How do you apply blush?

The best way to apply blush depends on the formula you're working with. For creams and liquids, you can pretty much apply them however you want, be it with your fingers, a damp sponge, or a brush. For powders, they're best applied with a large fluffy brush.

Where should you apply blush?

Blush placement is totally a matter of preference, but it can alter your overall look. For a youthful, more rounded appearance, apply it directly to the apples of your cheeks. If you're looking to give your face a more lifted appearance, apply it closer to your cheekbones and blend it upwards towards your temples.

Can you use red lipstick as a blush?

Yes, you can use red lipstick as blush—but it might not be the best choice, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Because lipstick is typically made with heavy, and often greasy, ingredients, using red lipstick as a blush could quickly clog your pores. Even if you aren’t acne-prone, it could clog your pores enough to lead to acne. Additionally, since lipstick was designed to stay well on your lips, the skin of which is different than your cheeks, you might find that lipstick used as blush either doesn’t hold up well or is a challenge to remove.

The 10 Best Blushes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Creme & Powder Blush on a white counter — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Nothing against concealer or mascara, but blush might very well be our desert island makeup must. It’s one product and step in your routine that can take your complexion from looking dull to full of life in seconds. According to New York City-based makeup artist Taylor Fitzgerald, blush can create so many effects on the skin depending on where you place it. "Blush on the apples for a natural flush, above the cheekbone for a lift, or apply it on the nose for a sun-kissed finish," she adds.

That being said, with the influx of new blushes on the market, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones are best for you. From matte powders to dewy cream formulas and so much more, the options often feel endless. So, to help you choose a blush (or several) that's right for you, we researched and tested some of the most popular and highly-rated formulas on the market. We've taken shade offering, formula, application, finish, and wear into consideration when evaluating them, and ahead, we're sharing the ones that impressed us the most.

Fear not, the blushes below—a mix of silky powders, blendable creams, and more—are the best of the best.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush at Amazon ($44)

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Best Overall, Runner-Up:

Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint at Amazon ($30)

Jump to Review

Best Drugstore:

Milani Baked Blush (See Price)

Jump to Review

Best Liquid:

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy at Sephora ($14)

Jump to Review

Best Matte Cream:

Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush at Amazon ($35)

Jump to Review

Best Dewy Cream:

Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Cream Blush at Sephora ($20)

Jump to Review

Best Matte Powder:

Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush at Sephora ($32)

Jump to Review

Best Luminous Powder:

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush at Amazon ($45)

Jump to Review

Best Gel:

Glossier Cloud Paint at Sephora ($22)

Jump to Review

Best Cream-to-Powder:

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed at Sephora ($25)

Jump to Review

Best Overall

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush

Sephora

View On Amazon $44 View On Sephora $38 View On Walmart $77

What We Like

Comes with cream and powder formulas
Buildable and easy to blend
Extensive shade range
Versatile
Chic and functional packaging

What We Don't Like

Nothing

The best of both worlds, this blush compact offers both a cream formula and a powder formula in one. The cream is smooth and blendable while not being overly emollient and greasy, and the powder is soft and buildable for a natural finish. We adore the versatility of this product as you can use each formula alone or layered together for a beautiful look that lasts. We found that the formulas layer really well together no matter what order you apply them in, which is pretty rare since typically creams don't apply well on top of powders. These blush duos come in a range of everyday shades and fun pops of color, and the brand paid extra special attention to the details by including a plastic cover for the cream section so the powder doesn't get it dirty. It's a 10/10 blush and we highly recommend it.

Finish: Natural | Shades: 8 | Size: Cream 6 grams, powder 4 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint

Make Beauty

View On Amazon $30 View On Makebeauty.com View On Revolve $30

What We Like

Perfect color payoff
Lightweight, gel-like texture
Non-sticky
Stunning dewy finish on skin

What We Don't Like

Could be too dewy for super oily skin types

Read Full Review: Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Cheek Tint Review

"This product deserves more love—it's without a doubt, one of the best cream blush formulas on the market," says Commerce Writer, Alyssa Kaplan. It’s a thin, gel-like consistency that blends into bare skin or on top of foundation seamlessly. It offers buildable pigmentation that you can layer on for bold color payoff or sheer out for a more subtle look, and because it's not completely opaque, it works across a wide range of skin tones and even lets a bit of your natural complexion peek through. "It creates the most stunning, juicy-looking finish on the cheeks, and while the formula doesn’t dry, it's not sticky or heavy," she notes. We also love that it comes in a convenient stick format.

Finish: Dewy | Shades: 8 | Size: 5 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

Milani Baked Blush

Amazon

View on Ulta View On Ulta $11 View On Target $9

What We Like

Easy to blend
Luminous finish
Highly pigmented
Accessible price point

What We Don't Like

Product has fallout

Read Full Review: Milani Baked Blush Review

Blendable formula? Check. Silky texture? Check. Range of flattering colors at an affordable price? Check and check. The powder is baked on Italian terracotta tiles, making for an ultra-smooth feel, and each of the shades is multi-dimensional, creating the perfect, natural-looking flush every time. We love that it provides a luminous finish that's not full of chunky glitter, rather it's radiant and reflective on the skin in a subtle way. Shannon Bauer, Senior Commerce Editor, says it performs just as well as many of her high-end options, making it a product she reaches for often.

Finish: Shimmer | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Liquid

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy

Sephora

View On Sephora $14 View On Rarebeauty.com

What We Like

Goes on sheer and smooth
Matte and radiant finishes available
A little bit goes a long way

What We Don't Like

Application takes some getting used to

Read Full Review: We Tried Five Shades of the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush—Each Gave a Different Look

There's a reason this Rare Beauty blush has reached TikTok virality—it checks all the boxes in terms of what you could want in a liquid blush. It's pigmented, blendable, buildable, and long-wearing. It comes in a wide range of wearable shades and chic packaging that's easy to throw in your makeup bag. Figuring out how much to apply can take some getting used to due to the extreme color payoff, but once you get the hang of it, we have a feeling you'll be hooked.

Finish: Matte, dewy | Shades: 13 | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Matte Cream

Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush

Sephora

View On Amazon $35 View On Sephora $35 View On Ulta $35

What We Like

Long-wearing
Great shade range
Can be used on eyes and lips
Buildable

What We Don't Like

Attached brush isn't ideal for blush

If you like cream products but don't like how emollient and dewy some of them are, chances are you'll love this formula from Nudestix. It's creamy and blendable, but it sets to a matte (but not dry) finish on the cheeks. It layers beautifully on top of foundation and underneath powder blush if you choose to layer, and we love that it can be used on the eyes and lips, too. While we appreciate that it comes with a blending brush on one end, we find it a bit for blush application. All-in-all, it's an easy-to-use cream formula in a convenient stick format that's perfect for anyone who likes a matte finish.

Finish: Matte | Shades: 12 | Size: 7 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Dewy Cream

Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Cream Blush

Sephora

View On Sephora $20 View On Tower28beauty.com View On Kohls.com $20

What We Like

Goes on sheer and smooth
Buildable
Wearable shade range
Gorgeous finish on skin

What We Don't Like

Not the most long-wearing

Read Full Review: Tower 28 Tinted Balm Review

Byrdie Social Media Editor Star Donaldson hearts this do-it-all, which looks equally gorgeous dabbed on lips, cheeks, or lid. The squeaky-clean formula is also super hydrating, and it comes in a range of gorgeous, wearable shades. The color payoff definitely veers more toward the sheer end of the spectrum, though it can be layered for those who want a bit more pop. We also love that it can be applied on the lips too for a monochromatic look.

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 7 | Size: 4.5 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Khera Alexander
Byrdie / Khera Alexander
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Matte Powder

Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush

Haus Labs

View On Sephora $32 View On Hauslabs.com

What We Like

Smooth, blendable formula
Rich pigmentation
Long-wearing
Packaging comes with large mirror

What We Don't Like

Intense color payoff for fair skin

You can't go wrong with a classic, matte powder blush, and this one has totally captured our hearts. We've found that it layers on top of both matte and dewy foundations, and it looks great on our editors with various skin types and skin tones. The formula is incredibly smooth and easy to blend, and the rich color payoff is unmatched—so much so that those with fair skin tones should be careful not to over-apply. Just a few swipes of the vibrant shades on the cheeks is all you need for a healthy-looking flush with a natural matte finish. It wears all day long, and we love that the compact comes with a big mirror so you can apply at home or on-the-go.

Finish: Matte | Shades: 5 | Size: 11 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Luminous Powder

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

Sephora

View On Amazon $45 View On Sephora $29 View On Ulta $46

What We Like

Natural luminous finish
Easy to blend
Buildable color

What We Don't Like

Could be more options for deep skin tones

Hourglass knows a thing or two about creating luxurious powders, and this blush is one of our favorites. Each shade combines their iconic Ambient Lighting Powder or Strobe Powder with colored pigments via a stunning marbleized design, and they blend together to give the cheeks a natural flush of color with an elevated, luminous finish. The formula is effortless to blend and it can be built up for more color payoff, though we do hope the brand comes out with more shades to suit deep and dark skin tones. If you're looking for a luminous powder blush to give your complexion a subtle glow, we highly recommend checking out this beloved blush.

Finish: Matte | Shades: 5 | Size: 4.25 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Read Full Review: The 10 Best Blushes Perfect for a Flushed Glow

Best Gel

Glossier Cloud Paint

Glossier

View On Sephora $22 View On Glossier.com $22

What We Like

Hydrating
Melts into skin
Great everyday shades and pops of color

What We Don't Like

Takes some finessing to apply

Read Full Review: Glossier Cloud Paint Review

For a wash of color on your cheeks that you can easily dab on with your fingertips, consider trying this gel-cream blush from Glossier. The lightweight formula applies smoothly on bare skin or over foundation, and we love that it can look sheer or more opaque if you choose to build it up. It can take a bit of practice to figure out how much to apply, but once you do, it's pretty effortless to work with and it creates a beautiful, natural finish on the skin.

Finish: Natural | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Cream-to-Powder

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed

Sephora

View On Sephora $25 View On Danessamyricksbeauty.com

What We Like

Rich pigmentation
Easy to work with
Buildable
Long-wearing

What We Don't Like

Shade range could use more variance

If you like cream and powder blushes, this one essentially combines both formulas in one. When you touch it and apply it to your cheeks, it feels like a smooth cream. But once it sets, it dries down to a weightless powder. It's extremely easy to blend out, it can be built up for some serious color payoff, and it lasts all day long. We also appreciate that it can be applied smoothly with your fingers, a damp sponge, or a brush, though we've found that it looks the most airbrushed when blended out using a sponge. We wish the brand would expand the range to include more shades (most of the current ones are warm-toned), but the formula is fantastic.

Finish: Matte | Shades: 6 | Size: 6 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

Our favorite blush is the Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush. It comes with both a cream and a powder formula, it's offered in a range of beautiful and wearable shades, and it's extremely versatile. But if you're looking for a classic powder blush that offers incredible color payoff and a natural matte finish, we recommend the Haus Labs Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush.

What to Look for When Buying Blush

Formula

Blushes come in tons of different formulas, from matte powders to dewy creams and more. Ultimately, the best one for you depends on your preferences and skin type. If you prefer working with powders, but you like a luminous finish, opt for a powder formula with a bit of shimmer, like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush. If you have dry skin or you like a super dewy, hydrating formula, go for the Tower 28 BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush.

Longevity

Blush isn't always super long-wearing, especially formulas that are really emollient. And if you don't need to your makeup to last all day long, then this doesn't matter. But if you're someone that prefers long-wearing makeup or your buying blush for long days or special events, opting for a formula that doesn't fade throughout the day is key. Some of our favorites that have impressive lasting powder are the Nudestix Nudies Matte Cream Blush and the Haus Labs Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush.

Pigmentation

How much pigment a blush has denotes whether or not it lands on your face looking similar to how it does in the packaging. Some products offer fully opaque pigmentation while others are more sheer, If you're looking for a bright pop of color, the Haus Labs Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush and the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed are for you. If you prefer something that starts of sheer but can be built up, go for the Glossier Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush.

FAQ

How do you apply blush?

The best way to apply blush depends on the formula you're working with. For creams and liquids, you can pretty much apply them however you want, be it with your fingers, a damp sponge, or a brush. For powders, they're best applied with a large fluffy brush.
Where should you apply blush?

Blush placement is totally a matter of preference, but it can alter your overall look. For a youthful, more rounded appearance, apply it directly to the apples of your cheeks. If you're looking to give your face a more lifted appearance, apply it closer to your cheekbones and blend it upwards towards your temples.
Can you use red lipstick as a blush?

Yes, you can use red lipstick as blush—but it might not be the best choice, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Because lipstick is typically made with heavy, and often greasy, ingredients, using red lipstick as a blush could quickly clog your pores. Even if you aren’t acne-prone, it could clog your pores enough to lead to acne. Additionally, since lipstick was designed to stay well on your lips, the skin of which is different than your cheeks, you might find that lipstick used as blush either doesn’t hold up well or is a challenge to remove.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile our list, we gathered insights from our editors' and contributors' personal experiences using and testing different blushes in their daily lives. We had them consider key features—like shade offering, formula, application, finish, and wear—before sharing their final thoughts on the products. We also did extensive research on popular and highly-rated options for categories we felt were missing, helping us to fill the gaps and create a well-rounded list of picks.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. 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. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.