Blush Has Become *the* MVP Beauty Product, so I Found the 17 Best Money Can Buy

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

If you clicked on this article, there's a good chance that you, like so many others, have been on the hunt for a blush that does everything you need it to and more. I've always preferred a naturally flushed finish to my makeup—which, at times, has been challenging to accomplish given my deep skin tone and a seemingly jarring lack of complementary blush shades among the products trending on social media platforms. However, as a beauty editor, I've been extremely lucky to try out many best-selling blushes firsthand as part of my job. With my makeup bags (yes, there's definitely more than one) spilling over with options, it's important to weed through the ones that are all hype and no substance to identify those that deliver instant results.

To me, blush is the easiest way to upgrade a makeup look from just pretty to stunning. Not only can blush be used to add warmth back into the face after building up a flawless base, but depending on the product, it can also transform your natural face shape, accentuate your favorite facial features, chisel cheekbones, and be swept across the tip of the nose, eyes, or even the lips for added color. In other words, it's one of the most versatile products anyone could have in their collection, but it all comes down to selecting the best one for your specific needs.

How to Choose the Right Blush

Despite the overwhelming results accompanying an internet search for "the best blushes," shopping for your ideal blush can be made simple. One of the biggest determining factors when I'm on the hunt for a new blush product is, without a doubt, its formula. Most blush formulas fall into one of the following categories: powder, cream, gel, or liquid. Recently, cream-based blush formulas have been on the rise, with makeup lines providing them as alternate versions of their best-selling powder blush products. For example, Nars's cult-classic powder blush in Orgasm has been launched in the form of a multiuse stick.

I flock toward cream and gel blushes that have a sheer yet buildable quality to them since they tend to allow space for teeny-tiny mistakes and a chance to build up the product to my desired pigment. My skin type happens to be dry, so I prefer products that are chock-full of long-lasting skincare benefits. Blush comes in a number of finishes that can impact a finished makeup look. Whether you're in the mood for matte or longing for something dewy and fresh, there's something out there for you!

Before we dive into the blushes I was completely obsessed with long before becoming a beauty editor, I thought it would be helpful to reach out to one of the beauty industry's most reputable celebrity makeup artists who doesn't shy away from adding a gorgeous flush of color any chance she gets. Courtney Hart—who has worked with the likes of Anna Cathcart, Kristen Bell, Hilary Duff, and Chelsea Handler—shared a couple of the blushes she's always reaching for in her makeup kit. Check out her picks and my personal favorites below!

"These blushes are silky and luminous and leave an almost pearlescent finish on the skin," Hart says of this eye-catching blush by Hourglass. "[It's] very soft focus. They combine the hue of a blush but the finish of an illuminating pressed powder." If you're looking to add even more of an ethereal glow to your finished look, you're in luck—the Ambient Lighting line includes everything from bronzer to finishing powder.

Hart is also a huge fan of this cult-classic, putty-like blush by MAC. "These have been my go-to blushes for at least a year now," she continues. "Not quite a cream, not quite a powder—these blushes melt seamlessly into the skin and are beautiful on their own or layered with others to add dimension." 

Best Overall: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

Best Cream Blush: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick

Best Stick Blush: Nars The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick

Best Liquid Blush: Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint

Best Gel Blush: Chantecaille Cheek Gelée

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(Image credit: @jasminetookes)

Best Matte Blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush

Best for Fair Skin: Nars Blush

Best for Olive Skin: Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick

Best for Deep Skin: Kulfi Mehndi Moment Long-Lasting Radiant Cream Blush

Best for Brown Skin: Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

Best for Mature Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Powder Blush

Best Pink Blush: Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cheek Blush

Best Long-Lasting Blush: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Best Blush Palette: Code8 Blush Palette

Best Drugstore Blush: E.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Blush

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.