh finish. One Amazon shopper gushed, “I have not loved a product this much in a long time!”
Pros:
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Not very pigmented
Available at: Amazon
10. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Radiance by Rihanna
What can’t Rihanna do?! Whether she’s dropping hits or dropping makeup must-haves, the singer never disappoints. Fenty Beauty’s lightweight cream blush comes in 10 sheer shades that leave your skin with a natural-looking flush.
Pros:
- Dewy, natural, sheer
- Blendable
Cons:
- Small packaging
- Staying power isn’t strong
Available at: Sephora
11. Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cheek Blush
Coming Up Roses
You may have seen Saie’s Dew Blush making its rounds on the TikTok circuit. Creamy and blendable, this water-based gel blush adds a healthy flush of color. From fading pigmentation to fighting free-radicals, this blush packs a potent punch.
Pros:
- Viral
- Natural-looking color
- Easy application
Cons:
- Some say it separates with foundation
Available at: Sephora
Other Cream Blushes We Love:
Looking for additional ways to elevate your everyday routine? Check out more picks below:
