Best Blush: Powder, Liquid, Gel, and Cream Textures
Your Complete Guide to the Best Blushes of All Time
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
Sifting through blush at your go-to beauty retailer can feel similar to using a dating app at college or in a major city: the options are seemingly endless. Like dating, in order to find your perfect match when it comes to this category of makeup, you have to test the waters to figure out what shades, textures, and finishes you prefer.
To whittle down the dizzying amount of blushes you might be considering, we've curated some of the best ones in powder, liquid, gel, and cream form that will give your skin a natural-looking flush. Whether you want a silky matte powder that buffs into your skin for a pop of colour or a formula that doubles as a highlighter, you're bound to find what you're looking for on this list.
Check out our picks for the best blushes of all time, ahead.
Benefit Galifornia Blush
Inside the trippy metallic and pastel packageing of the Benefit Galifornia Blush ($30) is a gorgeous coral-pink blush embossed with a metallic gold star. You also get a travel-friendly brush that fits snug inside its box and a mirror, making it easy to apply while you're on-the-go.
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Blush
The buttery Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Blush ($14) is the stuff of Instagram dreams, giving your cheeks a selfie-ready, fresh-from-cabana glow with just one sweep.
Beauty by POPSUGAR Make Me Blush Cheek Colour
Swirling a fluffy blush brush against the Beauty by POPSUGAR Make Me Blush Cheek Colour ($30) blends three hues with micro-fine shimmers together to create a lit-from-within glow.
NARS Orgasm Blush
The NARS Orgasm Blush ($30) is iconic not only because of its name, but also its peach-pink hue and golden shimmer that gives the skin a natural-looking flush.
Becca Cosmetics Luminous Blush
Becca Cosmetics Luminous Blush ($17) is inspired by the brand's best-selling highlighters, marrying its high-shine finish with a blush hue that melts right onto skin.
COVER FX Monochromatic Blush Duo
By separating the blush colour from its shimmery counterpart, the CoverFX Monochromatic Blush Duo ($38) gives you complete control of how radiant you want your flush to be.
Glossier Cloud Paint
Dabbing on a tiny amount of the Glossier Cloud Paint ($18) with a damp sponge or a light finger will give your cheeks a gorgeous (and buildable!) colour.
E.l.f. Cosmetics Jelly Pop Flush Blush in Berry Pop
Just tapping on the jiggly E.l.f. Cosmetics Jelly Pop Flush Blush ($8) will yield an intense colour payoff. Buffing it onto the apples of your cheeks will give you a shimmering glow. It comes in two shades: Berry Pop (shown here) and Peach Pop.
Chantecaille Aqua Blush
The Chantecaille Aqua Blush ($44) looks like a tiny lip balm. Twist off its top, and you'll find that that the gel blush applies just as easily too. The best part: feeling its cooling gel texture to your cheeks, especially on warm, humid days.
Florence by Mills Cheek Me Later Cream Blush
Fans of the "backseat face beat" (you know, when you apply your makeup in the back of a car) will love the Florence by Mills Cheek Me Later Cream Blush ($14). A few dabs of this cream blush leaves behind a pop of colour, without the stickiness.
Mented Cosmetics Blush
Mented Cosmetics Blush ($22) is a powder blush formula that goes on like silk and buffs onto your cheeks for a subtle colour and glow.
Lorac Colour Source Buildable Blush
Lorac Colour Source Buildable Blush ($23) is a powder blush that looks super natural at first swipe, but can build up to a more pigmented, radiant flush.
NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Glow
The buttery NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Glow ($6) is a summertime glow in a pan, depositing pigment and fine shimmer to give cheeks warmth and radiance.
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks
Meet the hardest-working blush compact on the market. The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks ($88) might seem pricey, but it contains two large pans that contain a fingertip-friendly blush and highlighter that melts onto skin for a dewy dose of colour that lasts all day long.
