Blush might be the most underrated beauty product. Sure, bronzers and contour powders are great for an instantaneous St. Tropez moment, and highlighters can make us look and feel like a radiant orb when our lack of sleep makes us feel anything but. However, there's nothing like a quick hit of blush to liven up our complexion in a time of need, which, to be honest, is pretty much every day.
Once you've joined the blush bandwagon and learned of its truly transformative powers, you'll understand why it's one of the most important beauty staples among celebrities, makeup artists, and beauty editors. It makes you look more alive and healthier than that fifth cup of coffee ever will.
As you may already know (or soon will), blush is easy to become rather dependent on, and since you'll likely find yourself reaching for your favorite formula daily, we did you and your bank account a favor by sharing 10 of the most beloved blush formulas (if your budget so allows) in addition to the 10 drugstore dupes bearing an uncanny resemblance in terms of ingredients, wear, and finish. Ahead, 10 of the best drugstore blushes your face (and last weekend's festivities) will thank you for.
If you love…
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ($50)
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Burt's Bees All Aglow Lip & Cheek Stick ($9)
How they're similar: Aside from the most obvious similarities (they both double as lip-and-blush color and come in travel-friendly stick form), these blush formulas are natural, cruelty-free, and loaded with skin-enhancing ingredients like jojoba oil. At one-fifth the price, this pick from Burt's Bees also comes in six colors versus Westman Atelier's four.
If you love…
Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter ($32)
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Milani Baked Blush ($7)
How they're similar: Milani is one of our all-time favorite drugstore brands, and while all of its product offerings are fab, its selection of gorgeous blushes is one of the very best. This pretty baked number is a known cult favorite and imparts the prettiest prismatic glow. The brand also just launched two new colors that are only $8 a pop.
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Giorgio Armani Neo Nude A-Blush ($38)
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Revlon Photoready Cheek Flushing Tint Blush ($10)
How they're similar: Each blush boasts a handy doe-foot applicator and bouncy, featherlight formula. However, Revlon's drugstore counterpart comes in at about one-fourth the price of Giorgio Armani's fan favorite
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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush ($24)
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Found Baked Illuminating Blush ($7)
How they're similar: I'm not going to lie, I have a longtime, die-hard love for this collection of blushes from Hourglass. And while I won't be banishing my current supply anytime soon, I will say that this baked illuminating blush from Found is the closest drugstore dupe I've found. Plus, it's filled with natural, skin-loving botanicals.
If you love…
Nars Blush ($30)
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L'Oréal Paris Summer Belle Blush Please! ($10)
How they're similar: It's true—no blush can ever compare to Orgasm's icon status. That said, this shimmering pop of coral-pink from L'Oréal is pretty darn stellar and one of the most flattering drugstore blush formulas we've swiped in a long, long time. (Oh, and did we mention the pan is bigger, and the price tag is significantly smaller? Just saying.)
If you love…
Guerlain Météorites Highlighting Powder Pearls ($64)
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Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls Blush ($12)
How they're similar: One part blush, one part subtle dose of color, both offerings from Guerlain and Physicians Formula are the perfect blush prescription for anyone looking for a flattering hint of glow. And while this drugstore iteration might lack Guerlain's exclusive Stardust Technology, it does contain mica and a healthy dose of antioxidants for a glow-worthy and radiant flush.
If you love…
Chantecaille Aqua Blush ($44)
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E.l.f. Cosmetics Jelly Pop Flush Blush ($6)
How they're similar: For the ultimate juicy pop of color, this new launch from E.l.f. boasts a similar likeness to the above favorite from Chantecaille. Both formulas burst with hydrating ingredients and are also cruelty-free and vegan. Plus, the packaging is equally adorable.
If you love…
Kevyn Aucoin The Neo Blush ($38)
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Nyx Professional Makeup Ombre Blush ($8)
How they're similar: The above work of art from Kevyn Aucoin is pure genius. It's an ombré melding of pearl, satin, and matte finishes in a spectrum of gradient colors so you're really getting more than just one blush for your money. That said, this drugstore blush from Nyx follows the same concept and is much less of a splurge.
If you love…
Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color With Goji Berry-C Complex ($29)
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Wet n Wild Rebel Rose Color Icon Creme Blush ($5)
How they're similar: Even though quite a few beauty brands have debuted color-changing formulas contingent on our unique pH, Smashbox and its "O-" formulas were one of the OGs. The above tint-changing pick is filled with all sorts of yummy ingredients like goji, pomegranate, and Ginkgo biloba, and Wet n Wild's brand-new debut follows suit as self-adjusting shade-shifter chock-full of good stuff like murumuru seed butter, shea butter, virgin passion fruit, argan, and more.
If you love…
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush ($29)
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Essence Matt Touch Blush ($4)
How they're similar: Cruelty-free, this best-of-the-best drugstore blush from Essence has a similar brand ethos to Tarte's, and this matte-finish blush bears a striking resemblance to Tarte's iconic Amazonian formula in that it keeps shine and dewiness at bay, lasts all day, and is highly pigmented for the perfect pop of pigment.
Up next: The 7 Most-Wanted Face Creams—and Their Less Expensive Drugstore Dupes
This article originally appeared on Who What Wear
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