The best cream blushes for any skin tone
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
OF all the steps involved in a daily makeup routine, blush is truly the product that can single-handedly elevate a makeup look, or completely ruin it.
Because getting the right product is important, we've tested dozens of options and found the best cream blushes for all skin tones and skin types, from budget-friendly finds, to indulgent luxury products.
Cream blushes have been having a moment and thanks to their wild success, we now have products coming out in all shapes and forms.
Creamy textures that transform into powders, shimmery bold colours, and natural dewy looks; there is a perfect cream blush for anyone out there.
With all the new products that have come onto the market in the last year alone, it can be hard to find a blush that ticks all the boxes. For us, a blush that has it all needs a list of ingredients that are not harmful to the skin, a great pigment level that makes it buildable, a stunning finish and a long-lasting formula.
The best cream blushes at a glance
- The best overall: Trinny London Lip2Cheek
- The best eco-friendly option: Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies
- The best budget-friendly option: Essence Baby Got Blush
- The best luxury option: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks
- The best for a natural look: Refy Cream Blush
- The best for a bold look: Doll Beauty Pretty Fly Cream Melt
Trinny London
- Trinny London Lip2Cheek, £26 – buy here
Pros: Gorgeous dewy finish, very buildable, long-lasting, doubles up as a lipstick.
Cons: Once the product is almost all gone, it’s not easy to scoop the last of it out of the pot.
Rating: 5/5
Lip2Cheek is one of my favourite everyday blushes. For my medium-toned skin, my favourite shade is VeeBee, a warm but glowy neutral that is easily buildable without ever being too much. I find this colour perfect for my everyday makeup while Pia, Milly and the other bright tints look stunning on darker complexions.
A special mention to the Rossy tone, which is a stunning red that looks as good on the lips as it does on the cheeks. Another thing that I really liked about the product is the packaging: the little pots can be stacked one on top of the other, keeping all your favourite blushes neatly together.
Most read in Product Reviews
READ MORE:
Trish McEvoy
Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Cream Blush, $58 (£48) – buy here
Pros: Refillable packaging, long-lasting, stunning glowy finish without feeling sticky.
Cons: It takes a couple of applications to build up the colour, pricey.
Rating: 4/5
A fantastic (but pricey) product by Trish McEvoy, with a particular preference for the colour So Soultry. This would be the blush I reach out for when I want something subtle, long-lasting but very glowy. The formula almost feels glossy, but once applied, it becomes seamless on the skin while maintaining the glow.
The packaging is very glamorous and, more interestingly, is designed to be reused. Once the product is finished, it’s very easy to remove the old blush and replace it with a new one or another product of the same dimensions, like eyeshadows, bronzers, or powders – all available on Trish McEvoy’s website.
Axiology
- Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies, £14 – buy here
Pros: Plastic-free, PETA-certified and gluten-free, buildable and long-lasting.
Cons: The lack of packaging could make it hard to use the product once it’s almost finished.
Rating: 5/5
This is the first product I have tried from Axiology, and it got me hooked. There is nothing I don’t love about it. The formula is straightforward, palm oil free, PETA-certified and gluten-free; the packaging is plastic-free and kept to its minimum to avoid waste – which is a great environmental commitment for a beauty company.
The balmies come in the form of a crayon, but the creamy formula makes it easy to use the product as a blush, eyeshadow or lipstick. It's easy to build up the colour and slide the small package into your purse for touch-ups during the day if necessary. I have started to use the shade Cherry as an eyeliner, and I have no plans to stop.
Refy
- Refy Cream Blush, £14 – buy here
Pros: Very pigmented, buildable and long-lasting.
Cons: The packaging is quite small, containing less product than the average blush.
Rating: 5/5
If you are looking for a super-pigmented blush that is buildable and has a glowy finish, look no further than this cream blush from Refy. For a product that is quite affordable – priced at £14 – this blush is so pigmented that two dots are all you need for a flushed, healthy look.
My preference goes to the shade Cherry, which seems to look flawless on most skin tones. The only downside is the amount of product you actually get when buying this blush, which is only 1.5 g compared to the 3, 4 or even 7 g of some of the other blushes on this list.
Lottie London
- Lottie London pH cream blush, £5.95 - buy here
Pros: Very affordable, sheer finish.
Cons: Difficult to predict what the colour will look like on your skin.
Rating: 2/5
This Lottie London blush presents itself in a dark purple, almost black, cream that once applied on the skin changes colour adapting to one’s natural PH. The formula is pleasant on the skin, and the finish is sheer.
Unfortunately, I really didn’t like how the colour looked with my skin tone. Once on my cheeks, the colour turned into a light purple that was quite hard to tone down, but I can still see this product working for someone who wants a flush of colour and prefers pink and purple shades. Overall, I think it’s too hard to predict how the colour will look on someone’s skin.
Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush, £35 – buy here
Pros: Brush included for easy application, creamy buildable formula, matte finish.
Cons: The finish is quite sheer, requiring a few applications for a more intense look.
Rating: 4/5
A great option for an easy-to-apply, on-the-go, everyday blush. The formula is very creamy but settles into a matte finish on the skin. The result is a natural, long-lasting healthy glow.
Some of the colours, such as the shade Latte and Peach Caramel, are also good options for light contouring, easy to perform using the attached brush.
After using them for a while, these blushes are a good option for a natural look, but the product may not offer the wow factor that some other brands like Refy and Trinny achieve with some of their more audacious shades.
Rare Beauty
- Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush, £24 – buy here
Pros: Natural look, satin finish, easy to apply and seamless on the skin.
Cons: Not very buildable so less suited than other blushes to achieve a bold look.
Rating: 5/5
This Rare Beauty blush has a very lightweight, almost oil-like texture that makes it incredibly easy to blend, without feeling greasy. Once applied, the finish is satin but not shiny and the look is extremely natural which makes this blush a great option for everyday application and natural looks.
It feels very comfortable to wear on the skin and looks good even when applied alone, with no base. The shade Nearly Natural looks, as the name suggests, so natural that is the perfect no-makeup makeup product, while Nearly Berry is the best choice for a brighter pop of colour.
Doll Beauty
- Doll Beauty Pretty Fly Cream Melt, £16 – buy here
Pros: Easily buildable, very pigmented, smooth texture.
Cons: The collection lacks a natural shade.
Rating: 4/5
If you are looking for a cream blush that will give you a bright, bold look with one single application, then this Doll Beauty creation is what you need. The texture is creamy and smooth which makes the product very easy to apply and extremely buildable.
Even a relatively toned-down shade like Costa del Doll, which is a lovely peachy pink, can be used to create a bold look with just a few additional dots. The one downside is that this product only comes in four (quite intense) shades so it lacks some variety, especially in more subtle, natural colours.
Sosu Cosmetics
- SOSU Cosmetics Blush On The Go Cream Stick Glow Pink, £10.99 – buy here
Pros: Buildable, shimmery but not cakey, smooth application.
Cons: Very shimmery for a blush; only four shades are available (two of which are shimmery).
Rating: 3/5
It’s a shame that this SOSU Cosmetics blush only comes in four shades – two pink and two peach options. The peculiarity of the product is that two of the colours are as shimmery as a highlighter, if not more! This is the blush I would use if I were going ‘out out’, but not the one I would reach for on a daily basis.
The cream stick is easy to apply; it's buildable and doesn’t look cakey, so you can use it either as a shimmery blush to complete a bold look or as a pigmented highlighter to finish off more natural makeup.
Beauty Bay
- Beauty Bay Liquid Cream Blush, £9 - buy here
Pros: Easy to apply, buildable, soft-focus finish.
Cons: Only four colours are available.
Rating: 4/5
This Beauty Bay liquid cream blush leans more towards a cream than a liquid in its consistency. The texture is the one we would expect from a cream blush, but the packaging is the one of a liquid product, which makes the application quite easy and mess-free. On the skin, the product feels like a powder and creates a soft-focus satin look.
The application is seamless, and the product is pigmented and buildable, which makes it adaptable to most makeup looks. Overall, this is a very versatile blush and a good value for money, considering a small amount goes a long way.
Kiko
- Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush, £11.49 – buy here
Pros: Easy to apply, buildable, slightly shimmery for a glowy look.
Cons: The colour fades after a few hours.
Rating: 3/5
The Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush comes in seven shades and is a good option for an everyday blush at a moderate price. The texture is smooth and almost powder-like once on the skin, the colours are buildable, and the finished look is satin with a slight shimmer that gives an additional glow boost to the skin.
The downside of this product is that I found it doesn’t last a whole day out and about, the colour fades, and it requires reapplication after a few hours if you want to keep the makeup looking flawless for the whole day.
Wilko
- Essence Baby Got Blush, £3 – buy here
Pros: Very affordable; pigmented, buildable colour; satin finish.
Cons: The slightly sweet smell could be unpleasant for some; only three shades are available.
Rating: 4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this Essence cream blush. This is one of the cheapest products of its kind on the market. For only £3, this blush is very pigmented, smooth and easy to build to create bolder looks. The satin finish is extremely long-lasting, and the packaging is so compact it can fit in the smallest of bags.
Don’t be fooled by its small size, though; the amount of product you get is average for blushes, and in fact, more than some pricier brands offer. This wouldn’t be my first choice if I had to choose only one blush, but it’s a good option at a pretty incredible price point.
E.L.F.
- e.l.f Monochromatic Multi Stick, £5 – buy here
Pros: Affordable, shiny finish.
Cons: Hard to blend, can look cakey, too shimmery.
Rating: 2/5
Even more compact than the Essence blush, the e.l.f Monochromatic Multi Stick is a good on-the-go blush.
Unfortunately, I found quite a few issues with this product, starting from the application and blendability. The blush is creamy and pleasant to the touch but sits on the skin, making it hard to blend, especially when trying to build up the colour. The shiny finish is quite nice, but on some occasions, it can look a bit too glittery.
This is a lids, cheeks and lips product, so I would continue to use it as a cream eyeshadow but probably not as a blush.
Charlotte Tilbury
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow talk Lip & Cheek Glow, £30 – buy here
Pros: Long-lasting, dewy finish, easy to blend.
Cons: Pricy, only two shades are available.
Rating: 3/5
Originally launched as a limited edition, this product is now a permanent fixture of the brand’s iconic Pillow Talk collection. There are only two shades available, a warm pink (Colour of Dreams) and a punchier berry (Colour of Passion).
Like all Charlotte Tilbury’s products, this blush comes in lovely packaging and feels luxurious. The texture is smooth, and the product is easy to blend, although it’s quite difficult to build up the colour. It provides a dewy and natural finish that looks very good on the skin, but for only 2.5 g of product, this blush is quite pricey and not overwhelmingly better than other similar cream blushes on the market.
Fenty
- Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush £22 - buy here
Pros: Easy to blend, variety of shades.
Cons: Sheer finish; not all shades are easy to build.
Rating: 4/5
If you are looking for a vast colour range, Fenty has no less than fifteen shades to choose from, ranging from the very natural Peach Face and Fuego Flush to bright colours like Drama Cla$$ and Daiquiri Dip.
The formula is extremely lightweight and melts into the skin for a very natural result. The finish is quite sheer, and some of the shades require a few applications to achieve a bright pop of colour. The product promises a fresh-faced flush, and this is what it delivers. It’s an easy-to-use cream blush to get a healthy glow, perfect to achieve a sun-kissed natural look.
NARS
- NARS Air Matt Blush, £27 – buy here
Pros: Sheer, soft focus finish; lightweight.
Cons: Powdery texture, difficult to build colour.
Rating: 2/5
The creamy mousse formula of this blush made me think back to the infamous Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation we were all using in the 2000s. The cream transforms into a velvety powder upon application, resulting in a sheer veil of colour that slightly blurs the skin for a flattering effect.
Unfortunately, the sheer nature of the product means that it requires a few layers to really see a pop of colour. The powder finish is not the most pleasant on the cheeks and not the best option for those with dry skin. Overall, it lacks the glow factor that I expect from a cream blush.
Bobbi Brown
- Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks, £30 – buy here
Pros: Long-lasting, glossy finish, pleasant creamy texture.
Cons: Only natural shades are available.
Rating: 5/5
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks is a fabulous option to achieve a glossy, natural look. The brand offers nine shades, all of which are quite natural, so you won't find any flashy colours in this collection.
This is definitely one of the best-performing cream blushes I have tried. The creamy texture is pleasant on the skin and blends very well. The finish is dewy, almost glossy without being sticky or looking cakey. A small amount of product is required to achieve a nice long-lasting healthy glow. This blush is a bit on the expensive side, but I do think the quality of the results is worth the price.
MAC
- MAC Glow Play Blush, £25.20 – buy here
Pros: Easy to use for beginners, long-lasting natural finish.
Cons: Powder finish, strange texture.
Rating: 3/5
The texture of this blush – which the brand calls an ultra-smooth, cushiony blush – is quite unique. It doesn’t exactly feel like a cream, but it’s not a powder either. It’s easy to use and buildable and the finish is always natural. The creamy lightweight formula settles into a powder on the skin, creating a luminous look that lasts all day.
This is a very good option for someone who is used to powder blushes but wants to try a cream blush for a change. If you are a cream blush lover, this might be a bit disappointing since it doesn’t provide the dewy finish that one might expect from a cream blush.
How to apply cream blush
Depending on the result you wish to achieve and your face shape, there are various correct methods to apply cream blush.
We asked Laura Kay, Founder of Laura Kay London, her professional opinion: “Whether liquid, cream or powder-based, dab on in three individual places (i.e. dots) starting from the middle of your cheekbone in an outwards motion towards the top of your ear. The trick is to apply roughly half a centimetre above the apple of your cheekbone to lift up your features. Once you have applied in the right place, blend in with a good-quality makeup brush. The aim is for your makeup to look natural but effective.”
Trish McEvoy, funder of Trish McEvoy New York, added: “The key is to always blend well and make sure there are no lines of demarcation. I like to use fingers to place, brushes to blend, and a sponge to ensure it melts into the skin.
When applying cream blush over powder, it adds glow to the skin. When using cream blush under powder, you get a more velvet finish. If you apply cream blush alone, you will have a natural, dewy, flush.”
Does cream blush count as a liquid on a flight?
“Yes, according to guidelines cream blush will count as a liquid with a 100ml allowance per product to enable it to fit into the designated bag. Anything free flowing, whether pasty, creamy or sticky, will count as a liquid”, confirms Trish McEvoy.
The good news is that a small amount of blush goes a long way and, no matter how long your trip is, it will be challenging to need more than 100ml of blush. Additionally, cream blush is the best option to bring in your suitcase. Unlike a liquid, a cream blush won’t spill, and unlike powders, it won’t break.
Where to buy cream blush
Depending on your budget and preferred brands, there are many options for buying cream blushes. Beauty retailers like Sephora, Boots, and Superdrug offer a vast selection of products for you to try before purchasing.
Online, all major beauty retailers and marketplaces like Amazon, Zalando, and Net-a-Porter offer a wide range of brands for all budgets.
Lastly, if you have a specific brand in mind, most have their own websites and flagship stores in all major cities.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Some of the most popular online retailers to buy cream blushes are:
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas and more.