The 27 Best Cream Blushes to Shop in 2023

December 06, 2022

By: Alanna Martine Kilkeary | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

Sometimes, life (and the viral lifted blush look) calls for a cream formula that can be easily applied with your fingers. The answer? Cream blushes that quickly and easily blend into your skin for a natural-looking finish. What’s more, some of these products work for multipurpose application, meaning, depending on the formula, you can swipe pigment onto your lips and sometimes even your eyelids for a monochromatic makeup look straight out of a makeup artist’s Instagram feed. Ahead, we broke down exactly what a cream blush is, how to apply it and the best 27 cream blush products to shop now.

What Is Cream Blush?

Cream blush is as straightforward as its name suggests — it’s blush in cream form. It comes in many different formats, from cream blush tubes to cream blush sticks, and can be used on its own or under powder blush to help keep your flush lasting all day long. Like we mentioned above, depending on the product’s formulation, some cream blushes are multitasking in nature, meaning they can be used as lip tints or eyeshadow.

How Does Cream Blush Differ From Other Blushes?

Other than its consistency, cream blush is different from other blushes because it can provide a more natural finish. Powder blushes, if applied too heavily, can appear cakey and overdone. Cream blushes give you an extremely buildable finish and a little product typically goes a long way, making them more customizable than other options. They’re also usually infused with moisturizing skincare ingredients to help give the skin a hydrated, dewy glow

How to Apply Cream Blush

Cream blush is best applied with a stippling brush or with your fingers. Simply dispense a small amount of the product onto the back of your hand, warm it up with your fingers and tap it along your cheekbones for a rosy finish. If you choose to apply it with a brush, tap the product onto the brush and swirl it onto your cheeks and up toward your temples for a natural look.

The 27 Best Cream Blushes

Here, we’re sharing the very best cream blushes on the market to try.

Maybelline New York Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush

A gel-cream finish doesn’t get much better than this formula; it gives you a luminous, healthy glow, all for an affordable price of $8. This baby comes in six stunning shades that can be blended out for a sheer wash of color or built up for a ton of pigment.

NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Blush

For a two-toned finish that can sculpt and lift the face, opt for this dual-ended cream blush stick. It comes in three shades with complementary colors that, when combined and blended, will make your cheekbones pop.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Neo Nude Melting Cream Blush

This stunning formula is as gorgeous on your skin as it is in its package. It comes in a variety of shades, from a cool brown to a warm plum, is user-friendly to apply and complements all skin tones.

L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip + Cheek Tint

Add a natural flush of color to your cheeks with this lip and cheek tint that gives off a sheer wash of dewy color.

YSL Beauty Nu Lip + Cheek Balmy Tint with Hyaluronic Acid

Looking for a cream blush that will do good things for your skin, too? Opt for this balmy tint with hyaluronic acid that will help your skin stay moisturized all day long. It comes in three stunning shades: a peachy-nude, a red-flush and a berry-mauve, suitable for any makeup look.

NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheek Tint Cream Blush

For a buildable formula, opt for this mousse-textured cream blush. The crowd-favorite comes in six versatile shades, from a nude-taupe to a bold red.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Satin Blush with Camellia Oil

Although this formula is technically powder, it’s so soft, buildable and silky that we consider it a dupe for a cream. It’s infused with camellia oil that helps give your complexion a radiant, dewy and luminous finish.

Tower28 BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush

A cult-fave amongst many, this creamy lip and cheek formula glides effortlessly onto the skin. Your complexion will look sunkissed and fresh almost instantly upon application.

ITEM Beauty Blushin Like Cream Blush

Creamy, pigmented and famous on TikTok, this formula is a must-try. It comes in five hues, from a poppy hot pink to a deep plum, and contains squalane, kiwi seed oil and cellulose to give your skin a soft-focus, hydrated finish.

Nudestix Nudies Blush

This dual-ended stick comes with cream blush on one side and a kabuki brush on the other to help seamlessly melt the color onto your skin. It comes in a variety of shades from neutrals to purples and oranges, and it can be used anywhere on the face — eyes, lips, cheeks and all.

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Blush Palette Vol II

Get a huge blush bang for your buck with this blush palette that comes with cream and powder formulas. Opt for a more natural look with just the cream formulas, or layer the corresponding powder blush on top of the cream for a look that will truly have heads turning.

MILK Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick

There’s a reason this cream blush stick is so popular — not only is it a clean, vegan formula, but it also comes in a ton of colors. We love how this one is easy to apply with or without other makeup for a fresh-faced finish.

LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush

Want to try cream blush but worried it might appear too dewy on your oily skin? This matte formula has you covered. It comes in a handful of stunning shades and contains kaolin clay to help absorb excess oil and shine throughout the day.

Rare Beauty Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush

This creamy, lightweight blush option is filled with nourishing skin oils, but you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores. We love its natural and dewy finish, and how every color does a great job at complementing all skin tones.

Ilia Beauty Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter + Lip Tint

This multi-purpose stick is our favorite because you can simply apply it anywhere on the face for a brighter complexion. It gives your cheeks a rosy, natural and hydrated finish.

Merit Flush Cream Balm

Give your skin a flush with this creamy balm that has vitamin E to help soften and blur the skin. This one will never appear cakey after application, but instead, your skin will look glowy, fresh and silky.

Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush

If you want buildable, vibrant pigment in your cream blush, we recommend this super saturated drugstore pick. It only takes one-to-two swipes for a bold finish and it won’t leave your skin looking slick or greasy.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick

Opt for this easy-to-apply cream blush stick that comes in six stunning shades. You can swipe it right onto your cheeks and it’ll melt seamlessly with just a few taps of your fingers.

Tata Harper Vitamin-Infused Cream Blush

Great for your skin, this cream blush option is infused with botanical extracts that help your skin glow from the inside out. Not only are the formulas pigmented, but they contain a ton of antioxidants to help brighten the skin as well.

Kosas Color & Light: Crème Cream Blush & Highlighter Duo

Creamy cheeks are easy to come by with this cream blush and highlighter duo that has coordinating color duos to make application a total breeze.

Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Eye, Cheek and Lip Cream Pigment

This multitasking cream formula can be used on the eyes, lips and cheeks and comes in a matte finish. It has over a dozen shades, giving you plenty of options if you want to step outside of your makeup comfort zone and try a bright red, pink, or even yellow blush look.

REFY Cream Blush

Add luminosity to any makeup look with this creamy blush that can be applied with your fingers or a brush. It’s extremely pigmented and comes in a few versatile shades, from a burnt-orange to a dusty pink.

Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color

This luxurious cream blush is long-wearing, super creamy and gives your complexion a smoother and softer touch. It contains squalane, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for a burst of hydration to keep your skin looking fresh all day long.

Simihaze Solar Tint Cream Blush Duo

Add not only buildable color, but also major dimension to your blush look with this blush duo. It comes in a bold brown-red, soft nude, coral and more color combinations to give you a multidimensional finish if you layer them over top one another.

Kaja Multi-Bento Lip + Blush Duo

Stackable and aesthetic, this blush duo compact is a K-beauty favorite. It gives you a natural-looking flush of color no matter which shade you choose.

Pixi On-the-Glow Blush

Available in three stunning colors — a coral, bright berry and pink — this radiant cream blush option will leave your cheeks looking juicy and flushed. The formula also contains a blend of fruit extracts, ginseng and aloe vera for a smooth, supple-looking finish.

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn