9 Best Cream Blushes, Tested by Celebrity Makeup Artists

Martha Sorren

Sat, February 7, 2026 at 2:11 PM UTC

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If you've been using the same pan of powder blush for years, it might be time for an upgrade. Cream blushis easy to apply, gives you a natural flush of color and it's especially great for people with dry or mature skin , according to the four celebrity makeup artists Parade consulted on the topic.

Michelle Radow is an Emmy-nominated makeup artist who's worked on TV shows like Big Little Lies , The Affair , Sharp Objects and more. Celebrity makeup artist Robin Schoen has worked with A-listers like Kate Winslet , Heidi Klum and Jessica Simpson . Founder of the Jenn of Arch beauty brand, Jenepher Reynolds has worked with Norah Jones , Harry Connick Jr. and more. And Mezhgan Hussainy is a celebrity makeup artist and co-founder and partner of the beauty branding and manufacturing partner Product Society . She's led makeup departments for shows like American Idol , America’s Got Talent , The X Factor and more.

"Cream blush is one of the easiest ways to bring life back into the face," Reynolds says.

And Hussainy explains that the product "is truly for everyone," adding, "I've been reaching for cream blush more and more as I get older, because it gives the skin a healthy, natural glow without looking heavy or overdone."

If you're eager to start your cream blush journey, these nine products (including drugstore, matte and dewy options) are celebrity makeup artist-tested and approved.

What Is Cream Blush?

Instead of powder, cream blush is more like a balm, and has more skin-friendly emollients.

"It's a much more hydrating cheek color," Schoen says. "Unlike powders that can be drying, their creamy texture melts into the skin seamlessly while moisturizing the skin and producing a natural glow."

This type of product can often pull triple duty and be used as a lip, eye and cheek color, she explains.

Related: Makeup Artists Can’t Stop Talking About This Underpainting Trick for Mature Skin

Top Cream Blushes

Best for Beginners: Merit Beauty Flush Balm Cream Blush
Best for Mature Skin: Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Essentials Palette
Best for Dry Skin: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Best Drugstore: Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush
Best Blurring: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder
Best Dewy: Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Cream Blush
Best Sheer: Jones Road Miracle Balm
Best Matte: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge Velvet Matte Cream Blush
Best Pigmented: Nudestix Nudies Bloom All Over Face Dewy Color

How To Apply a Cream Blush

"Cream blush is very forgiving, which is part of why I love it," Hussainy tells Parade . She recommends applying it to the apples of your cheeks and blending upward "for a lifted effect."

She adds, "The key is to work in light layers. You can always build, but starting sheer keeps it looking effortless."

And Schoen says you can even tap a bit "onto the bridge of your nose for the most natural result, as this is where we tend to get a little sun-kissed color or a rosy glow." She adds that you can use your fingers to gently warm the product for a blended look "without any harsh edges," or you can also apply the product with a brush.

Radow explains that a damp sponge can do the trick as well.

Related: This Is the Sneaky, Easy Trick Makeup Artists Use To Make Lips Look Fuller

The Best Brushes for Applying Cream Blush

Radow likes using a brush to apply cream blush as it's "one of the most hygienic options."

She recommends a synthetic brush like the Real Techniques Everything Blending Makeup Brush , The Everything Brush from Jones Road Beauty or the Les Pinceaux De Chanel angled brush.

Schoen suggests the Hourglass No. 15 Blush Brush .

How Long Does Cream Blush Last?

"On its own, cream blush typically lasts four to six hours," says Reynolds. Of course, this depends on your application and skin type. Schoen explains that this product "generally lasts longer on normal-to-dry skin types and maybe a bit less time for oilier skin."

For a longer-lasting effect, Radow recommends setting the blush with a translucent powder or a setting spray.

Related: 7 Body Oils Mature Skin Loves, According to Dermatologists

9 Best Cream Blushes, Tested by Makeup Artists

1. Best for Beginners: Merit Beauty Flush Balm Cream Blush , $30

Hussainy calls this balm "foolproof" for beginners. "It's sheer but buildable and almost impossible to mess up," she adds.

She especially loves its hydrating formula that's "perfect for a natural, healthy flush." And with 12 colors to choose from, you can even try out a few shades to find your ideal fit.

2. Best for Mature Skin: Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Essentials Palette , $89

This makeup palette comes with everything you need to do a full face: foundation, contour, blush and highlight creams. Hussainy loves the cream blushes for more mature skin because the formula "doesn't settle into fine lines."

She adds that the "skin-like" finish also "looks youthful without trying too hard."

3. Best for Dry Skin: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick , $48

This blush was independently recommended by three of the makeup artists Parade spoke with. Radow says it contains helpful "hydrating properties," making the blush perfect for those with dry skin. Available in eight shades, this blush is formulated with jojoba seed oil and raspberry leaf stem cell extract—ingredients that are designed to help boost hydration and moisturize your skin.

Schoen also loves that the product gives a "naturally flushed glow" and Reynolds highlights its "beautiful texture [that] blends effortlessly."

4. Best Drugstore: Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush , $10

The Milani brand is widely available at stores like Walgreens, CVS, Target and Amazon, and the cream blush comes in four lightweight shades. Reynolds says the product delivers "very impressive quality for the price." She adds that it's easy to blend and not greasy, so it "won’t clog pores."

5. Best Blurring: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder , $27

"This product is all about the blur," says Radow, adding that the formula is designed to "smooth, minimize and blur the look of pores and fine lines."

According to its product description, the blush contains upsalite to help absorb excess sweat and hyaluronic acid for hydration. The end result aims for "a soft focus ... and unrivaled blurring and oil control." You can choose from 11 shades.

6. Best Dewy: Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Cream Blush , $20

Both Reynolds and Radow laud this cream blush for its dewy finish. "It's fresh, glowy and perfect for dry or sensitive skin," says Reynolds, adding that the "luminous finish" works well for cheeks or lips.

Radow calls it one of her "top three favorite cream blushes." She says she loves the color payoff, consistency and hydration of the product.

7. Best Sheer: Jones Road Miracle Balm , $38

"These are definitely the best if you want a for-sure sheer look every time," says Radow. "It’s more like a tint with hydration. Think natural beach look."

There are six blush shades to choose from to best complement your skin tone. You can even use the product on your lips.

8. Best Matte: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge Velvet Matte Cream Blush , $36

"When we think of matte, it can be easily assumed that the makeup will dry the skin; but not this one," Schoen says of the Bobbi Brown cream blush. "You get a beautiful and effortless application in shades that are very flattering and wearable."

She adds that she loves the "diffused and soft" finish the product gives. You can get it in five shades and use it on your lips or cheeks.

9. Best Pigmented: Nudestix Nudies Bloom All Over Face Dewy Color , $35

Schoen loves these easy-to-apply cream sticks. "They offer richly pigmented, vibrant shades that glide on so smoothly and blend effortlessly," she says. You can choose from seven colors.

Up Next:

Sources:

Mezhgan Hussainy, a celebrity makeup artist and co-founder and partner of the beauty branding and manufacturing partner Product Society
Jenepher Reynolds, celebrity stylist and founder of the Jenn of Arch beauty brand
Michelle Radow, Emmy-nominated makeup artist
Robin Schoen, celebrity makeup artist

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Shopping, Deals & Freebies section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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