Not Red, Not Brown: This “Moody” Blush Shade Is Proving Autumn’s Most Elegant
With vampy makeup trending this season, burgundy blush is reigning supreme—these are the very best around.


As someone who's accustomed to the unpredictable UK weather, it seemed ungrateful to wish away the summer season. However, the truth is I’ve been counting down the days to autumn and winter since the beginning of August. From the stylish outerwear I’ll be investing in to the long walks around London with a hot matcha in hand, winter has my heart. And there’s nothing that gets me more excited about autumn/winter than the thought of switching up my makeup routine.
Gone are the days when it’s too hot to wear anything other than lightweight lotions; now I’m able to freely experiment with all of the heavier makeup products I want. And of course, this includes blusher. With moodier, darker makeup looks coming to the forefront this season, there’s one particular blush shade that beauty lovers are turning their attention to—burgundy.
Now, not to toot my own horn, but I’ve been wearing burgundy blush for years now. Whilst I initially started off with berry-hued blushers for my dark skin tone, I found them too pink and way too bright for my liking. So I quickly moved on to burgundy hues that not only suit all skin tones and undertones but perfectly fit the vampy makeup aesthetic that I love, as well as currently taking over TikTok. Much like burgundy mascaras, blushers in this elegant hue will make your cheeks pop without feeling too out there. And after the hype that burgundy has had across both fashion and beauty in the past few years, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of burgundy blushes on the market to suit every skin type, undertone, and budget.
@brittanyelizadavy wears Benefit's Benetint in 'Dark Cherry' (a deep burgundy)
Keep scrolling to discover the best burgundy blushes to shop this winter.
The Best Burgundy Blushes, According to an Editor
1. Best Overall: Nars the Multiple Stick in Fierce, £33
2. Best for Oily Skin: Milk Makeup Cheek Stick in Muse, £22
3. Best for Dry Skin: Haus Labs Glassy Cheek Stick in Clove, £30
4. Best Luxury Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Grenat Profond, £45
5. Best Affordable Blush: NYX Buttermelt Blush in Back and Butta, £9
1. Nars the Multiple Stick in Fierce
Shade description: Deep crimson-burgundy
Finish: Soft-focus, blurred
There’s no better product to start with than one that can do everything, and Nars' ‘The Multiple’ can be used on the cheeks, lips, and eyes to create a cohesive look. I have the shade ‘Fierce’, which is a deep crimson hue that adds a natural flush of colour to my deeper skin tone. It’s quick and easy to use with a blurring, skin-finish that both oily and dry skin types can use. My only warning would be that it’s very pigmented, so apply with a light hand if you like a more subtle flush of colour.
2. Milk Makeup Cheek Stick in Muse
Shade description: Deep burgundy
Finish: Matte
If you have oily skin, then finding a matte blush that will last all day and not separate on your cheeks is most likely your main priority. Luckily, Milk Makeup has the answer with its Lip & Cheek Stick in Muse. And don't just take it from me, one reviewer said, “I'm super oily and this product doesn't go on too shiny or glowy like some cream products do.” I personally have dry skin, but the gorgeous deep burgundy hue alone is enough to keep this in my makeup.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Cheek Glow in 'Colour of Passion'
Shade description: Deep burgundy
Finish: Natural-glow
Described as a "chiffon-sheer, easy-to-blend" formula, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Cheek Glow in Colour of Passion gives the cheeks (and lips!) a natural flush of colour that’s perfect for an everyday makeup routine. In the pot, the cream blush formula appears very balmy, so I was expecting this to be too shiny even for dry skin like mine; however, it dried down nicely into a skin-like finish.
4. Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Glassy Cheek Stick in 'Clove'
Shade description: Burgundy-brown
Finish: Dewy
As I’ve mentioned above, I have extremely dry and eczema-prone skin, so any makeup product that incorporates skin care immediately gets my attention. Haus Labs Glassy Cheek Stick in Clove was originally formulated as a skincare serum stick and claims to improve the skin’s hydration by 62%. It’s a hyrdrating, dewy, glowy blusher, without looking too shiny. But if you have oily skin, this is one that you’ll want to set with a powder blush on top.
5. Chanel Joues Contraste Intense Cream-To-Powder Blush in Grenat Profond
Shade description: Bright reddish-burgundy
Finish: Natural
We all like to splurge out sometimes and treat ourselves, and when you do, there’s no blush that provides a luxury experience quite like Chanel’s Joues Contraste Intense Blush. This ultra-soft velvety formula was created with no white base, meaning it can be sheered out or built up to suit every skin tone. If you’re looking for a burgundy blush that doesn’t feel quite so moody, the slightly cooler undertone blush might appeal to you.
6. NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Blush in Back and Butta
Shade description: Deep rosewood-burgundy
Finish: Natural
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the cheaper price point of NYX’s Buttermelt Blush in Back and Butta makes it any less high-quality. This highly pigmented blush blends into the cheeks seamlessly without looking patchy. If you’re a proud victim of ‘blush blindness’ like I am, I can’t recommend this under-£10 blush enough.
7. Benefit Benetint in Dark Cherry
Shade description: Burgundy
Finish: Natural
I have to admit, I was late to the Benetint party, only trying this cult blush a few months ago. But this water-based tint has not left my makeup bag since. The shade Dark Cherry is a burgundy-brown hue that looks so natural on my deeper skin tone. A true water tint, this blush has much more longevity as well as a more natural-looking finish on the skin compared to cream, liquid, or powder formulas.
8. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Chocolate Cherry
Shade description: Burgundy-brown
Finish: Natural
Cream blushers have the ability to blend seamlessly into the skin, regardless of skin type, and Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Chocolate Cherry is highly recommended. It’s a buildable formula that doesn’t look or feel greasy on the skin. I’m also obsessed with this more brown-burgundy shade that perfectly blends the line between a blush and bronzer.
9. Dior Forever Blush Soft Filter in 08 Oud
Shade description: Burgundy-brown
Finish: Radiant-matte
If you’re looking for a liquid blush that will give you a true vampy look, Dior’s Forever Blush in Oud is one to try. It’s a deep browny-burgundy that will give a natural flush to deeper skin tones or an artificial ‘sun-kissed’ looker to fairer skin tones (without the actual sun damage, of course). My only notes would be that if you have dry skin, this blurring formula requires slightly more skin prep than other blushers.
10. Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush in Storm
Shade description: Warm rose-burgundy
Finish: Soft matte
Glossier’s Cloud Paint Plush Blush hasn’t been on the market for very long, but it already has high praise due to its buildable and blurring formula. The shade ‘Storm’ is a warm, deep rose that will complement a wide range of skin tones. I own and love the original cloud paint, but I genuinely think I love this new formula more.
11. Rhode Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy
Shade description: Bronze-burgundy
Finish: Glowy
A stick blush is perfect for on-the-go use, and Rhode’s Pocket Blush is practically a cult buy at this point. It gives the perfect ‘summer holiday’ flush, something that I'm sure we’ll all be grateful for throughout the colder months. I love the shade ‘Toasted Teddy’ for a burgundy shade with a slightly more brown undertone. But if you’re looking for a brighter burgundy hue, the newer shade, Date Cake, is the one for you.
12. Patrick Ta Double-Take Blush in She Knows Who She Is
Shade description: Rich brown-burgundy
Finish: Natural/Matte
Can't decide between a cream or a powder? Patrick Ta's Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo gives you the best of both worlds. Described as a rich mocha, this shade can be used as a blush or bronzer (or both if you prefer) and provides the perfect natural-matte finish on the cheeks. I personally use the cream side of the duo more, but if you have oilier skin, you can use the powder to set the cream blush in place.
13. Mac Glow Play Blush in Big Diva Energy
Shade description: Intense reddish burgundy
Finish: Blurring
If you also love a bold, super-pigmented blush like I do, then you’ll love Mac’s Glow Play Blush in Big Diva Energy. Arguably the most true burgundy hue of the bunch, this intense, deep red shade is the perfect way to make a statement on those full-coverage days. I can’t wait to dust this over my cheeks and nose to get the ‘cold-girl’ makeup look on the chilly winter days to come.
What Is the Difference Between Burgundy and Berry Blush?
Whilst burgundy blushes have a muted red hue with a brown or golden base, berry blushes and mauve blushers tend to be slightly brighter and with cool undertones. This makes berry blushes appear brighter and pinker on the cheeks and may not be suited to those with warm undertones or who prefer a more natural flush. Burgundy blush, however, will give the cheeks a much richer, more natural colour to the cheeks and can suit a wider range of undertones due to its neutral base.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

As WWW UK’s editorial assistant, Brittany focuses on creating compelling fashion and beauty content for site. She supports the fashion team on shoots and with styling, and works closely with the Managing Editor on recurring columns and franchises. She has a passion for all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle related, but is particularly fond of fragrance, with a personal collection to rival any beauty editor's!
Prior to Who What Wear, Brittany worked as the Shopping Assistant at Reach Plc and across a number of publications, including OK!, Notebook, S Mag and The Mirror. In this role, she was responsible for creating on-site beauty and fashion content, compiling shopping grids and filming and editing weekly video content for the brand’s social media account.
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