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Cream blushes have come such a long way in the past few years. I’m not entirely sure when the cream blush craze first started, I remember buying one of the Bourjois compacts (I think it was shade 03) years and years ago – who else remembers these?! But when the Bourjois Cream Blushes were discontinued I went back to powder blushes and didn’t really think much more of it!
Now that I’m seeing more and more cream blushes filling the shelves, I’ve decided to give it a another shot and there’s definitely WAY more variety this time round. From multi-functional formulas that can be used on both your cheeks and lips, to jelly-like textures that sit somewhere between makeup and skincare, there really is a cream blush for everyone!
Here are some of my favourite cream blushes and why they’re worth a try…
Tower 28 BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm
It feels kind of unfair to label this is as just a blush because it actually has many other uses too! But, since this is what I mainly use it for, I thought the Tower 28 Tinted Balm would be the perfect place to start. This is probably one of the easiest cream blushes to apply. I use my fingers to dab the product onto my cheeks and, because the blush is so pigmented, I usually only need to do this once to get the desired colour. If you like a more intense look though, these layer (on top of themselves and other makeup products) really nicely so don’t be afraid to go in again!
At the time of writing, this tinted balm comes in seven shades and I love that each one is so different to the others. Most are pink-toned, but there are a couple of shades (like Rush Hour and Golden Hour) that would definitely appeal to those who prefer peach or apricot hues. These do have a dewy finish, so if matte blushes are more your thing these may not be for you. However, I don’t think these look overly shiny. For me, they give a really, natural skin-like finish.
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush
If you’re looking for a cream blush that’s so lightweight you can’t even feel it on the skin, give this Rare Beauty one a go. The formula is super velvety so it has an almost powder-like finish. It’s also pretty pigmented, but not so much so that a heavy hand is going to mess up your entire makeup look. Though this goes on quite sheer, it’s really easy to build up colour. I usually apply a couple of layers to achieve the perfect sun-kissed look.
This blush comes in five shades, so the selection isn’t massive. I definitely think they could do with bringing out some deeper shades as Nearly Berry is the only one that really ticks this box and it’s almost always sold out!
Related read…
Glossier Cloud Paint
This is the sheerest of the lot, so it’s best suited for those who want to achieve that ‘no-makeup makeup’ look. This isn’t going to give you extremely intense pigment (like some of the other blushes on the list), instead it offers a subtle hint of colour that can be built up if needed. This is actually described as a gel-cream blush and it’s the gel aspect which makes it so easy to blend. This isn’t sticky or tacky, it just glides right onto the skin.
Because this blush comes in a small tube, it’s really easy to pack into a makeup bag for touch-ups on the go. I find flawless application works best with just your fingers anyway! Puff and Beam are my top picks for pale skin, while Haze, Storm and Eve look amazing on darker skin tones.
Spectrum Collections Pinch Pot
If the thought of getting your hands messy puts you off wearing cream blush, Spectrum’s Pinch Pots might be the solution. These come with their very own mini blush brush which picks up just the right amount of product.
In terms of formula, these are creamy, long-lasting and really nourishing. They contain castor oil, avocado oil, argan oil and vitamin E to keep your cheeks and lips (this is another multi-purpose product!) hydrated all throughout the day.
I’ve got this in the shade Uplifted which actually doesn’t appear to be on the site anymore. I get the impression they may be discontinuing these blushes (like they did with the bronzers) and perhaps bringing out a new blush range. They’re 50% off right now so make sure to pick one up before they sell out!
Illamasqua Colour Veil*
This Illamasqua blush has the silkiest, most weightless formula – it truly feels amazing on. If you’re someone who hates products that feel thick or heavy on the skin, this is the blush for you. Like Glossier’s Cloud Paint, this has a gel-cream formula which means it applies super seamlessly. In fact, I’d say that this is the easiest to apply out of all the cream blushes on this list. You just need to lightly tap the product onto your cheeks to diffuse it, there’s very little need to roughly brush it on or pull at the skin.
This blush was inspired by Illamasqua’s bestselling Hydra Veil primer so, while it is very lightweight, it does still have the grip to last all day. I have the shade Frisson, a cool-toned mauve which gives a really natural flush of colour to my cheeks. The only downside to this product is that, because of its jelly-like consistency, it is slightly messier than other cream blush formulas. I suggest applying it with a dense makeup brush so this doesn’t get all over your hands!
Want more Illamasqua and Spectrum reviews? Be sure to check out…
Illamasqua Makeup Review: Which Products Are Worth The Spend?
REFY Cream Blush
If you’re looking for high pigmentation, the REFY Cream Blush is unbeaten. The formula is pretty firm in the pan, but warm it up a bit with your fingers and this applies like a dream. To blend it out, use a dense blush brush or a dampish makeup sponge to press the product into your cheeks. It has a slight dewy finish – nothing super shiny – and it feels really hydrating on the skin. I think this would work for pretty much all skin types!
This currently comes in five shades, Rose being the lightest and Cherry being the darkest. My only complaint about this blush is that the compact is quite a lot smaller than expected. Each shade gives you 1.5g of product, which isn’t a lot when most of the other blushes on this list are closer to 4 or 5g. Fortunately, you’ll probably only need a tiny bit of this blush to get the colour you want so it will still last a decent amount of time!
Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Colour*
Blendable, buildable and packed with hydrating ingredients, Rose Inc’s refillable cream blush ticks all the right boxes. This has a super smooth formula that melts into the skin and provides instant colour. It’s really long-lasting and the pay off is amazing – a little goes a long way with this. I like to apply it with my fingertips for ease, but this works equally well with a brush or sponge too.
This product is available in 12 different shades which is pretty impressive for a cream blush. I’d say this is probably the widest selection I’ve seen with plenty of colours to suit both pale and deep skin tones. I’ve got Ophelia which is described as a ‘true pink’, and it gives that perfect dewy flush.
Have you tried any cream blushes yet? Which ones are your faves?
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