13 Buildable, Easy-to-Use Liquid Blushes That Experts Love
Liquid blush may sound a little intimidating to those who have never used it, but it's actually surprisingly foolproof. And it stands out from its cream and powder counterparts because of its versatility: It can pack a high-pigment punch (looking at you, mega-popular Rare Beauty Soft Pinch) or offer a buildable wash of color that's basically impossible to overdo.
"When you want to have that kind of very sheer glow from within, a liquid [blush] is going to be the best option because it's really sheer," Quinn Murphy, a New York City-based makeup artist, tells Fashionista. "The difference between a cream and a liquid is that liquid is lighter, so it's nice to use if you really want the skin to show through."
Liquid blushes are inherently adjustable, with options spanning dewy to matte finishes and wide shade ranges, but perfecting the makeup-bag staple's application all comes down to proper layering. Whether blending with a brush, sponge or your fingers, Murphy recommends starting with a small amount of product while gradually building up to the desired level of coverage.
"Some [liquid blushes] have a really quick dry down, so you want to work quickly in a tapping motion along wherever you like to put it, along the apple of the cheek, and the warmth of your finger can actually help blend them out," he says.
Within Murphy's own makeup kit, he turns to Monika Blunder's line of liquid blushes often because they're lightweight, buildable and radiant-looking. He also often reaches for Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush in the shade Dolce Vita, and notes its formula is more concentrated, so a tiny dab goes a long way.
Finding the perfect blush shade for your skin tone doesn't have to be an arduous task: Murphy advises looking at the way you naturally get flushed when exercising or spending time in the sun, in addition to your overall coloring. "If you have more of a warmth to your coloring, you can choose more of a coral, or if you're deeper but still have a lot of warmth, you could use a pumpkin or something," he says. "And if you have blue eyes or a certain coolness about your overall coloring, you could use more of a mauve or a pink."
Ahead, we've rounded up 13 liquid blushes we love. Keep scrolling to see (and shop!) them all.
Saie Dew Blush Blendable Liquid Blush, $25, available here
Elf Cosmetics Camo Liquid Blush, $7, available here
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, $23, available here
Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Flush, $20, available here
Nyx Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush, $10, available here
Freck Beauty Cheekslime Lip + Cheek Tint, $22, available here
Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush, $32, available here
Juvia's Place Blushed Liquid Blush, $18 $11, available here
Monika Blunder Liquid Flush Cheek Tint, $28, available here
Gen See Clean Sheen Cheek + Lip Color, $22, available here
Colourpop Cheek Dew Serum Blush, $8, available here
Caliray Socal Superbloom Lip + Cheek Tint Soft Satin Blush, $28, available here
Flower Beauty Blush Bomb Color Drops, $12 $8, available here
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