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For a healthy, radiant glow no matter what time of the year it is, cream blushes are your best bet. Unlike most powders, these buttery formulas impart an unmistakable, radiant sheen to the skin that mimics the effects of, say, an hour-long jog on the beach or a luxurious facial. Because cream blushes generally contain oils, they're comparatively more moisturizing than powder blushes and won't disturb dry spots or highlight textured areas of the skin.
Cream blushes couldn't be easier to apply, either. While some come in stick form and others in pots, it's the same deal: Simply apply straight from the bullet and blend out with fingers, or use a beauty sponge or stippling brush for more precision. Whatever you do, it's hard to mess up, especially considering most cream blushes are on the sheerer (but buildable) side. Pro tip: If you've gone overboard with the intensity, just use a foundation brush or sponge to diffuse the color.
For a flushed, "drunk blush"-inspired look, makeup artist Carissa Ferreri previously recommended using a cream blush (or gel) formula in rosy tones. "Focus the blush a bit higher on the cheeks, like right under the eyes, and then diffuse any harsh lines," she explained. Makeup artist Joseph Carrillo also suggests "smiling and applying the color in the center of the apples" before gently fading the edges.
Curious to know which cream blushes have made the Allure cut? Keep scrolling to find 19 of our favorites, including an affordable Best of Beauty Award winner that made its debut on the runways of New York Fashion Week and an innovative, dual-ended stick created by Mario Dedivanovic (you know, Kim Kardashian's makeup artist).
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Ilia Multi-Stick's easy-wearing, buttery formula is sure to be a hit with people of all skill levels, from makeup newbies to professional artists. It just melts into your skin like it's always been there. Makeup artist Tobi Henney used the shade A Fine Romance (a bright berry) on Megan Fox while she was filming Till Death and tells Allure that the resulting healthy flush didn't budge after filming for 10 to 12 hours. That's legit.
In case you needed more convincing, makeup artist Carola Gonzalez says that the brand's Multi-Sticks "are on another level." Her favorite shade is Lady Bird (a neutral rose), which she describes as "a mix of bronzer and burnt apricot." The cherry on top is the lovely finish, which she says isn't too oily, shimmery, or sheer — talk about the perfect, Goldilocks-like situation.
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You can count on multiple Allure editors to rush to the defense of Tower 28's BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush — not that this multitasking cream needs it. All six shades — including Rush Hour, a coral-hued peach, pictured above — impart a sheer, impossibly dewy flush on the cheeks, lips, and eyes with just a few pats of your fingertips. Staff editor Jihan Forbes says that she "loves how it gives me a flush without looking too overpowering," adding that it looks healthy and natural. The addition of green tea and aloe vera gives skin a boost of hydration and soothing antioxidants, to boot.
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Makeup by Mario's dual-ended Soft Pop Blush Stick is the real deal and Henney can't get enough. The other end of the stick features an angled buffing brush — detachable, too, for easy cleaning — designed with five raised nubs that guarantee the perfect amount of product pick-up and even application. "Raspberry [shown above] is such a bright fun pink shade that instantly makes you look awake and [takes] your makeup to the next level," Henney says.
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When it comes to criteria for ranking our beauty faves, cute packaging certainly doesn't hurt a product's case. Gonzalez agrees, calling out Lilah B. Divine Duo Lip & Cheek's über-cute, pebble-shaped design. She says it's "one of the creamiest cream blushes [she's] ever tried" and adds it wears well as lipstick for a monochrome moment. Her shade of choice is B.Daring, a bright coral/orange that instantly "perks up" your complexion. Oh, and a blend of coconut oil, aloe, and agar (derived from seaweed) leaves skin looking as hydrated and glowy as ever.
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Maybelline New York debuted its Best of Beauty-winning Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush during New York Fashion Week and subsequently shot straight into the hearts of the Allure staff. The brand's first-ever blush tube is available in six beautiful shades in the coral-to-berry spectrum — including Nude Burn (pictured above) and Baby Pink — and is incredibly easy to sheer out if you overdo it.
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LYS Beauty made history as Sephora's first Black-owned clean makeup brand and none of the brand's skin-care-infused products disappoint. The Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush (pictured above in Empower, a deep berry plum) is spiked with moisturizing avocado oil, soothing vitamin E, and shine-controlling kaolin clay for ultra-comfortable wear. The color payoff is quite impressive, too, and adds the perfect finishing touch to any look.
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It's no secret that Glossier Cloud Paint, a sheer, gel-cream formula, is a favorite among Allure editors. But did you know makeup artist Sir John also loves Haze (a deep fuchsia) in particular on deeper skin tones? "Even though [these blushes] look bright, once you put them on your face, they just give you this subtle, lit-from-within, I-just-had-sex kind of glow," he told Allure. Like its name suggests, you can seamlessly fingerpaint it on and toss your tools and brushes (which probably need to be cleaned anyway) aside for a second.
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Rare Beauty's Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush gives off a romantic feel from the very first swipe. The liquid-like, water-resistant formula feels like a second skin and won't cake, crease, or clog pores. It's spiked with a nourishing blend of meadowfoam and sunflower seed oils, as well as lotus seed, to leave skin utterly glowing. "These blushes didn't come to play any games," editorial assistant Gabi Thorne confirms. "They leave a healthy dose of pigment on the cheeks" on her brown skin, she adds.
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Pixi's On-the-Glow Blush comes in a fun, twist-up format and an attractive trio of colors: Fleur (rosy pink), Juicy (a bright coral pictured above), and Ruby. This handy, portable stick is infused with calming ingredients like ginseng and aloe vera, and various hydrating fruit extracts (like grape, blueberry, and apple) to condition skin all day long. Dab some product onto your lips to tie your look together.
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Patrick Ta thought it wasn't enough to give you one blush, so he decided to pair two complementary shades — one powder, one cream — inside a gorgeous, rose gold compact. The Major Beauty Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush (pictured above in Oh She's Different) blends into your skin like silk, thanks to a creamy, emollient base and ceramide-like pigments. Layer the two formulas for maximum impact (Ta recommends starting with the powder) or wear the cream color alone for a perfectly even, luminous finish.
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All 10 shades of Fenty Beauty's Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush are impeccable but the range particularly nails the warmer tones. Just take a peek at Fuego Flush, a soft tangerine packed with personality and sunshine. The weightless, emollient formula truly sinks into your skin, leaving a dewy finish that looks like you just got back from vacation in Barbados.
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While we absolutely love Nars's powder blushes, save some precious time in the morning and give your complexion a few, easy swipes of the Multiple (pictured above in the iconic, peachy-pink Orgasm shade). This multi-use, cream-to-powder stick can be used on the lips, cheeks, eyes, and even your body. The sheer colors — 10 total, including pearly pink, coral, and light apricot — blend effortlessly and leave behind shimmering flushes, contours, or highlights on all skin tones.
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Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment is so incredibly buildable and blendable and adds a punch of color to your cheeks, eyelids, and lips. Gonzalez is a fan for many reasons, including the soft and silky texture, intense pigmentation, and the fact that the shade range — which includes everything from Rapture, a baby pink shown above, to Eros, a sandy beige — can double as bronzer or contour. You have jojoba and castor seed oils to thank for the natural-looking, dewy-matte flush that can be easily achieved with your fingertips alone. Plus, how chic is the brand's signature starry-black compact?
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E.L.F. Cosmetics' popular Putty lineup spans a virality-friendly primer, bronzer, and cream-to-semi-matte-powder blush in eight shades (Caribbean, a warm berry, is featured above). At just $6, it's hard to come up with a reason not to give this lightweight formula a spin. Not only is the velvety texture pleasing to play with, but a concoction of moisturizing argan oil, glycerin, and vitamin E leaves your skin feeling pampered and cared for.
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Kjaer Weis's Cream Blush is a two-time Best of Beauty Award winner and is truly a sight to behold — even before you slide open the compact. The weighty silver case is like a piece of sculpture, but that's not the best part. The dewy tint inside glides like a dream on lips, cheeks, and lids due to its nourishing ingredients, like jojoba seed oil and beeswax. "This blush is super easy to apply and the shade Sun Touched is one of my go-to's for my clients when I want [to achieve] a super-healthy, natural flush to the cheeks," Henney notes.
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Tata Harper Cream Blush is a lovely makeup-and-skin-care hybrid that comes in hot with six sheer but buildable shades (Flirty, a deep berry, is shown above). These satin-finish formulas impart the dreamiest of flushes that are also very nourishing and hydrating, thanks to green tea, jojoba, and sacha inchi oils. Oh, and it counts Kristen Bell amongst its fans for achieving that everyday, my-face-but-better look.
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Wander Beauty's Best of Beauty-winning On-The-Glow Blush and Illuminator simplifies your makeup routine with a pearlescent highlighter and dewy blush infused with skin-loving ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E. The blush goes on sheer at first, but it's super easy to build up to a natural-looking or bold flush and the shades range from petal pink to a deeper berry. (The highlighter is the same soft-focus Nude Glow shade for all four blushes.)
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The Stila Convertible Color is a classic for a reason. Stila's founder Jeanine Lobell claims that Stila was "the first to do cream blush in those fun little compacts for lip and cheek." How right on the money they were. This cheek-and-lip duo feels weightless on your skin, and just a bit of it goes a long way. Shades like Camellia (a peachy brown pictured above) and Magnolia (warm, brown-ish red) can even double as cream bronzer.
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The next time you're browsing the shelves of your local drugstore, pick up a Wet n Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick Blush in Floral Majority (pictured above) and Peach Bum since it only costs $4 a pop. Just one swipe of this coconut oil-infused formula for an instant, beginner-friendly glow.
KeywordsblushWander BeautyNARSStilashoppingshopping guidebeauty shoppingilia beautyTower 28Rituel de Fillelilah blilah b. divinerare beautyselena gomezPatrick TaFenty BeautyMaybellineTata HarperE.L.F Cosmeticskjaer weisStila CosmeticsGlossiercream blush