TL;DR

Our favorite cream blush is the Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush, thanks to the creamy texture, seamless blendability, and radiant finish. We also love that it comes in nine beautiful shades and is fairly affordable for the quality. If you're looking for a super-easy-to-use formula that starts sheer and can be built up to your desired color payoff, we recommend the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil.

Cream blush is having a major moment, and we don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon. Unlike their powder counterparts, cream blushes are typically hydrating, glow-boosting, and super workable. “Our skin has more of a cream texture than powder, so naturally, a cream formula will mimic skin more,” says celebrity makeup artist Colby Smith. Many can even be applied with your fingertips, making them ideal for on-the-go makeup looks. 

Their popularity has led to an influx of fun, new formulas, so Byrdie editors tested 41 options to find the best ones for every skin type. We evaluated each blush based on its blendability, pigment, finish, and wear. Ahead, we’re sharing the ones we reach for again and again. 

Top Picks

Best Overall:

Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Cream Blush at Amazon $20 Jump to Review

Best Affordable:

e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Blush at Amazon $8 Jump to Review

Most Blendable:

Rhode Hydrating Cream Blush at Rhodeskin.com $25 Jump to Review

Bes for Dry Skin:

SALE

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks at Amazon $36 $24 Jump to Review

Best for Acne-Prone Skin:

Merit Beauty Flush Balm at Kohls.com $30 Jump to Review

Best Dewy:

Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint at Amazon $30 Jump to Review

Best Luminous:

Dior Rosy Glow Blush Stick at Sephora $44 Jump to Review

Best Matte:

LYS Beauty Higher Standard Cream Blush at Amazon $35 Jump to Review

Best Shade Range:

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick at Sephora $34 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush

Credit: Tower 28

$20

$18 at Amazon $20 at Sephora $20 at Credo Beauty

What We Like

• Creamy texture blends seamlessly into the skin

• Radiant finish gives skin a natural-looking glow

• Shade range contains neutrals and pops of colors

What to Consider

• May not last all day on those with oily skin 

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When we think of a classic cream blush, this fan-favorite from Tower 28 comes to mind. It has a creamy, emollient texture that melts into the skin seamlessly, lending to a natural-looking flush with a glowy finish. The formula is easy to apply with your fingertips, a brush, or a sponge, and it’s suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive or eczema-prone skin. We also love that it’s available in nine buildable shades, including neutral hues and fun pops of color. To top it off, the packaging is adorable and compact, and the price tag is relatively affordable given the excellent quality.   

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Caitlyn Martyn, former associate editor with oily skin: “I've loved this blush for a long time because of how blendable and easy to work with it is. I've worn it with nothing but SPF and have also put it on top of concealer and foundation, and I find that it works beautifully no matter what.” 

Best Affordable

e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Blush

Credit: e.l.f.

$8 at Amazon $8 at Ulta $8 at Target

What We Like

• Affordable and accessible

• Cream-to-powder formula

• Long-wearing

What to Consider

• Could be easier to blend

Finish: Semi-matte | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those looking to dip their toes into the world of cream blush or test a new blush color without spending a ton of money should try this e.l.f. formula. It has a cream-to-powder formula that dries down to a semi-matte finish and locks in place all day without creasing or fading. Because it has a putty-like consistency, it’s not as smooth to blend as other options we tested, but with a little effort using a synthetic brush, you can certainly achieve an even finish. 

Holly Rhue, editorial director with combination skin: “I was thrilled to find that even without setting spray or powder, this blush stayed put all day. After a full day of commuting and touching my face throughout the day, my blush stayed right on the high points of my cheekbones.”

Most Blendable

Rhode Pocket Blush Buildable Hydrating Cream Blush

Credit: Rhode

$25 at Rhodeskin.com

What We Like

• Creamy texture blends in with minimal effort

• Skin-like finish

• Surprisingly longwear

What to Consider

• Shade range could be more extensive

Finish: Dewy | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It was love at first swipe between us and this popular cream blush from Rhode. Not only is it adorably teeny (aka perfect to throw in a micro clutch and go), but it packs a pigmented punch that lasts all day. And perhaps best of all, it basically blends itself. The cream texture melts into the skin, no matter your application method, never losing its color payoff or gorgeous, radiant finish. We think it's a great choice regardless of your skin type since it's not too dewy for oily skin or too chalky for dry skin.

The only thing missing is more shades for fair and deep skin tones; most of the current line-up is best for those with medium complexions.

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Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief with combination skin: "The texture is deliciously creamy, and the finish is luminous—but it stays put too. The pocket blushes blend easily (at home, I’ll use a brush, but fingers work when you’re on the go), and offer a buildable flush of color you can use anywhere. I do a quick swipe across my cheeks, eyelids, and lips, blend, and go. It’s definitely my new go-to product."

Bes for Dry Skin

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks

Credit: Sephora

$36

$24 at Amazon $36 at Sephora $36 at Ulta

What We Like

• Emollient texture feels moisturizing on the skin

• Can be used on the lips and cheeks

• Gorgeous glowy finish

What to Consider

• Can feel slightly greasy

Finish: Glowy | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: No

Cream blush and dry skin are a match made in heaven, and this formula is our top choice for those experiencing dryness. It’s got a rich, slightly oily consistency (not overly so) that melts into the skin nicely, leaving it feeling hydrated. It instantly perks up a dull complexion, providing a wash of buildable color and an angelic, glowy finish. We also love that it can be used on the lips, making it a great option for achieving an easy monochromatic look. 

Jasmine Phillips, social media editor with dry skin: "This product blended in easily and played well with my skin tint. It's pigmented, and a little bit goes a long way. It's also buildable, so you can use as little or as much as you want."

Finish: Semi-matte | Shades: 10 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Merit Beauty Flush Balm

Credit: Sephora

$30 at Kohls.com $30 at Meritbeauty.com

What We Like

• Formulated without acne-causing ingredients such as fragrance, silicones, coconut oil

• Gives skin a natural-looking glow

• Seamless blendability

What to Consider

• Could be more long-wearing

Finish: Glowy | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with sensitive or breakout-prone skin are all too familiar with how makeup can trigger flare-ups. Although we think this blush balm is great for anyone who wants to achieve a radiant flush, it’s particularly nice for people with acne-prone skin since it was created in partnership with celebrity aesthetician Biba de Sousa to mitigate acne. The formula is creamy and semi-sheer, which lends beautifully to everyday makeup looks. We wish it were a bit more long-lasting, but it looks beautiful and is a total breeze to blend, so we’re not mad about needing to reapply once in a while. 

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Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief with combination skin: "The product is blendable and melts into your skin. It's like butter! I apply it along my cheeks, lips, and eyelids for a really beautiful, rosy monochromatic look. It works perfectly with my skin tint and foundation and never disrupts any other makeup."

Best Dewy

Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint

Credit: Make Beauty

$30 at Amazon View on Saks Fifth Avenue $30 at Revolve

What We Like

• Gives skin a wet-looking glow

• Creamy, gel-like texture

• Comes in 8 very different shades

What to Consider

• Can be a bit too glowy for those with super oily skin

Finish: Dewy | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to a dewy blush that creates the ultimate glowy cheeks, this one is the cream of the crop (pun intended). It’s a unique gel-like stick featuring a creamy texture that makes blending effortless. It comes in eight shades that cover each blush color category, from fuchsia pink and fiery orange to deep berry and bronzy brown. Each one has the perfect balance of rich, buildable pigmentation with a hint of sheerness, so they work well across many different skin tones. 

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “I’ve tested nearly 30 cream blushes, but I always come back to this one. The gel texture takes only a few seconds to tap into the skin, but the results are next-level. My cheeks always look bouncy, radiant, and healthy while wearing this formula.” 

Best Luminous

Dior Rosy Glow Blush Stick

Credit: Dior

$44 at Sephora $44 at Dior.com

What We Like

• Gives skin a beautiful radiance

• Looks nice on bare skin or over foundation

• Luxe packaging

What to Consider

• Has a subtle minty scent

Finish: Luminous | Shades: 7 | Cruelty-Free: No

If you like a glowy blush that isn't super wet or dewy-looking, this one is a great option for you. The stick formula is fairly emollient, making it easy to blend and allowing it to melt into the skin seamlessly. It offers buildable pigmentation; one layer creates a watercolor flush, while additional layers pack a punch. Some shades have noticeable flecks of sparkle that intensify their luminescence, while others get their glow from the formula itself. Between the gorgeous effect on the cheeks and the beautiful packaging, it's easy to recommend. Our only con with this one is that it has a bit of a minty scent, which feels unnatural for a blush, but it fades quickly.

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Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: "This blush applies beautifully on bare skin or over foundation, giving my complexion a radiance that never teeters into oily territory."

Best Matte

LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush

Credit: Sephora

$35 at Amazon

$22

$16 at Sephora View on Walmart

What We Like

• Finish works beautifully on oily skin and dry skin

• Rich pigmentation

• Long-wearing

What to Consider

• Can be slightly patchy

Finish: Semi-matte | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Many cream blushes are radiant with balmy textures and glowy finishes, but this isn’t everyone's cup of tea. If you like the idea of using a cream product but still want a fairly matte, blurring finish, we recommend this semi-matte formula from Lys Beauty. It offers an opaque color in just one layer and sets down before locking in place all day. It can be mildly patchy during application (it’s not as creamy as other formulas and is a bit trickier to move around). Still, we’ve found that blending it with a synthetic blush brush gets the job done beautifully. 

Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor with dry skin: "This cream blush feels so smooth and buttery. It melts right into the skin and feels incredibly lightweight. The formula has a satin-matte finish and gives you such a natural, soft glow."

Best Sheer

Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

Credit: Makeup by Mario

View on Amazon $34 at Sephora $34 at Kohls.com

What We Like

• Semi-sheer, buildable color

• Natural-looking radiant finish

• Lightweight feel on the skin 

What to Consider

• Could be a bit more long-wearing

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you like a subtle blush look or prefer blushes that you can slowly build up, this Makeup by Mario blush veil is the one for you. It has a lightweight and creamy texture that’s sheer but buildable; one layer provides just a kiss of color while additional layers can create a more visible flush. It lends a skin-like radiance that makes your complexion look healthy, and we love that it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid for a boost of hydration. 

Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief with combination skin: “It's super lightweight and comfortable to wear. I love the finish, the ease with which it blends, and the ability to build up color to your desired saturation.”

Best Cream-to-Powder

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed

Credit: Danessa Myricks Beauty

$27 at Sephora $27 at Danessamyricksbeauty.com $38 at Beautybay.com

What We Like

• Blurring, soft matte finish

• Nice for oily skin

• Rich pigment is great for deep skin tones

What to Consider

• Shade range doesn’t have many neutral options

Finish: Matte | Shades: 7 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Danessa Myricks is an innovator, and this unique blush formula is proof. It’s somehow emollient but also matte—starting out as a powdery cream and setting down to a blurring finish on the skin. We loved the buildable pigmentation. Each color offers intense opacity; the range is a great option for those with deeper skin tones. Once blended out, it lasted all day without creasing, fading, or becoming greasy. 

Star Donaldson, social media director with acne-prone skin: “This product is incredibly blendable. In the pan, it's buttery smooth and blends into the skin for an airbrushed, skin-like finish. It felt hydrating and didn't cling to any dry spots. It melted into my foundations and skin tints and didn't pile or cause patchiness.”

Best Shade Range

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick

Credit: Sephora

$34 at Sephora $34 at Kohls.com $34 at Hauslabs.com

What We Like

• Shade range offers unique tones

• Rich pigmentation

• Gorgeous glossy finish

What to Consider

• Can disrupt foundation if applied directly from the stick

Finish: Dewy | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are more rosy pink blushes than we can count. And while you can't go wrong with a classic rosy shade, it's nice to see brands get creative and offer us truly unique colors and undertones. Haus Labs did that and more with this cream blush range. Offered in eight shades ranging from a warm lilac to a vibrant tangerine, this gorgeous lineup has something for everyone (and every skin tone). The formula is fantastic, too. It's incredibly pigmented (one of the most saturated options on this list), blends beautifully, and gives the skin an ethereal glow.

Note: It can disrupt your foundation if you apply it directly from the stick, so we recommend tapping your brush or fingertips into the formula and applying from there.

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Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: "I have more than 50 blushes in my makeup collection, so it's hard for something to stand out, especially for its color. But this blush from Haus Labs is offered in truly unique shades; I love the soft pomelo shade and the rich black cherry color."

Best Duo

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush

Credit: Sephora

$44 at Amazon $40 at Sephora $40 at Patrickta.com

What We Like

• Comes with cream and powder formulas that can be layered

• Available in 12 diverse shades

• Great for a variety of skin types and tones

What to Consider

• Mirrored packaging can get quite dirty quickly

Finish: Matte, glowy | Shades: 12 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mega-popular blush has gone viral on TikTok, and we completely understand why—it’s fantastic. Available in 12 shades ranging from pale baby pink to a rich raspberry color, each comes with a matte powder and glowy cream formula. They can be applied alone or layered together for dimension and longevity. Both formulas are buildable and smooth on the skin, and the layering component allows us to customize our color payoff and finish. 

Shannon Bauer, former associate editorial director with oily skin: "This product has ideal blendability. You can sweep, tap, and swirl, and it will soften all harsh lines and eventually melt into the skin to look like you're flushing from within. It does eventually set (especially if you add the powder blush on top), but doesn't become fully matte or flat."

Best for Dark Skin Tones

Pat McGrath Labs Divine Blush: Legendary Glow Colour Balm

Credit: Sephora

$29 at Amazon View on Sephora $29 at Ulta

What We Like

• Shades look great on dark skin tones

• Buildable pigmentation

• Gorgeous glowy finish

What to Consider

• Not very long-wearing

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It can be challenging for people with deep and dark skin tones to find blushes that show up on their complexions without looking stark or ashy; this pick from Pat McGrath Labs is a welcome exception. Formulated with rich pigments that don't have too much white coloring in the base, it deposits a visible flush of color that blends into the skin seamlessly rather than looking unnatural. The range contains neutrals and bright shades that vary in depth and undertone, and we love that each color is buildable so that you can customize your color payoff. The finish is dewy, and the creamy consistency blends effortlessly with your fingertips or a brush, making it a nice option to keep in your bag for touch-ups.

Jasmine Phillips, social media editor with dry skin: "I don’t know what I love more about this blush: the pigment or how effortlessly it melts into my skin. The blush complements my deep skin tone and leaves a radiant, just-got-back-from-the-beach finish."

What to Look for When Buying Cream Blush

With the right cream blush, cheeks can look glowing and sculpted. We recommend considering the following factors to determine which cream blush is best for you.

• Shade Range: It’s key to find a cream blush that comes in a wide range of shades so you can find one that complements your complexion and your makeup look.

• Finish: While a lot of cream blushes give the skin a glow thanks to their dewy finishes, there are plenty of options out there with natural and semi-matte finishes. The best one for you is ultimately a matter of preference, though people with oily skin might like one with a natural or matte finish to prevent looking greasy. Those with dry skin might enjoy a boost of radiance from a glowy option. 

• Buildability: You'll also want to opt for a buildable formula so you can customize your look. Even highly pigmented blushes can go on sheer at first for those who prefer a subtle effect and then allow you to layer slowly for a more vivid flush.

How We Tested Cream Blushes

We believe in testing products by using them as you would in real life. Here's what our testing process entailed:

• Number of Blushes Tested: 47

• Testing Period: Two weeks

• Factors Considered: Byrdie editors with various skin types and tones tested cream blushes in their makeup routines for two weeks, evaluating each one on its blendability, pigment, finish, shade range, and overall results.

FAQ

• What’s the best way to apply cream blush?

  The nice thing about cream blush is that it can be applied with your fingertips, a brush, or a sponge—it’s totally up to you. Smith enjoys applying it with his fingertips for the most control. Applying cream blush with your fingertips also helps warm up the product so that it melts into the skin. 

• How do you make cream blush last?

  Makeup artist Glenn Brownell says the key to making your cream blush last is to build it up in very light layers. “Applying too much of any product at once will slip off as fast as it went on,” he says. He also explains that if you’re looking for longevity, it’s best to seek out a formula that’s a bit stiffer in texture. Those with overly creamy or emollient consistencies won’t stay put all day. 

Meet Our Experts

For this story, we consulted with makeup artists to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for and applying cream blush.

• Colby Smith is a NYC-based celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Ashley Graham, Julia Fox, and more. 

• Glenn Brownell is a New York-based makeup artist who has worked on a variety of editorial campaigns.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer and editor in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has tested nearly 35 cream blushes (including more than 10 on this list), evaluating each one based on its blendability, pigment, finish, and wear, in her quest to find the best ones that give her complexion a glow without making her oily skin look greasy. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing.