There’s nothing quite like patting on a little cream blush if you want to brighten up your complexion. Sure, finding the best highlighter will make your cheekbones beam, and investing in a brilliant foundation will guarantee a healthy glow – but blush, it really is the key to that rosy I-woke-up-like-this flush. Unlike powders, cream blush formulas tend to melt into the skin and give a natural-looking, long-lasting tint to the cheeks.
New to cream blush? Don’t worry, we hit up Bobbi Brown Pro MUA Warren Dowdall, to share his dos and don’ts for dreamy application.
DO: pick your shade carefully:
Tragically, not all faces suit the same blush shades. Warren suggests taking a cue from your own complexion. “When choosing colour, pinch your cheek and look at colour that already exists in your skin.”
DON’T: underestimate the beauty of blending:
“Taking time to really melt your blush into the skin is key. There shouldn’t be any obvious demarcation lines. To help with this, start by applying a small amount and gradually build up to where you want to go with the colour.”
DO: protect the glow:
The most devastating part of cream blush application? When the glow disappears under setting powder. “Using a light reflective powder product to set the blush in place will keep the skin looking dewy.”
DON’T: panic if you go overboard:
“Your foundation brush is your BFF for this. Take whatever product is left on your foundation brush from your base application and using small circles buff away the excess colour and smooth any obvious edges.”
DO: get experimental(ish):
Ever heard of nose blush? You’re about to. “For a really cohesive look, don’t be afraid to apply a little sweep of blush across the nose. It really gives a nice echo of colour through the face.” Warren also suggests multitasking with cream blush. “Use it as a creamy lip tint. Just apply a little to the lips with your finger for an instant pick-me-up.”
DO: Find the best formula:
Ready to embrace the cream blush life? Scroll down to see our all-time faves…
1
Glossier – Cloud Paint
Shop here, Dhs261
Meet the OG of cream blush, you guessed it, Glossier’s Cloud Paint. Loved by pretty much everyone – from influencers to makeup artists, this beauty looks as good on the cheeks as it does on the ‘gram.
The shade Spark is a bright poppy-pink that sheers out instantly on the skin, leaving a fresh flush.
2
Bobbi Brown – Bobbi Brown Creamy Colour for Cheeks and Lips 10ml (Various Shades)
Shop here, Dhs144
This lightweight, creamy formula can be used on both the lips and cheeks to give a rosy flush. Available in four shades including a nude, peach and coral, the sheer tint can be built up from ultra-subtle to bold and bright.
3
ELF Cosmetics – Putty Blush
Shop here, Dhs24
The best thing about the e.l.f. Putty Blushers (aside from the purse-friendly price tag of just £6), is the ultra-sheer, buildable formula. The dewy cream is subtle, but super-buildable, so you can easy adapt the blush from a barely-there tint to a full-on glow. This one is best applied with fingers, for a natural finish.
4
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Shop here, Dhs115
Selena Gomez knows exactly what she is doing when it comes to stunning blush shades – there are 11 to choose from, including a bold hot-pink and a creamy coral-peach. The formula is silky and smooth, it blends effortlessly leaving a pretty, ‘just-pinched’ glow behind.
5
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Stick Blush
Shop here, Dhs213
One of the longest-lasting formulas around, Anastasia Beverly Hills have crafted the perfect cream blush. Available in five shades ranging from coral to pink and plum, just a few swipes melt into the skin and give cheeks a rosy flush.
6
Milk Makeup – Lip + Cheek
Shop here, Dhs100
You getso much product for your money with Milk Makeup’s Lip + Cheek stick – at 28grams it’s more than quadruple the amount of most other cream blushers.
The creamy formula can be drawn onto cheeks and then smudged out for a natural-looking blush.
7
NARS – NARS Air Matte Blush
Shop here, Dhs170
Guys, NARS have done it again. This blush is just… beautiful. The velvety cream formula is pigmented but blendable, meaning you only need a small amount to give cheeks a rosy glow, and it’s easy to buff out – so you never have to worry about looking OTT.
8
Danessa Myricks Beauty – Vision Flush
Shop here, Dhs96
New to the UK, Danessa Myricks Beauty has become one of our fave brands for quality formulas — and this liquid tint is no exception.
The Vision Flush is a liquid colour that comes in eight shades (ranging from tangerine-red to dusty rose) and can be used across the lips, eyelids and cheeks, leaving a flush of colour in a flattering demi-matte finish.
9
Fenty Beauty – Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Crush on Cupid
Shop here, Dhs105
These balmy hexagons diffuse lusciously, nailing a surgical balance between intensity of colour and sheer. Best in class for leaving base makeup undisturbed (don’t worry, I won’t patronise you with a Disturbia joke), and for the diverse range of 10 popping shades from tangerine to UV purple.
10
Bobbi Brown – Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks – Powder Pink
Shop here, Dhs112
An oldie but a goodie. Bobbi Brown have been keeping our cheeks and lips flushed with their Pot Rouge for years – and the formula is still on of the best we’ve found.
Available in a range of shades from brights to neutrals, our fave is the subtle-yet-stunning Powder Pink hue.
11
Nudestix – Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze in Sunkissed
Shop here, Dhs132
Named ‘Sunkissed’ for a reason, this cream blusher stick is the perfect shade if you want to look like you’ve just returned from two weeks in Bali. The warm, reddish-pink is perfect for faking a ‘caught the sun’ glow, minus any actual sunshine, of course.
Via Cosmopolitan UK