The "rules" to makeup can be long-winded, but two things are for certain. One, when placed in the right location—on the apples of your cheeks, always avoiding the hollows of the face—blush can deliver a fresh "lift" to the face. Two, for a younger-looking appearance, non-powder, cream blush formulas are always your best to keep from settling into fine lines.
Navigating the beauty market for the ideal cream blush can be a challenge, but fear not—we've curated a selection of top-tier options. Scroll on for our top picks for creamy, radiance-boosting blushes that won't settle into fine lines.
Best Cream Blush Options
HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick ($34)Made up of more than 70 percent skin care, this serum-meets-balm is packed with nourishing, hydrating ingredients to deliver a creamy, natural-looking flush on the cheeks or lips.
JONES ROAD Miracle Balm ($40)Delivering glowy, youthful-looking skin in a single step, all 14 shades of this balm create a melts-right-in wash of color for a super natural flush.
Rhode Pocket Blush ($24)The secret to founder Hailey Bieber’s always-on glow? These petite blushes that pack a pigmented punch without any greasy feel.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Cheeky Posh ($42)With hues ranging from vibrant to subdued, these silky blushes melt right into the skin for wearable, long-lasting color.
Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo ($38)This viral blush duo pairs a powder and cream formula for bold, long-lasting color and a radiant glow—perfect for achieving founder Patrick Ta's signature celebrity look.
SHEGLAM Color Bloom Liquid Blush ($6)A best-seller for a reason, this gel-cream blush is loved for its consistency, ease of use and “very pigmented” color payoff.
Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Multistick ($22)Whether dabbed onto lips, lids or cheeks, this creamy use-anywhere stick is a makeup bag must-have for its ability to add warmth instantly.
DIBS Beauty Desert Island Duo ($36)Hate homework? Skip the hard part with this perfectly paired duo that matches a complimentary blush and bronzer for your skin tone.
Live Tinted Blush Crush Liquid Blush ($22)Vitamin C, squalane and antioxidants make an appearance in this good-for-skin blush that’s made for all skin tones and types.
MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush ($30)No blush has made headlines quite like this one. 12 shades ensure there’s one for every skin tone, it’s pigmented, creamy, packed with nourishing vitamin E and couldn’t be easier to use. What’s not to love?
HALF MAGIC Cheek Fluff Soft Blur Cream Blush ($23)This versatile formula offers the best of both blush worlds: the smooth finish of a powder with the blendability of a cream.
Polite Society Polite Pops Powder Blush Stick ($28)Can’t pick between the filter-like finish of a powder and the silkiness of a cream? This innovative hybrid, available in eight shades, doesn’t make you choose.
r.e.m. Eclipse Cheek & Lip Stick ($20)Infused with hydrating jojoba seed oil and grape fruit extract, all 14 shades of this lip and cheek stick deliver hydration and color where you want it—no cakiness in sight.
Iris&Romeo Ceramide Multi-balm Lip+Cheek Cream Blush Stick ($32)Skin care first and makeup second, this hydrating balm-in-blush offers up ceramides, mango butter and avocado oil in eight stunning shades for a youthful glow anywhere.
REFY Cream Blush ($20)Perfect for the blush novice, these easy-to-use formulas go on smooth and are easily buildable without caking for just the right amount of flush.
SIMIHAZEBEAUTY Solar Tint Blush Duo ($42)This portable compact pairs a velvet-crème pigment with a dewy balm, both infused with camellia extract for a seamless, buildable glow.
Kylie Cosmetics Lip and Cheek Glow Balm ($20)
Available in eight stunning shades, this multipurpose balm can be used on the lips, cheeks and lids for a monochromatic flush that won't crease or budge.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick ($52)
Rose extracts and beeswax ensure this creamy stick blends right into the skin for a natural-looking flush you'll keep coming back to.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Pot Rouge ($36)
Now available in six new shades (nine in total), this best-selling, creamy blush—you can also dab it onto your lips for a chic, monochromatic moment—adds a natural-looking flush or sun-kissed pop of color to any skin tone in seconds.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder ($25)
Featuring nearly perfect reviews on Sephora, this skin-perfecting blush does it all: controls oil production, blurs the appearance of pores and fine lines, and delivers the most natural looking flush to the skin that stays put all day. Even better, it's super pigmented, so the pot will last you a while.
Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick ($34)
This celeb-approved option houses a creamy blush on one end and a built-in brush on the other, making it the ultimate all-in-one product.
We've heard of a gel-cream moisturizer, but what about a bouncy, gel-cream blush? This limited-edition color employs a similar feather-light formula you'd imagine and is infused with hyaluronic acid to keep skin looking dewy and plump, not dry and cakey. Plus, at $4 the price cannot be beat.
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Blush Stick ($46)
This velvety, cream-to-powder blush—it’s available in six shades—glides onto the skin and blurs the look of pores for an airbrushed, second-skin effect.
Kjaer Weis Cream Blush ($56)
Natural oils and extracts make this creamy, cult-classic blush—the brand just rolled out two brand-new hues including Blushing, pictured—a favorite among celebrities like Olivia Wilde, Claire Danes and Rosie Huntington Whiteley.
Saie Dew Blush ($25)
Dot this botanical-infused formula onto the top of the cheekbones with the doe-foot applicator and blend with your fingertips to diffuse the supernatural hue—its unique gel-cream texture won’t settle into wrinkles.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($25)
Nestled somewhere between a liquid and a cream, this hybrid complexion-brightening blush is easy to blend and leaves behind a soft, powder finish that won't crease or budge.
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ($48)
Dot a bit of this creamy blush onto the apples of your cheeks and blend with your fingers for a quick, natural-looking flush that melts into the skin.
Decorté Cream Blush ($35)
Translucent pearls keep this soft crème blush from dulling or falling flat; natural botanical extracts keep skin from drying out.
NARS Multiple in Orgasm ($39)
A must for the traveler, this portable blush is creamier than the original powder—it can also be used on the cheeks, lids and lips—but delivers the same lit-from-within flush we love.
Wander Beauty On-The-Glow Blush and Illuminator ($38)
Available in three complexion-perfecting shades, skin-brightening vitamins C and E work overtime in this two-in-one illuminator that works both on the surface and beneath.
Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm ($30)
Boasting an oil-free formula packed with clean, effective ingredients, this point-and-paint stick ensures glowy skin and zero breakouts.
MILK Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick ($24)
Hydrating mango butter and avocado oil ensure skin stays taut and hydrated in this two-in-one stick.
