All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
This time last year, I possessed a single powder blush. Instead of bringing a flush to my cheeks, I preferred to pack on bronzer and dust a touch of highlighter across the high points of my face for a post-vacation-esque glow. As of June 2024, however, I now have more blushes than my makeup bag can contain.
What happened? All of my favorite beauty brands started making blushes I simply couldn't resist. Saie Beauty, Danessa Myricks, and Makeup by Mario are behind my three current favorites. Kosas Beauty, Haus Labs, and Huda Beauty all have new formulas, too. So do Morphe and Lawless Beauty. And if your algorithm is anything like mine, you have probably seen a few thousand mentions of Rhode's new blush on your social feeds recently. The list goes on (and on!) as do the types of formulations: powders and creams still dominate the landscape, but there are also balms and stains. Plus a few liquids. And have you seen the “jelly” blushes? As for which blush formula you should reach for, makeup artist Marie Bruce previously told Allure it's ultimately a matter of preference. And don't feel limited to just one: Bruce likes to layer a cream under a powder for an extra-pigmented look but warns: “Skip the cream base if you want a more subtle look.”
When it comes to the rainbow of shade options, we like celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin's simple guidance for finding an everyday hue: “Test a shade on the apples of your cheeks to see if it 'clashes' with either your natural lip color or lipstick.”
That said, we are getting bold this season, wearing the brightest oranges, splashiest berries, and most vivid pinks—and we are applying it well beyond the apples of our cheeks to mimic sunsets and stained glass.
Ahead, the newest blushes that have made a lasting impression—both figuratively and literally—on 11 Allure editors.
Kara McGrath, deputy digital director
I was initially drawn to Morphe’s Huephoric Rush Blush because of the mesmerizing swirl pattern in the palette, but the formula is what has kept me hooked. I'm partial to the shade Energized, a pretty pink lavender that adds a pop of color to my complexion for summer with a buttery-smooth application. It easily blends out to a natural-looking flush of color.
Shanna Shipin, shopping director
I almost can’t express how much this Kosas Blush Is Life surprised me–in the best way possible. As someone with ultra-dry skin, I typically steer clear of powder-anything—but these blushes have convinced me to reconsider. Similar to a liquid blush for its weightless, non-texture-enhancing formula, this blush blends beautifully and feels good on my skin. Dreamland, a rosy-bronze, is my shade of choice, and the finish is so luminous.
Talia Gutierrez, associate special projects manager
With Huda Beauty's Blush Filter Liquid Blush creamy, pigmented formula, a little goes a long way, so I start with no more than one dot on each cheek. It requires a few swirls with a dense makeup brush to blend it completely but the smooth, matte finish is worth the extra time. I can't get enough of the shade Peachy Sorbet, which complements my olive-toned skin, giving me a natural-looking flush. Any extra gets applied to my eyes and lips.
Other days, I'm wearing one of Makeup by Mario's new blush shades in his Soft Pop Blush Stick. All are beautiful, but there's something about the summery Watermelon pink that has my full attention.
Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
Rhode's brand-spanking new Pocket Blush nails it in the silky-texture-and-sheer-color-payoff department. It's less impressive in the longevity department—at least on my 40-something skin—but I'm loving the finish enough that (so far at least) I'm willing to touch-up after a few hours. The shade I keep reaching for is the soft mauve Sleepy Girl, sometimes dabbing it on my eyelids and lips after I get my cheeks nice and flushed. My only gripe on this one is the packaging ... why all the extra plastic? I'd prefer a slimmer silhouette that takes up less room in my bag—and, eventually, a landfill. (Sorry to bring down this blush story with the l-word.)
Pocket Blush won't be available until June 20 but you can join the waitlist here.
Bianca Richards, social media manager
I can't get enough of Refy's cream blush—specifically in the shade Citrine, a bronzy-orange hue that brightens my tan skin beautifully. I use the brand's Duo Brush for a seamless application. I sweep the pigment onto the apples of my cheeks with the shorter side of the brush, and then blend it out with the fluffier side, stippling upwards. The result: a sheer, glowy pop of color.
Jenn Hussein, commerce writer
The beauty of Make Up For Ever's HD Skin Face Essentials Palette? Its customizable approach makes me feel like a pro makeup artist—without feeling overwhelmed by all the shade options. This cream-based palette comes with six bronzers and blushes that you can mix and match or wear alone. I love the shade Pink Pearl Shimmer for a just-spent-the-day-at-the-beach flush.
Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick is another favorite. If you're not one to experiment with vibrant shades on your cheekbones (and lips, in this case), don't let the electric pink color shock you. The creamy formula blends out to a much softer finish.
Paige Stables, senior beauty editor
In the heat of New York City summers, I wear less and less base makeup. And though I may skip my usual skin tint, and sometimes even concealer, I'm not going without blush on my cheeks. I've been switching between two ultra-light formulas: Chanel's dewy N°1 DE Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in Vibrant Coral, a gorgeous fiery hue, and Lawless Beauty's Lawless Pinch My Cheeks Soft Blush Cream Blush in Gumdrop, a soft—but very buildable—candy pink. I swirl my ring finger directly into either pigment and then gently press it along the top of my cheekbones and the bridge of my nose to target where the sun would hit. In about 20 seconds flat, I'm glowing.
Angela Trakoshis, shopping editor
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick was the first cream blush I ever tried and it introduced me to a whole new level of dewiness. The stick format—and the addition of nourishing jojoba seed oil—makes it easy to glide across my cheeks right where I want to add a pop of color. I can't wait to try the new, limited-edition shades, Coquette and Garconne– a baby pink and deep mauve, respectively.
Hunter Lacey, associate special projects director
The balmy texture of Haus Labs' Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick sits perfectly over foundation. If you're searching for a no-makeup makeup look that gives your skin bouncy-looking freshness, these sticks provide an effortless sheen that truly delivers on the glass skin claim.
Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
Saie Glow Sculpt is the Hannah Montana of base makeup since it's both a blush and a highlighter. Honestly, I've never used anything quite like that. (The Allure team was so impressed with this formula when it launched last year that we gave it our One to Watch seal.) The cream-based multitasker comes in five shades, ranging from bronze to golden, but my favorite is Mauveglow, which gives my cheeks a rosy, illuminating tint. It's so pretty that I tend to go a bit heavy-handed—from my temples to my cheekbones—but somehow, it's never too much.
Annie Blay, associate beauty editor
There’s really no wrong way to apply the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Powder Flushed because it melts into your skin so nicely (the same goes for the brand's Lowlighter Highlighters). The blushes come in four shades but I usually gravitate toward the cinnamon-red Off The Grid for a warm pop of color on my deep skin.
Discover more of our favorite blushes.
- Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Milk Makeup’s New Blush?
- After Using LYS Beauty's New Blush Stick, I May Never Use Highlighter Again
- Did the Nars Blush Need to Be Reformulated?
Now, watch Sabrina Carpenter's ten-minute makeup routine.
Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
