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.
Key Ingredients: Patented biomimetic pigments (mimic ceramides for a conditioning effect), mica, silica, capric triglyceride | Finish: Radiant | # of Shades: 12
Best Blush Compact: LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush
Why It’s Worth It: 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.
Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, vitamin E, kaolin clay | Finish: Demi-matte | # of Shades: Nine
Best Buildable Finish: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Why It’s Worth It: 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. No matter which shade you choose, the weightless, emollient formula truly sinks into your skin, leaving a sheer and dewy finish that looks like you just got back from vacation in Barbados.
Key Ingredients: Candelilla wax, capric triglyceride, silica | Finish: Dewy | # of Shades: 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cream blush better than powder blush?
Well, it’s all about your textural preferences, as both cream and powder blush formulas have their time and place. That said, cream blush formulas generally contain oils, making them comparatively more moisturizing than their powdery counterparts (take note, dry skin types), and won’t disturb dry spots or highlight textured areas of the skin. These balmy, putty-like formulas don’t highlight fine lines or seep into wrinkles like powder-based formulations, so they’re also a great flush-enhancing alternative for mature skin types.
How should I apply cream blush?
First, finding a complimentary shade to your skin tone is key for a natural-looking finish. As a rule of thumb, Los Angeles-based makeup artist Carissa Ferreri previously told Allure that she recommends using a cream blush (or gel) formula in rosy tones. Once you find your shade of preference, it’s time to dab on your cream-based blush. “Focus the blush a bit higher on the cheeks, like right under the eyes, and then diffuse any harsh lines,” she explained. Joseph Carrillo, a makeup artist based in New York City, also suggests “smiling and applying the color in the center of the apples” before gently fading the edges.