People praise the cheekbone-defining power of contour, but using the best cream blush for your face is the easiest way to add warmth to your complexion. A little bit of blush can bring your cheeks to life, giving you a natural glow that ties your whole look together. Liquid blush can be too messy to attempt if you’re not a pro, and powder blush can be overly pigmented, which is why the buttery-smooth formula of cream blush is the way to go.
You can build up the pigment and blend it with your fingers to get the perfect rosy complexion. Cream blushes are also multi-functional and can be used on the lips for a more monochromatic look. Some formulas are cream-to-powder, which offer the blendable aspect of a cream with the staying power of a powder. Others are more dewy, giving your cheeks that natural just-pinched color with a touch of radiance.
When it comes to picking the right blush for you, it’s all about the color and formula. From pigmented cream blush sticks from Makeup by Mario to a putty-textured blush from E.L.F., here are some of our favorite cream blushes for perfectly pink cheeks. We selected ones we tested and loved, and others that have racked up thousands of reviews from happy customers.
1. Keys Soulcare Sheer Flush Cheek Tint
Keys Soulcare Sheer Flush Cheek Tint Plus
Keys Soulcare Sheer Flush Cheek Tint is a 2022 Beauty Award Winner for best cream blush. This skincare makeup hybrid blush is so easy to use and leaves a natural-looking flush on your cheeks all day long. You can apply it all over the cheeks without overdoing it, which is great if you tend to have a heavy hand when it comes to blush. It offers just a slight tint of color without being too stark or streaky.
2. Nudestix Nudies Matte All-Over Face Blush Color
Ulta
Nudestix Nudies Matte All-Over Face Blush Color
Highly pigmented for long-lasting wear, the Nudestix Matte All-Over Face Blush Color offers a buildable, natural color with a slightly satin finish. This double-sided blush comes with cream on one end and a dense brush on the other end to help blend and buff the color across your cheeks. With 11 colors to choose from, there’s bound to be one (or multiple) that suits your skin tone and personal preferences.
3. E.L.F. Cosmetics Putty Blush
Target
e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Blush
E.L.F. Cosmetics Putty Blush has a unique texture and consistency that’s different from almost every other blush. The lightweight putty formula glides over fine lines or wrinkles, never settling into them. Watch it transform from a cream to a semi-matte powder finish right before your very eyes. As a drugstore blush, you can’t go wrong with this foolproof formula.
4. Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick
Sephora
Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick
Weightless and buildable, this dual-ended cream blush adds just enough color to your cheeks to give you that perfect pop of color without overdoing it. The angled buffing brush features five tiny numbs to help pick up and distribute the cream more evenly. There are six vibrant hues that flatter every skin tone.
5. Róen Beauty Cheeky Cream Blush
Credo Beauty
Róen Beauty Cheeky Cream Blush
This Róen cream blush with hydrating rose hip, apricot oil, and vitamin E is lightweight. The skincare ingredients in this formula make this a great blush for dry skin or textured skin and can keep your cheeks flushed, plump, and hydrated all day long.
6. Jones Road Lip And Cheek Stick
Credo Beauty
Jones Road Lip and Cheek Stick
Unlike many cream and powder blush formulas which can be drying or cakey, this one is creamy enough to spread out evenly and blend out beautifully, but pigmented enough that you don’t need to apply too much product to get your desired look. As the name suggests, you can use it on the eyes and cheeks for a soft, natural makeup look. In the evenings, you can build up the color for a more dramatic look.
7. Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush
Sephora
Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush
Even if you don’t wear a lot of makeup on a day-to-day basis, adding a little bit of blush on the apples of the cheeks can keep your natural makeup look from looking a little washed out. This flexible, foolproof balm deposits a natural veil of color across the cheeks without completely covering up your natural skin texture. If you want to let your real skin shine through but still feel fresh-faced, this sheer tint is for you.
8. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Sephora
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
If you prefer a more pigmented pop, Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush is for you. Available in ten ultra-vivid shades, the easy-to-layer formula offers a buildable wash of color that’s sweat- and water-resistant. Although the colors might look too bright and bold in the pan, when they’re actually applied to the cheeks, you’ll be surprised with how versatile and wearable these eye-catching colors really are.
9. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Sephora
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
For a blush that doesn’t look like makeup, we love this buttery blush stick from Westman Atelier. Formulated with soothing ingredients including jojoba oil and grape extract, each effortless shade goes on like a dream and looks like a second skin. The result is dewy, radiant, and healthy-looking skin in one swipe.
10. Burt’s Bees Color Nurture Cream Blush
Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees Color Nurture Cream Blush
You can always count on Burt’s Bees to deliver highly pigmented color cosmetics in a natural, nourishing formulation. This ultra-blendable cream blush leaves behind the prettiest, most natural, rosy glow that makes mature skin look radiant and youthful.
11. Tower 28 Beauty Beach Please Lip + Cheek Cream Blush
Sephora
Tower 28 BeautyBeach Please Lip + Cheek Cream Blush
Achieve a dewy finish with this multi-purpose balmy tint from Tower 28. It melts into the skin, making it appear as if you’ve recently spent a little too much time at the beach and came back home with sun-kissed cheeks. Inspired by the vibrant hues of the Santa Monica sunset, the silicone-free formula is made with plant-based ingredients like green tea extract and aloe vera extract to hydrate and soothe with every application.
12. Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
Ulta
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
Get a gorgeous no-fuss flush with this lightweight gel-cream blush. Formulated without any oils, it’s ideal for oily skin. The water-infused color pigments are sheer and buildable, so you’ll never have to worry about applying too much. It’s available in three neutral pink tones, and we especially love this blush for a subtle everyday look.
13. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush
Sephora
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush
Many cream blushes have a cream-to-powder formula, but the Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush from Rare Beauty is the only liquid-like cream blush we’ve tried and loved. It seamlessly melts into the skin the second you apply it, thanks to a non-greasy blend of nourishing oils and pigmented powders for a weightless wash of color that’s also long-lasting and water-resistant.
14. Glossier Cloud Paint
Glossier
Glossier Cloud Paint
“All I need is a tiny amount—roughly enough to cover my fingertip—to cover both of my cheeks with a natural-looking cherub flush. A few quick dabs in the shade Haze, and I’m all set.“ —Tiffany Dodson, former SELF associate editor.
15. RMS Lip2Cheek
Sephora
RMS Lip2Cheek Cream Blush
“I have a thing for lip and cheek products because they’re just so convenient. I love this one from RMS Beauty in the shade Demure. If I want a nice rosy pout, I’ll apply it on my lips over lip balm. For a rosy flush on my cheeks, I actually prefer applying it with their Skin2Skin Brush, because it’s less messy than using my fingers. RMS Lip2Cheek is made with coconut oil, but doesn’t feel greasy at all. The creamy texture is extremely hydrating and looks very natural on my fair skin, even in the dead of winter. The product is expensive, but I think it’s worth it for the quality and how long it will last.” — Talia Abbas, former SELF editorial assistant
16. Nars The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick
Sephora
Nars The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick
“I love the fact that the shade [Riviera] starts out sheer and you can layer it to your desired intensity. Meanwhile, antioxidants like vitamin E and acai oil help protect the skin from environmental aggressors.” —T.A.
17. Stila Convertible Color for Lips & Cheek
Target
Stila Convertible Color for Lip & Cheeks
“Stila Convertible Color is a great intro product if you want to dabble in cream blushes. It feels weightless on your skin, and the mirrored compact is ideal for travel and on-the-go touch-ups.” —T.A.
18. Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush
Walmart
Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush
“The texture is really smooth and not too thick, so it works well if you’re concerned about not clogging your pores. One swirl in the shade Smitten is enough to warm up both of my cheeks.” —T.A.
Related:
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Talia is the Editorial Assistant at SELF and has been part of team since January 2018. At SELF, she covers beauty and skincare through the lens of wellness. As a reporter, she’s also covered a wide range of topics from arts and culture in the Middle East to Italian politics.Talia… Read more
