Once a staple in pretty much every makeup wearer’s beauty bag, blush fell out of favour during the mid-2010s, superseded by the rise of contoured and bronzed cheeks. However, almost a decade later and the desire for rosy cheeks has returned, with blush once again an indispensable part of many a makeup routine.
That said, the best blushes of today are vastly different to the formulas of yesteryear (ok, like two decades ago). While powder blush used to be the only option on the market, liquid and cream blushes now reign supreme. In line with the transition from matte to dewy (not to mention the rise of skinimalism and the clean girl aesthetic), the best liquid and cream blushes offer a pigmented flush of colour with a fresh, glowy finish. In comparison to their powder counterparts, liquid and cream blushes offer greater blendability and make it easier to apply pigment in stages, preventing the oft-dreaded ‘clown’ look.
The best liquid and cream blush to buy in 2024
Easy to apply and blend, these are our favourite liquid and cream blushes on the market. In this guide, we’re focusing on the formulas themselves — the colour is up to you (with most of these options boasting an array of shades).
1. NARS Liquid Blush
The NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm, a warm pink peachy shade with shimmery golden tones, is about as close to universally flattering as you can get. It’s also available in Dolce Vita (a dusty rose), Sex Appeal (a pale peach), and Torrid (a warm coral with golden shimmer). The formula itself is ultra-sheer and lightweight, with the ability to be built up to create a statement-making look. A little goes a long way, with the sheer nature of the NARS Liquid Blush preventing it from settling into pores and making it ideal for all skin types.
Price: $48AUD
2. Benefit Cosmetics Benetint
This tint has been loved since the 1970s — and for good reason. Its watery texture subtly stains the skin for a naturally, rosy flush that can be worn over makeup or on bare skin. A true multitasker, the Benefit Cosmetics Benetint can be dabbed onto lips for a soft just-kissed look and even used in place of eyeshadow. The original rose-toned Benetint is our favourite and works well on most skin types, however the Floratint (a soft desert rose) and Playtint (a vibrant pink) are also worth a look in.
Price: $42AUD
3. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has done the rounds on social media several times over. Fortunately, it lives up to the hype, thanks to its ultra-pigmented lightweight formula. Its pigmented nature means a single dot blended out is enough to suffuse your skin in colour. The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush comes in 13 shades (inlcuding lesser-found shades like Faith, a deep purple; and Love, a terracotta orangey-red), with something for every skin tone.
Price: $45AUD
4. Mecca Max Off-Duty Liquid Blush
A blush with skincare benefits, the Mecca Max Off-Duty Liquid Blush boasts a glow-getting formula that includes hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide. The liquid formula sinks into the skin for a seamless, barely there finish; however, the colour itself packs quite a punch with only the smallest amount needed. It comes in six shades — we like Rosy or Peachy for fair skin tones and Tango or Spice for medium to dark skin tones.
Price: $24AUD
5. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow
This emollient-laden cream blush delivers semi-sheer colour with a glowy, dewy finish. Just like the iconic lipstick of the same name, the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow is a veritable cheat code for a versatile everyday makeup look. It’s available in two shades, Colour of Dreams (a rosebud pink suited to fair to medium skin tones) and Colour of Passion (a deep berry pink suited to medium to dark skin tones).
Price: $58AUD
6. VIOLETTE_FR Bisou Blush
The Bisou Blush by French beauty brand VIOLETTE_FR is a marbled, matte cream formula that sees two shades (one light and one dark) swirled together to create a nuanced yet natural colour that adds dimension to your complexion. It’s available in three shades, each of which skews soft and natural (think rosebud pink, berry, and a beigey-pink). The stick packaging means it can be applied directly to the skin and blended out with your fingers or a stippling brush.
Price: $56AUD
7. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Available in 12 versatile shades (think everything from a rosy latte brown and bright red to soft mauve and pale peach), the Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush is a light buildable formula with a natural finish. We recommend warming it up with your fingers and gently dabbing it onto your cheeks.
Price: $35AUD
8. Flower Beauty Blush Bomb
Don’t let the lightweight nature of this product fool you; the Flower Beauty Blush Bomb is highly pigmented. As such, a little goes a long way with this one; for a super subtle look, we’d recommend sheering it out with a drop of face oil or mixing in a little moisturiser. It dries down with a non-tacky satin finish and lasts for the day. The shade Cinnamon is ideal for those desirous of a more bronzed look, while Bitten and Bubbly are classic berry and bubblegum pink hues, respectively.
Price: $6.99AUD
9. Chantecaille Cheek Gelee Blush
This lightweight blush goes on like a cream but has a sheer, tint-like finish. Beloved for its luxurious feel and superior staying power, the Chantecaille Cheek Gelee Blush works to brighten the skin and make it look more ‘awake’. It’s available in three shades (a light rosy pink, soft peach, and deeper rosewood).
Price: $77AUD
10. Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick
A multitasking hero, the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick is our pick for one of the best makeup products to travel with. The cream formula can be used on lips and cheeks alike, while the stick format makes for easy application. The formula itself is pigmented with a natural, satin finish, with the product available in 11 shades (we’re partial to Dash for fair skin tones, Werk for medium skin tones, and Quickie for darker skin tones).
Price: $42AUD
11. Ciaté London Dewy Blush
This liquid blush is infused with hydrating skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and yuzu and dragon fruit extracts which contribute to its smooth, gel-balm finish. It blends out easily and lends the skin a radiant glow, with four statement-making shades to choose from.
Price: $36AUD
12. Holme Beauty Embodiment Blush
Designed by a makeup artist, it’s no wonder Holme Beauty Embodiment Blush hits it out of the park. This lightweight liquid blush features light-reflecting pigments that lend it a subtle illuminating (yet still natural) effect. A little goes a long way, so we recommend using the doe foot applicator to apply a touch to the back of your hand and using your fingers or a wet beauty blender to apply it to your cheeks. The formula comes in six shades, with something for every skin tone.
Price: $55AUD
13. Espressoh Glassy Blush
It’s…clear? A decidedly unique formula, the Espressoh Glassy Blush has a jelly texture and appears clear in the packaging. It reacts with the pH of your skin upon contact with your cheeks, transforming into a unique dewy tint that adapts based on your skin tone and pH, making it truly a universally flattering blush.
Price: $40AUD
How to apply liquid and cream blush
While a brush is typically the go-to tool for applying powder blush, liquid and cream blush is best applied using your fingers. Apply the blush with the ring finger of your dominant hand using a light tapping motion; this will allow you to stop at a soft flush of colour or continue adding product for a more dramatic look. Alternatively, use a damp beauty blender to apply your blush.
What is the most flattering blush colour?
The right shade of blush can warm up your skin tone, imbue you with a healthy glow, and even emphasise (or define) your cheekbones. Rosy pink and peach are often touted as the most universally flattering blush shades (with the NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm a good example of this), however this fails to take different skin tones into account. To find the best shade of blush for you, look for a blush that complements your skin tone. As a general rule, lighter blush shades work well with lighter skin tones while darker blush shades work well with darker skin tones; this ensures the blush is working with rather than contrasting against your skin.
Fair skin tones suit baby pink, peach, and light coral; medium and olive skin tones should opt for shades like mauve, apricot, deep coral, deep peach, and rosy pink; and darker skin tones are best suited to bright corals, tangerine, berries, brick red, fuschia, and even purple.
With that in mind, it’s best to experiment and find what works best for you — it mightn’t be within the recommended colour family (and that’s ok!).
Words by Arabella Johnson
