If there's one thing about blush, it is that it will never disappoint. After all, there's a reason why the product has been loved for centuries: From soft flushes of baby pink to bright coral hues, blush awakens the face with a fresh pop of color that almost no other product can do.
Most of us are used to using blushes in a powder form. But as of late, liquid and cream blushes have become social media's new favorite formula. Users showcase new application techniques with the products, from sunset to "boyfriend" blush, or detail how they work in their routines.
But you might be asking yourself: What is the difference between liquid and cream blush, and what makes them so different than powder? We tapped makeup artists Laura Richelle, Violette Serrat and Brielle Pollara to find out how these dewy blushes work a bit differently than their powder-based cousins.
Difference between liquid and cream blush | Expert picks | Editor favorites | How we chose | Meet the experts
What is the difference between liquid and cream blush?
Although they're similar in finish (with the exception that liquid and cream blushes help provide a dewy look), liquid and cream blushes settle onto the skin differently than powder blushes do.
"Liquid blushes are lightweight formulas that range from a watery stain to more viscous solutions," says Serrat. "They tend to be long-lasting and very pigmented so a little goes a long way. With a few dots or swipes, you can quickly build from a sheer wash of color to a more intense pop of color on your cheeks."
As for cream blushes, you might notice a thicker consistency. "Cream blush formulas are rich in emollients that make for an effortless application," Serrat continues. "The creamy texture glides across your skin, blends seamlessly, and melts into your complexion for a more natural flushed face with a skin-like finish."
While both formulas work for all skin types, drier skin types will enjoy the hydrating perks of the two. Oilier skin types might want to look for non-comedogenic formulas and/or make sure to set these formulas with a powder.
Expert-approved liquid and cream blushes
Super pigmented: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
- Very pigmented
- Weightless
- A little goes a long way
- Be conscious of application
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 9 | Finish: Matte and dewy, depending on shade
A little goes a long way with Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. Just a dot provides enough pigment to potentially cover each cheek with a fresh flush of color. One of Pollara's favorite shades from the lot is "Encourage."
"It’s a beautiful soft pink color that works on all skin tones, and has a dewy finish!," she boasts.
Summertime essential: Saie Dew Blush
- Luminous finish
- Doesn't blend patchy
- Chunky applicator
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 8 | Finish: Natural
"My latest obsession is the Saie Dew Blush in the shade 'Spicy,'" says Pollara. "This shade is perfect for summer time! It gives you the perfect 'sun burnt' look, and I love to apply this to my cheeks and my nose for that sun kissed look."
Perfect for travel: Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush
- Travel-friendly
- Flexible coverage
- Not easy to hold for everyone
Type: Cream | Colors available: 8 | Finish: Radiant
Another summer favorite for Pollara is Merit's Flush Balms. "These cream blushes are so universal and have such a natural finish!," she notes. Plus, their compact packaging makes them perfect for popping into your tote for any touch-ups throughout the day.
A splurge-worthy option: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
- Great for lips and cheeks
- Easy-to-blend
- Infused with skincare
- Price point is high
Type: Cream | Colors available: 8 | Finish: Natural
Three ways Serrat describes this Westman Atelier creamy blush stick? "Lightweight, blendable and has a natural finish." In just one swipe, the cheeks are left with a healthy flush that feels just as hydrating as it looks.
Editor-loved liquid and cream blushes
An affordable pick: Maybelline Cheek Heat Blush
- Affordable
- Natural flush
- Might require touch-ups
Type: Gel-cream | Colors available: 4 | Finish: Natural
Recommended by editor Jillian Ortiz, Maybelline's Cheek Heat is a lightweight gel-cream that glides on with ease. It comes in several different shades, ranging from sheer pinks to deep berries.
Lightweight and pigmented: Milani Cheek Kiss Blush
- Highly pigmented
- Lightweight formula
- Dries quickly
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 5 | Finish: Natural
Shop TODAY commerce writer Danielle Murphy uses Milani's Cheek Kiss Blush in the shade Rose Romance. "A little goes a long way with this formula," she says. "It feels lightweight but still offers a surprising amount of pigment."
Travel-friendly: Glossier Cloud Paint
- Blendable, even with fingers
- Lightweight formula
- Travel-friendly
- Small packaging
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 10 | Finish: Natural
Glossier’s Cloud Paint is also a gel-cream that is beloved by Shop TODAY editors — and just so happens to be a winner from our recent Beauty Awards (The best liquid blush, in our eyes!). It comes in eight buildable shades that can be dabbed onto your cheeks with your fingers to create what the brand describes as a “a natural, flushed-from-within glow.”
A dewy finish: Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush
- Creamy formula
- Dewy finish
- Great for dry skin
- Might need to reapply
Type: Cream | Colors available: 9 | Finish: Dewy
Tower28 Beauty says their BeachPlease Cream Blush offers a "second-skin" finish, which writer Madison San Miguel can attest to. "I have dry skin, so I often look for products that enhance my radiance instead of enhancing my dry patches," she says. "This blush sits nicely on my skin, and leaves it with a healthy glow that looks lit from within. Anyone with a similar skin type will love that it has aloe vera extract, which is equally as soothing as it is hydrating."
Easy to blend: Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Multistick
- Easy-to-blend
- Hydrating formulation
- Complementary shade range
- Can pill with some products
Type: Cream | Colors available: 5 | Finish: Soft-matte
"I love a beauty product that you can just swipe on, easily blend and head out the door like I can do with this Ami Cole multistick," boasts senior editor Jess Bender. "The Hibiscus shade I use has a rich pigmentation at first glance, but it mellows out once I spread it out across my cheekbones with my fingers." Although she has oilier skin, she found that the finish is more dewy than greasy. "Its formulation also features many hydrating ingredients, so I can imagine how nice this feels for anyone with dry skin," Bender adds.
New launch alert: Rhode Pocket Blush
- Radiant finish
- Very pigmented
- Easy-to-blend
- Small packaging
Type: Cream | Colors available: 6 | Finish: Dewy
If you've been online these past few weeks, you might've seen thousands of users anticipating the launch of Rhode's Pocket Blush. A brand founded by Hailey Bieber, this product (like the rest of Rhode) is all about enhancing your skin's natural radiance. With a one swipe, you'll quickly notice how opaque the pigment is. But once blended, the product is effortlessly diffused into a skin for a soft, satin glow.
It's so good, San Miguel considers it "the best launch of the year" as of late. "The finish is worth noting, but the packaging makes it so easy to throw in my back," she says. "I can't choose between one color, too. Piggy, Spicy Marg, Juice box — they're all my favorite and so flattering!"
Adds some shimmer: Huda Beauty Cheeky Tint Blush Stick
- Glides with ease
- Easy-to-blend
- Travel-friendly
- Too sheer for some
Type: Cream | Colors available: 5 | Finish: Natural
Trust us when we say this blush looks just as juicy as it looks. It is meant to be moisturizing formula for an easy glide and second-skin like, all in a travel-friendly stick packaging. “I love a blush stick since they’re portable and super easy to apply," says commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto. "This one by Huda Beauty gives the most perfect dewy glow and a little shimmer without being too overpowering.”
Makeup-skincare hybrid: Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Liquid Blush
- Infused with skincare
- Incredibly lightweight
- Leaves a healthy glow
- Too natural for some
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 5 | Finish: Soft-matte
Some liquid blushes can be heavy on the skin, but this recent release from Anastasia Beverly Hills does the opposite: It’s a lightweight formula that looks and feels like skin. The radiant flush is incredibly natural, yet it can be buildable to your desired intensity. And since the blush is serum-based, expect tons of hydration — a perk for those who have dry areas. "I've found that this settles onto my skin well, and doesn't settle into my dry spots," notes San Miguel.
Long-lasting: Kylie Cosmetics Powder Blush Stick
- Easy to travel with
- Very pigmented
- Blends flawlessly
- Powdery finish
Type: Cream | Colors available: 6 | Finish: Soft-matte
"I have this blush in two colors (Meet There, which has a warm pink hue, and and Make Him Blush, which has a mauve undertone), and I love them both," commerce editor Amanda Fama explains. "They’re super creamy, and a little goes a long way. All you have to do is apply a swipe on each cheek and blend it in with your fingers." Fama also mentions that that the results are natural-looking and "stay on for hours."
Stays in place: NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush
- Long-lasting
- Transfer-proof formula
- Too natural for some
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 8 | Finish: Natural
"I've learned very quickly that not all cream and liquid blushes last on me as a chronic excess-sweater, especially in the summer," says San Miguel. "But this NARS blush is one of few formulas that genuinely lasts through it all without me needing to reapply." She raves that the reason behind this might be due to its transfer-resistant formula, which not only keeps it in place but also helps for an easy, streak-free blend.
A 2-in-1 option: iT Cosmetics Glow with Confidence Sun Blush
- A two-in-one product
- Incredibly lightweight
- Lasts all-day
- Some say it dries down quickly
Type: Cream | Colors available: 5 | Finish: Natural
This Shop TODAY winner is meant for the summer, as it is meant to be a true two-in-one product: A bronzer and blush! The finish, in essence, is what you picture a "sun kissed" blush to be. "The formula is supposed to make your skin look hydrated and plump, and it definitely did," raved Murphy. "It also feels extremely lightweight. So, so good.”
For cheeks and lips: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick
- Attractive packaging
- Skincare finished
- Dewy finish
- Not as creamy as others
Type: Cream | Colors available: 8 | Finish: Glossy
One word San Miguel used to describe Haus Labs' Blush Balm Stick? Glossy! Except, not the gloss you think. While the radiance is there (just like your favorite lip product!), this cream blush packs loads of hydration for a more plumped complexion. It even works to reduce any redness and irritation, too, thanks to the brand's well-loved ingredient, fermented arnica. Consider it a skincare-meets-makeup product.
Blush duo: Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Creme and Powder Blush Duo
- Two-in-one product
- Celebrity and viral favorite
- Long lasting
- Leaves fingerprints
Type: Cream and powder | Colors available: 12 | Finish: Radiant
You get the best of both words with this award-winning favorite: A powder and cream blush. With the Patrick Ta method in mind, apply the powder across the cheeks first for a bold color payoff. But to add a natural radiance, top it off with the cream formula.
"I was excited for this one and it lived up to the hype!," boasts Camryn Privette, Shop TODAY's production coordinator. "I love how it has both creme and powder for the ultimate blush pop."
Luxurious cheek tint: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint
- Long-lasting
- Luxurious packaging
- Price point is high
Type: Liquid | Colors available: 6 | Finish: Radiant
Another recommendation from San Miguel, this blush is just as luxurious as it looks. Although the bottle itself is worth admiring, the results are much to note, too. For instance, the liquid formula claims to last up to 12 hours, and leaves a luminous flush of color that's never patchy — just tons of glow.
How we chose the best liquid and cream blushes
Shop TODAY editors and writers searched the internet to find the best liquid and cream blush products out there. We interviewed expert sources and used our own personal experiences with the products and brands to make shopping easier for you.
Meet the experts
- Violette Serrat is the founder and CEO of Violette_FR and the creative director of Makeup at Guerlain.
- Brielle Pollara is a celebrity, bridal and editorial makeup artist based in New York City. She's also a licensed esthetician.
- Laura Richelle is a makeup artist at Miyagi Wax Studio in Indialantic, Florida.
