These Are the Best Blush Shades for Every Skin Tone

August 07, 2023
Alyssa Kaplan
By: Alyssa Kaplan | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
Picture of a model with mint green and lavender eyeshadow and pink blush looking off to the side with a hand held to their forehead

Applying blush is the perfect way to add color and definition to your face. But achieving a flattering flush comes down to picking a shade that best complements your skin tone. So here, we’re sharing the best blush shades 一 cream and powder 一 for fair, medium and deep skin tones.

The Best Cream Blush for Fair Skin 

When it comes to finding flattering blush shades for fair skin tones, the key is opting for formulas that are buildable and blendable so that you can avoid overdoing it with the color. The Maybelline New York Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush in Coral Ember is a creamy gel in a gorgeous, pale peach hue that delivers a sheer flush of color. Plus, the breathable formula is ultra-blendable and easy to work with.

Maybelline New York Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush in Coral Ember

The Best Powder Blush for Fair Skin 

If you’re looking for a bright blush to dust on your cheeks for just a hint of color, the Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Liberte is the perfect baby pink shade. It’s easy to buff into skin and lasts all day, thanks to the formula’s oil-absorbing properties. 

Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Liberte

The Best Cream Blush for Medium Skin 

If you like multitasking makeup products that can be applied to multiple areas of the face, the YSL Beauty NU Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint in Pinch is for you. Not only does the peachy shade look incredibly flattering on tan complexions, but the product is a two-in-one formula that can also be applied to lips for a monochromatic look

YSL Beauty NU Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint in Pinch

The Best Powder Blush for Medium Skin 

The NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Matte in Citrine Rose creates the perfect flattering flush on medium skin tones. The silky powder formula is mega-pigmented yet still blends out easily. 

NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Matte in Citrine Rose

The Best Cream Blush for Deep Skin 

If you have warm-toned, deep skin, the Urban Decay Hydromaniac Dewy Liquid Blush in Obsessed was practically made for you. The lightweight formula has a cushiony, bouncy feel that blends seamlessly and leaves cheeks dewy, not streaky or chalky. Plus, the sunset-inspired shade instantly warms up the complexion and adds definition to the face. It packs quite the pigmented punch 一 so apply with a light hand at first.

Urban Decay Hydromaniac Dewy Liquid Blush in Obsessed

The Best Powder Blush for Deep Skin 

There’s nothing like a burgundy blush to imitate the flush you get when the cool air hits your skin. Enter the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush in Mystery. This soft, finely-milled powder smooths on  beautifully and delivers a stunning wash of deep red to cheeks.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush in Mystery
Photography: Chaunte Vaughn, Associate Creative Director: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Associate Director, Creative Production: Alex Friedlander, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Associate Content Director: Sarah Ferguson, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Dominick Barcelona, Digital Tech: Erik Dalzen, Photo Assistant: Matt Licari, Model: Han Na Shin

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