Cream Blush Is Going Viral on TikTok - Here’s How You Can Get the Look

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Embrace radiant cheeks this summer (and beyond) with my five favorite beauty editor-approved cream blushes. They're ideal for anyone who wants to recreate a healthy post-run flush without sweating up a storm. Cream blushes are also trending on TikTok, with tutorials, hauls, and product review videos earning millions of collective views.

Cream blushes are my ultimate blush choice because, unlike patchy powder and liquid blushes, they are buttery-soft and melt into the skin for a very natural finish. The final result always looks like I'm blushing rather than it being super obvious that I am wearing blush. They easily blend with just the fingers or are applied with tools like makeup brushes and beauty sponges, including the Beauty Blender — either way, I've never experienced streaking or ruddiness with these products. Ready for a seamless flush? Keep scrolling for my no-fail guide to all things cream blush, including how to shop for them and my all-time favorite recommendations.

Best Cream Blushes

What to Consider

Skin Type

Since cream blushes are typically infused with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients, they’re ideal for dry, normal, and even combination skin types. Anyone with oily or combination skin can still confidently wear cream blushes — just opt for a semi-matte finish instead of a dewy one, to avoid a potentially shiny look. Anyone with sensitive skin should consider using cream blushes made with clean ingredients, which I’ll touch on in the next section.

Best Ingredients

After identifying your skin type, look at the ingredient list to make sure to avoid anything your skin may be sensitive to. What I love about these five cream blushes is that they're all free of pesky ingredients, such as silicones and parabens, that might not gel well with sensitive skin types. Here are a few standout ingredients to look for based on your makeup goals:

Hydrating: Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and waxes are helpful for those with dry and normal skin types looking for more moisture.

Shine-absorbing: Kaolin clay and niacinamide are handy for anyone with combination, acne-prone, and oily skin.

Shades and Skin Tone

Sure, having multiple colors to choose from is excellent, but makeup artist Sara Wren previously told me that our skin tone helps guide the most flattering blush shade.

• Fair skin tones: Look out for lighter pinks and peaches that can be sheered out.

• Medium and deeper skin tones: Richer oranges and plumps add a beautiful pop of color to the face.
  

The beautiful thing about makeup is that there are no hard and fast set rules, since we're all experimenting with what works best for us. For example, if you're gifting a cream blush and your loved one is obsessed with pink and peach blushes, but has a darker complexion, order them a cream blush on the deeper end of their go-to color family, such as the Danessa Myricks and RÓEN blushes.

How to Apply

Fingers: Honestly, I'm a brush fiend, but there is something so nostalgic about swiping on and patting on cream blush. It's like finger painting for adults but way less messy, and our skin looks fantastic. Another functional bonus of using our fingers is that our body heat warms up the creamy blush and helps melt the product even deeper into the skin for the most natural finish. It's also perfect for anyone on the go who has limited space in their weekend bag.

Brushes: Low-key embarrassing to admit, but I own hundreds of makeup brushes. For cream blushes, I find the best brushes are either a stippling brush, such as the Rose INC Number 5 brush, for a slight wash of color, or for beginners afraid of looking like a clown. I'm also into slightly domed, loosely packed small brushes like the Rose INC Number 2 brush for days I desire higher coverage.

Sponges: Loyal to the Beautyblender? Totally get it! Treat your lucky loved one to a smaller makeup sponge that fits the cheeks. They can also blend concealer or apply cream highlighter or bronzers. Wren notes using a damp makeup sponge sheers out the blush and provides an extra glow.

Layer with other products: I can confidently say these cream blushes can be worn on their own, but anyone who desires a matte finish then they can dust on a powder blush over their new cream blush. On the other hand, if they're looking for a more multidimensional, highly pigmented look, then they should take a page from celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta, who switches things up by applying cream blush over a powder brush.

How We Chose

I've been rotating these five cream blushes since the star of the year.

“Using a damp sponge will sheer out the color and give the skin some extra glow,” says Wren. “Using a brush is great for buildability and layering with other creams, liquids, and powders. Plus, using fingers is great for quick application on the go.” Regardless of which beauty tool you use, blend upward for a lifted effect.

Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed

It was a tight race for the best overall cream blush. Still, after carefully considering the texture, wearability, transfer, shade variety, and price, I knew makeup artist Danessa Myricks created the top pick.

If your blush disappears after a few hours, you need this product. Not only does it last an entire workday without any touch-ups, but there was barely any product transfer on my face mask. Next up is the formulation, which is especially important to me since cream blush is one of the few products I like to apply with my fingers. It doesn't drag on the skin and combines sweat and oil-absorbing ingredients with hydrating components, such as squalane and hyaluronic acid. The final result? Slightly blurred pores with a beautiful blush.

The most important thing to highlight with this blush is that users need way less product than they’d think because it’s highly pigmented. I’ve had mine for months and barely made a dent in it, so I’m confident each container will last for at least a year. Ultimately, if you want a low-key blush that can keep up with your lifestyle without needing touchups, available in a variety of shades, and make your skin look virtually poreless IRL, this blush is 100% that girl who will deliver.

Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow in Color Of Dreams

This cream blush is one of her more underrated products, with the Lizzo-loved liquid rouge getting most of the love on TikTok. That being said, this creamy product is a total dream to wear and apply, earning it the second spot on this list.

The biggest reason I named this our runner up is because it's only available in two shades, while Danessa Myricks’ cream blush is available insix. Plus, the Danessa blush is $15 cheaper than Charlotte's, so it might be a better fit for someone shopping on a budget.

With pretty much all Charlotte Tilbury products, users can expect to achieve a radiant finish. Made with raspberry leaf stem cell extract, beeswax, and vitamin E, this is definitely the most emollient cream blush of the bunch, so I feel comfy applying it on my lips without layering lip balm underneath. It's also ideal for a soft, natural wash of color that's buildable.

Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush

Every shade of LYS Beauty Higher Standard cream blush imparts a welcome flush onto the cheeks and blends seamlessly on the skin. They're made with kaolin clay to eliminate shine and provide a satin matte finish, which is fantastic for oily and combination skin types like mine. Don't worry: Anyone with dry and normal skin types can also use this cream blush since they are infused with some of my favorite ingredients, such as vitamin E and avocado oil.

I'm not the only fan — online reviewers swear by this product. Many Sephora reviewers appreciate the fast shade range and note how every hue is compatible with their complexions, ranging from fair to deep.

Most notably, they agree that these cream blushes are smooth and don’t emphasize skin texture, like large pores. To quote one 5-star review, “One could still build up the color or sheer it down. They’re long lasting on me. They dry down so I’m not left with a sticky, greasy, or creamy feeling when I touch my cheek. I don’t have to warm them up first to use them. They’re my perfect cream blush formula!”

Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color

Thanks to brands like ROSE INC by Rosie Huntington-Whitley, refillable makeup is becoming more accessible and is proving that it's a trend that deserves to stay. Her longwearing cream blush quickly melts into the skin for a lit-from-within glow, but it can easily be layered for more intense pigment when desired.

I've worn it to the office during the summer season and to an early fall wedding in North Carolina, so I can confidently vouch for its longevity.

What I adore most about ROSE INC cream blushes is that it's infused with two of my favorite ingredients: moisturizing vitamin E, ceramides to support a healthy skin barrier, and squalane, a plant-based moisturizer. There's also sodium hyaluronate to help smooth visible imperfections, similar to a beauty filter IRL.

The cream blush and magnetic compact mirror cost $32, while the same size refill costs only $18. Since each blush will last for a few months, shoppers can save $42 a year just by purchasing the refills.

Cheeky Cream Blush

RÓEN is the most underrated brand on this list, but their cream blush deserves all the praise. It has a rockstar formulation free of parabens, silicones, and fragrance, so those with sensitive skin can feel comfy rocking this rouge without worrying about potential skin irritation.

The non-sticky blush is slightly less emollient than the Rose INC and Charlotte Tilbury blushes. I find it's ideal for someone who wants the product to melt into their skin, but wants the flexibility of layering blush for a fun pop of color.

Speaking of the shades, although there are only four options, I think they're great for all skin tones and can easily be mixed and matched for a custom flush.

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