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The 22 Best Blushes to Give Your Cheeks an Extra Pop
Whether you're aiming for cherub cheeks or a subtle wash of color.
By Blush has always been a makeup staple, but thanks to TikTok and its many trends, it’s having a bigger moment than ever. Whether you’re into powder, liquid, or cream blush, there are so many good formulas out there—and you can layer them together, if you so choose.
"One of the things I've learned from TikTok is applying powder blush before applying cream blush—usually I apply creams first, then powders afterward. But when you layer with powder then cream, it gives you the color you want from a blush, but also that look of a skin-like, no-makeup-makeup finish," Summer Fridays co-founder Marianna Hewitt previously told BAZAAR.com. "And you would think that maybe the two of them wouldn't work together, or maybe that the look would break down a little bit or disintegrate overtime, but it's so beautiful."
Ahead, 22 of the best blushes–of all types—BAZAAR editors swear by for long-lasting, high-impact color.
The 22 Best Blushes, at a Glance
Pros
- Universally flattering
- Slight shimmer
Cons
You might think this blush from the experts at Nars is a best-seller solely because of its tongue-in-cheek name. But its combination of rosy pink and subtle golden shimmer makes this product truly ideal for a wide range of skin tones.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I was very impressed with the quality, a peachy pink color with a tinge of gold shimmer. I felt it just glided onto my skin and gave such a lovely look to my cheeks. I would highly recommend." —Shaz78
| Number of Shades | 20 |
|---|---|
| What It Is | An award-winning, pressed powder blush that delivers healthy-looking color to flatter any skin tone. |
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Pros
- Very pigmented
- Great shade range
Cons
"The most pigmented, long-wearing blush you could ever find. A little goes a long way with this!" writes one satisfied Sephora shopper of singer Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty blush. Its liquid formula is not only vegan, but also available in both matte and dewy finishes.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"So pigmented and so light! It feels sunkissed and effortless! The best blush I've ever used." —Presger
| Formula | Medium Coverage; Liquid Formula; Radiant Finish; Matte Finish; Long-wearing; Community Favorite |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 11 |
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
Pros
- Great price point
- Lightweight texture
Cons
This gel-cream blush couldn't be easier to use. Just blend a tiny dot on your cheek for the prettiest, natural-looking flush with a dewy finish.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"My absolute favorite color. Not a big makeup girl, but I use this daily. And it lasts forever!! A little goes a long way." —Olivia
| Formula | Sheer, Gel-Cream, Light Coverage |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 6 |
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Pros
- Can also be used on lips
- Great for mature skin
Cons
Even if you're not a clean beauty devotee, you'll likely fall in love with this creamy blush stick from makeup artist Gucci Westman. As an added bonus, the stick can also be used on your lips and lids for a monochromatic makeup look with minimal effort.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"Truly the best cream blushes in the market! They are easily applied to the cheek, and they last! I either use a brush directly on the blush, or I apply some blush to my hand and then use a brush to pick some up from my hand. Either way? These are amazing blushes!" —Celia
| Formula | Buildable, Creamy, Clean Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 6 |
Kulfi Mehndi Moment Long-Lasting Radiant Cream Blush
Kulfi Mehndi Moment Long-Lasting Radiant Cream Blush
Pros
- Contains skincare ingredients
- Vibrant shades
Cons
Formulated with antioxidant-rich amla extract and hydrating hibiscus extract, this cream formula is as nourishing as it is vibrant and pigmented.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I love this blush! It’s buildable coverage for those intimidated by the pigment (yes very pigmented!). I also tried a darker shade than I would normally and was surprised how natural it looked." —Castroh
| Formula | Long-Lasting, Buildable, Creamy |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 5 |
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
Pros
- Doubles as highlighter
Cons
This marbleized blush from Hourglass uses photoluminescent technology to give your cheeks added dimension, with a soft, natural-looking finish that looks more like skin than makeup.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"This blush is gorgeous, goes on with total ease and blends effortlessly. I love the Sublime shade on my light skin. I also have Diffused Heat, but both are equally stunning."—Ciara09
| Formula | Shimmer and Radiant |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 8 |
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Pros
- Sweat- and water-resistant
Cons
It's no secret that Rihanna understands the importance of beauty inclusivity, which is why her featherweight Cheeks Out blush shades are versatile enough to suit just about every skin tone.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I was terrified when I saw how bold this red is, until it touched my cheeks, and it turned to a natural pinkish blush! It applies so easy, it is buildable and it is long lasting. It has become my favorite product!" —Neofili
| Formula | Creamy, Sheer, Lightweight |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 9 |
Pros
- Can be used on lips
- Contains nourishing vitamin E
Cons
This buildable cheek tint is a fave of Hailey Bieber's makeup artist Leah Darcy, and the brand recently added four buildable shades to the lineup.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"This is my new go-to for a fresh faced glow! You simply can’t go wrong with using the Minimalist paired with this little compact flush-of-color bomb. I’m 54 and just sorry it took me this long to find this gem." —Maureen
| Formula | Cream Balm, Satin Finish, Clean Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 9 |
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio
Pros
- Can mix and match shades
- Buildable coverage
Cons
You'll get three options in one with this top-rated blush palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills that Sephora customers are raving about. One satisfied shopper writes that the buildable palette features, "Beautiful shades that blend well for medium to dark skin tones."
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I absolutely LOVE this blush trio! It looks great with my skin-tone as someone with medium-dark/olive skin. I like using the lighter shades during the day, and the darker of the three shades at night. I think it looks super natural and airbrushed when blended in...I love having the option to pick from multiple shades while only having to use one product!" —TinyMakeupChick
| Formula | A trio of fully pigmented blushes for buildable intensity with a seamless finish. |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 3 |
BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm
Pros
- Sheer formula for a lit-from-within glow
- Can be used on lips
Cons
Here's another buildable, multi-use blush that also works for your lips that's inspired by the colors seen in a Santa Monica, CA sunset.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I am a dark-skinned black woman and the After Hours looked gorgeous on my skin. Highly recommend!" —Day
| Formula | Sheer Balm |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 7 |
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wands
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wands
Pros
- Soft matte finish
- Convenient sponge applicator
Cons
This new blush from Charlotte Tilbury is already red carpet and TikTok-famous. It includes a cushion applicator for a seamless, even blend on the tops of your cheekbones.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"A little goes a long way but I am obsessed. Best blush I’ve ever used. Blends so well." —Laurenerual
| Formula | Matte, Lightweight, Blendable |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 3 |
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush
Pros
- Has soft, medium coverage
- Vibrant shade range
Cons
This featherweight pressed blush leaves a satin-y finish on the tops of your cheeks, and is available in both matte and shimmer shades depending on your preference.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"Pat McGrath. What more do I need to say? This color, and this blush is stunning. Goes on so nice, on top of the buyers packaging. Just buy it." —Tianna7
| Formula | Pressed Powder Formula; Matte Finish; Satin Finish |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 8 |
Pros
- Seamlessly blends in with skin
- Just pigmented enough
Cons
Just a few dabs of this highly pigmented gel-cream blush on the apples of your cheeks is all that's needed for a stand out makeup look.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"The exact color I was looking for! Goes on so easily and feels so nice and light on my skin!" —Ayla
| Formula | Sheer, Buildable Gel-Cream |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 8 |
Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour
Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour
Pros
- Convenient stick formula
- Natural-looking shades
Cons
Ulta shoppers swear by this compact balm stick for an easy five-minute face, since you can quickly apply it with your fingers instead of having to reach for a brush.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I am 76 years old and I love this cheek balm, easy to use and goes on very smoothly, powder blush accentuates my wrinkles, this is very sheer." —Judy76
| Formula | Buildable, Long-Wearing |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 4 |
Pros
- Long-lasting formula
- Natural-looking shades
Cons
If your blush seems to disappear hours after applying it, give this long-wearing powder formula from Tarte a try. Not only is it buildable, but the blush is designed to last for up 12 hours per wear, and is beloved by over 6,000 Sephora customers.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"Maybe my favorite brand of blush. Highly pigmented and lasts throughout the day." —cottagegyrl
| Blob | Long-wearing; Pressed Powder Formula; Natural Finish |
|---|---|
| Shade Range | 10 |
Benefit Cosmetics WANDERful World Silky-Soft Powder Blush
Benefit Cosmetics WANDERful World Silky-Soft Powder Blush
Pros
- Minimal packaging
- Revamped shade range
Cons
Benefit's revamped blushes now feature less packaging, the same amount of product, and a new, more inclusive shade range. Simply put, they're better than ever.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"This is the best blush I've ever used! Goes on smoothly without any patchiness, and the color payoff is great! Unlike other blushes I've used, this actually lasts all day. The color Shellie is so pretty, a brighter color without being too bright." —isabel
| Formula | Pressed Powder Formula; Shimmer Finish; Satin Finish; Matte Finish |
|---|---|
| Shades | 12 |
Pros
- Highly pigmented
Cons
This liquid version of Nars Orgasm blush provides the same peachy pink rosiness as its powder counterpart, but with enhanced pigmentation and long-lasting wear. Try layering the two to help your blush look last all day long.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I love this product, the color is so beautiful. It’s perfectly pigmented, not too saturated, not too transparent. I love it so much."—Kate
| Formula | Natural Finish; Liquid Formula |
|---|---|
| Shade Range | 4 |
Juvia's Place The Saharan Vol. I Blush Palette
Pros
- Contains six shades to mix and match
- Created for melanated skin tones
Cons
Created with darker skin tones in mind, a little goes a long way with this six-shade blush palette from Juvia's Place.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"Love it! Honestly this is an amazing product, and can be used for blush, eyeshadow, highlight, and has the most amazing shades." —Ellie
| Formula | Powder, Matte and Shimmer |
|---|---|
| Shades | Row 1: Zara (shimmer gold plated), Neo (matte reddish brown), Lila (metallic gold); Row 2: Zane (matte dark fuschia), Toby (bright matte apricot), Aby (matte dark chocolate) |
Well People Supernatural Stick Blush
Pros
- Can be used on lips
- Contains skincare ingredients
Cons
This clean blush's blend of avocado and sunflower seed oils hydrates your skin while adding a subtle flush of color.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"I was really skeptical about this product as I have combo/oily skin and this was my first product like this. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I purchased the Rose tint and it looks and blends well on my face." —MDG
| Formula | Cream, Clean Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 3 |
Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick
Pros
- Sheer with a dewy finish
- Comes with a brush on opposite end for blending
Cons
This popular, dual-ended blush stick from celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is almost sold out at Sephora, and includes a handy brush tip that makes it ideal to use while on the go.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
"Me and my mom both use this product. We love it, it lasts a long time and super pretty too." —Izzy
| Formula | Cream Formula; Radiant Finish; Stick Formula; Vegan |
|---|---|
| Number of Shades | 6 |
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