I just asked an expert—these are the 11 best blushers for every skin type and tone

Beauty trends tend to move fast, but if 2024 has proven anything it’s that blusher is here to stay. Whether it’s a powder or a cream, a bold hue or a shimmering formula, the right blush provides the ultimate shortcut to brighter, more polished-looking skin—and experts agree. “I think blusher has been such a huge trend this year because skin has been such a focus,” explains Make-up Artist Brooke Simons. “Flushed cheeks are a great compliment to healthy-looking skin and blusher is definitely one of the more easily achievable ways to make a statement, with so many different formulas to try in so many beautiful shades.”

And while the summer months might have been all about using blush to create a lit-from-within glow, driven by the success of the viral Rhode Pocket Blushes, autumn/winter will be more about pops of colour on the apples of your cheeks. “Blusher placement will stay more localised on the cheeks as we hit the colder months, rather than being applied across the nose too,” says Brooke. “As we lose the warm weather we tend to move away from that more sun-kissed look.”

What is the best blusher formula?

Blush is a key component of my personal make-up bag, but while I dabble in both powder and liquid formulations, I am fanatical about cream blushers. However, I was keen to find out what the pros and cons are of each texture according to an expert. “The benefit of a powder blush is undoubtedly the longevity,” says Brooke. “They’re best suited for oily skin, and they’re easier to build up as once applied they will set into place so you can add more without disturbing the previous layer.”

If you like your blusher to have some real impact then liquid blushers are probably your best bet. “They require a little more finesse in application, but are great if you want a powerful pigment,” explains Brooke. “Plus, you can use your fingers, a brush or a sponge depending on the finish you want.”

As a beauty editor who is obsessed with her beauty routine being as low-maintenance as possible, it’s no surprise that Brooke declares cream blushers to be the most foolproof of formulations. “They're so easy to apply and blend, and have the movability of a liquid blush without the need for too much application skill,” says Brooke. “They also create a dewy, natural look and are easier to build up than liquid.”

What are the best blusher shades for every skin tone?

It goes without saying that the real beauty of make-up lies in having fun with it. Personally, I love playing with different colours, textures and tones until I find a blusher that gives me joy. Having said that, I have also spent many hours in beauty halls feeling totally overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. So I thought a little expert-approved advice wouldn’t go amiss. “For lighter skin tones go with soft pinks and peaches, medium skin tones will find that the same shades work but in a deeper tone, and for darker skin warm browns, reds, berries and bright pinks work beautifully,” says Brooke.

Undertone can also play a factor in which colours will brighten and illuminate your complexion to give you that healthy-looking glow. “If you have a cool undertone then pink shades will compliment your skin best, warm undertones look good in peaches, and if you have a neutral undertone, you pretty much get the pick of the bunch as both shades in the pink and orange families will work for you,” explains Brooke.

The best blushers of 2024

1. Dior Backstage Rosy Glow

Dior is my designer beauty brand of choice and not only is its Rosy Glow one of my favourite Dior products of all time—it’s possibly my favourite blusher. And I’m not alone—it’s one of Brooke’s go-tos as well. “I love the Dior Backstage Rosy Glow for a powder blush,” Brooke says. “It just leaves a gorgeous, glowy pop of colour on the cheek.” For me, this is a blusher that I think will appeal to everyone. It has a reactive formulation which means that it adjusts to your skin’s pH and moisture levels to deliver a custom colour—which sounds a bit of a fad, but genuinely means that you get a skin-flattering hue that will suit your complexion. It’s a powder, but it isn’t powdery. In fact, it glides onto the skin and melts in for a really natural flush. Plus, it’s fairly sheer so you can apply it haphazardly without looking overdone, but it also layers up beautifully if you like a more intensive pop of colour. Truly, the best.

2. Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush

While researching and testing for this piece I put out a call on Instagram for blusher recommendations and my DMs went wild with people raving about this formula. A fairly new launch for Hourglass, I think it’s testament to how good this product is that so many people are already obsessed with it; especially considering that it’s a higher price point too. Having tested it myself I can confirm that it’s more than worth the hype—a serum-esque liquid blusher that delivers an intense pop of pigment, but blends out seamlessly. Fellow Marie Claire contributor Tori Crowther swears by it for her rosacea-prone skin, thanks to how moisturising it is and how little blending it requires, but I also adore it for my oilier skin thanks to how long-lasting it is once you’ve put it on. With seven shades available, from a dusky pink to a deep berry, there’s something for everyone too.

3. NARS Powder Blush

The brand behind possibly one of the most popular peach blushers of all time (Orgasm, of course) NARS is actually one of the best places to start if you’re looking for a powder blush in particular. The blush itself is one of the silkiest powders on the market—a finely-milled formula that applies effortlessly to the skin and delivers an impactful wash of colour. Plus, if you hate touching up your make-up or you’re oily-prone then you’ll be glad to hear that this really has some impressive longevity—lasting up to 16 hours on the skin. There are 20 shades to choose from including mattes, shimmers, everyday shades and more editorial hues, and whichever one you go for will instantly take your make-up look from simple to striking.

4. Merit Flush Balm Cheek Colour

Both myself and Brooke swear by this as one of the best cream blushers around. In fact, Brooke keeps it in her own make-up bag as it’s “so easy to apply”–and when a professional make-up artist uses it personally, you know it’s good. To me, this is the blusher I’d recommend to people who don’t like blush as it looks so natural and beautiful on the skin. The formula itself is enriched with vitamin E so it feels really conditioning and hydrating, and the pigment powders within aren’t too intensive—your natural skin still shines through. There are nine different shades, including pinks, berries and reds, and they layer up easily so it works for both pale and deep skin tones. I’d say that if you have extremely oily skin you might want to use a little powder to improve the longevity of it, but otherwise the Merit blushes really do stick around well and leave skin fresh and glowy all day.

5. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

The Rare Beauty blushers are one of those viral beauty products that seem to dominate my For You Page on TikTok. However, the team at Marie Claire are already huge fans of this blusher and it’s my recommendation for deeper skin tones thanks to its impressive pigmentation. (Trust me—you really do only need the smallest dot of product to see the impact.) The formula itself is blendable and lightweight, so it really feels like you’re wearing nothing on your skin, and there are an array of different shades with both dewy and matte finishes depending on your preference. Work fast though as once this stuff has set in place it stays there.

6. Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Dimensional + Brightening Blush

Highlighting blush has been a huge beauty trend in 2024 with wearable shades that add luminosity to the skin rising to the top of the bestseller lists at various beauty retailers. Launched this summer, in line with the trend, the Kosas’s baked, brightening blushers have become one of the most-reached-for products in my make-up bag. The thing that sets it apart from other powders is that it’s infused with squalane and hyaluronic acid so it feels almost creamy to apply, despite being a powder formulation—and undoubtedly helps to create that dewy, fresh-faced skin look. Dreamland is my current favourite—a warm rosy bronze that acts as a blusher-bronzer hybrid—but there are more vibrant pinks, wearable peaches and deeper mauves depending on your personal taste.

7. NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Blush

From the formulation to the staying power, the NYX Buttermelt Blush rivals some of the most expensive blushers that I’ve tried over the years and so many people recommended this to me as their personal favourite. As the name suggests, this blush really does feel like butter—it’s so creamy that I couldn’t believe that it was a powder at first swatch. Infused with mango, almond and shea butters, it has a rich, blendable texture that almost melts into your skin, yet despite the creaminess it lasts for hours and hours. There are brights, neutrals and colours to suit every skin tone, but I will say that you should apply sparingly at first. Just a little dusting of this has an intense colour pay-off so build it up slowly.

8. Benefit Dandelion Brightening Blush

Before I worked as a beauty editor this was my go-to blusher. However, as my job involves testing so many products I had forgotten about it until someone in my DMs was talking about how they still swore by this very blusher. It is, indeed, the perfect formula for those with paler skin tones as the soft, pink colour delivers the perfect flush to cheeks—just enough to invigorate and brighten the skin, but without ever veering into clown-like territory. In fact, I’d say that you could apply this pretty liberally and still come out looking as fresh and bright as a spring flower. Plus, I love the slightly sweet-floral smell of this product—it’s so nostalgic to me.

9. Rhode Pocket Blush

Not only the biggest blusher launch of 2024, but one of the biggest make-up launches, you couldn’t open Instagram this summer without spotting an influencer or celebrity patting this pocket-sized cream blush onto the apples of your cheeks. And I can’t even blame them—the Rhode Pocket Blush is my favourite make-up product of the year and one of the best blushers I’ve tried. Infused with tamanu oil and peptides (a key ingredient in the Rhode skincare lineup) they feel as hydrating as a moisturiser and really deliver that juicy, glowy cheek without any shimmery particles in sight. At first, I thought they’d be too pigmented for my pale skin, but I was wrong. They blend out impeccably–so you can wear them sheer or layer up for a more vibrant pop of colour. I scribble them all over my face, using the shade Freckle for a sun-kissed effect and Spicy Marg for a more playful, coral cheek.

10. Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint

While the Milk Makeup Jelly Tints really took off during the summer thanks to their incredible longevity and ability to stay in place when you’re on holiday or in a more humid climate, I don’t think they should be viewed as a seasonal product. In fact, I think they’re one of the best blusher formulations for oily skin. The innovative jelly stick can be swept onto cheeks (it feels beautifully cooling) and then blended out quickly with fingertips for a punchy, yet watercolour-esque, wash of colour. Once in place, it sets and does not budge. Truly. Come rain or shine, breakouts or sweat, the beauty of this blush lies in its longevity.

11. Max Factor Miracle Pure Moisturising Cream Blush

For drier skin types or more mature skin, this little gem from Max Factor delivers on both moisture and colour. Brimming with hyaluronic acid and squalane, the formula has a beautifully silky texture that feels more like a luxury serum than a classic cream blusher. As such, it sinks into the skin beautifully with no risk of clinging to fine lines or dry patches. Instead, it transforms dry cheeks into dewy, bouncy looking delights and creates that hydrated, plump effect that we all want from our make-up. The only drawback is that it’s very easy to squeeze out too much product from the tube, and you really only need a small amount.