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13 best cream blushers for a natural and long-lasting glow

These picks include matte, dewy, and satin effects for a colourful cheek pop

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Monday 21 August 2023 14:23 BST
We looked at formula, shades, staying power and finish
We looked at formula, shades, staying power and finish (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

Blusher is a classic make-up buy for adding an uplifting pop of cheek colour, and this beauty staple offers a failsafe way of infusing skin with a healthy-looking glow.

While it’s important to pick the shade which works best with your skin tone, formula is pretty crucial too. Compact powder blush picks will always be a popular choice, and they’re undoubtedly a timeless make-up buy. But, if your skin is prone to dryness, or you’re wary of choosing a product which might cling to fine lines, cream blush is your cheek-brightening best friend.

Whether you seek a lightweight or rich consistency, the beauty of these blendable buys is that they’re easy to layer and build, so the exact amount of cheek coverage can be tailored to your preference. They can be applied with a brush or fingertips and the creamy texture serves up a smoothing splash of colour, which may either be matte or dewy. Plus, these gel, liquid or balm-like formulas are easy to dab on throughout the day for a colourful boost.

With all that in mind, we’ve been researching the best cream blushers to buy, in pink, coral, neutral and warm tones. From subtle shades to long-wearing options, read on to see our full tried and tested findings.

How we tested

Our reviewer sampled a selection of cream blushersduring a testing time of a few weeks to several months and these picks include old favourites and brand-new finds. We looked at formula, shades, staying power and finish, when worn as part of our usual make-up routine. Look no further than our pick of the best cream blushers across all price points.

The best cream blushers for 2023 are:

  • Best overall cream blush – Merit flush balm cheek colour, Beverly Hills: £32, Meritbeauty.com
  • Best cream blush for a sheer finish – Glossier cloud paint, puff: £20, Glossier.com
  • Best cream blush stick – Pixi Beauty on-the-glow blush, fleur: £18, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best multi-tasking cream blush– Jones Road lip and cheek stick, tawny nude: £30.50, Jonesroadbeauty.com
  • Best cream blush for a satin effect – Rare Beauty stay vulnerable melting blush, apricot: £18, Spacenk.com

Merit flush balm cheek colour, Beverly Hills

merit balm blush
  • Best: Overall
  • Size: 9g
  • Shades: Nine
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Glossier cloud paint, puff

Glossier cloud paint.png
  • Best: For a sheer finish
  • Size: 10ml
  • Shades: Nine
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Pat McGrath Labs divine blush: legendary glow colour balm, peach lotus

Pat McGrath Labs divine blush legendary glow colour balm.jpg
  • Best: For a glassy effect
  • Size: 7g
  • Shades : Six
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Victoria Beckham Beauty cheeky posh cream blush stick, playground

Cheeky posh.jpg
  • Best: Luxe cream blush
  • Size: 5g
  • Shades: Seven
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Pixi Beauty on-the-glow blush, fleur

Pixi Beauty on-the-glow blush.png
  • Best: Cream blush stick
  • Size: 19g
  • Shades: Three
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Jones Road lip and cheek stick, tawny nude

Jones Road lip and cheek stick.png
  • Best: Multi-tasking cream blush
  • Size: 8.4g
  • Shade: Eight
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Rare Beauty stay vulnerable melting blush, apricot

Rare Beauty stay vulnerable melting blush, apricot.png
  • Best: For satin effect
  • Size: Not specified
  • Shades: Five
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SUQQU shimmer liquid blush, 03

SUQQU shimmer liquid blush, 03.png
  • Best: For moisturising skincare ingredients
  • Size: Not specified
  • Shades: Three
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Ateh Jewel Beauty blush of dreams, Watson watermelon

Atel Jewel blush of dreams.jpg
  • Best: For pigmented colour
  • Size: 3ml
  • Shades: Three
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Illamasqua colour veil, tonic

Illamasqua colour veil, tonic.png
  • Best: Lightweight formula
  • Size: Not specified
  • Shades: Six
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Beauty Pie supercheek cream blush, universal pink

Beauty Pie supercheek cream blush, universal pink.png
  • Best: For a matte look
  • Size: 5g
  • Shades: Eight
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Nudestix nudies bloom, poppy girl

Nudestix nudies bloom, poppy girl.png
  • Best: For an integral applicator
  • Size: 7g
  • Shades: Seven
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Mii Cosmetics colour wonder lip and cheek balm, au naturelle

Mii Cosmetics colour wonder lip and cheek balm,.jpg
  • Best: Cream blush compact
  • Size: 3.2g
  • Shades: Three
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The verdict: Cream blushers

Our best overall buy is Merit’s flush balm cheek colour for delivering a bold pop of dewy cheek colour, with a wide shade selection. Meanwhile, if you favour a stick applicator, Pat McGrath Labs’ divine blush: legendary glow colour balm offers lip and cheek radiance and a gorgeous glassy finish. Finally, for a natural-looking flush, we also love Glossier’s cloud paint.

Looking for a new pout purchase? We’ve rounded up the best lip oils from Dior, Charlotte Tilbury and more

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