Blush has long been a staple in our makeup routines, but have you given its creamier version a try? Thanks to TikTok, liquid blush is becoming more and more popularized — and in more ways than one. If you didn't know, this beauty essential is no longer just for your cheeks. It can be used on your eyelids as eyeshadow, on your nose for a fully-flushed look and in some cases, even on your lips for a rosy tint. (Explore the #liquidblush hashtag on the platform, and you'll see just what we mean.)
In a viral video with more than 1.9 million views, one TikToker demonstrated just how flattering and subtle a popular liquid blush from NARS looks on the skin, and it didn't take long for users to sound off in the comments about how great it looks. "This blush looks like a natural skin flush," wrote one user. "Perfect!"
We tapped Laura Richelle, a makeup artist at Miyagi Wax Studio in Indialantic, Florida, to find out why liquid and cream blushes have become so popular and how they work a bit differently than their powder-based cousins.
How to apply liquid blush
"Liquid blush is another name for cream blush, and they're generally more pigmented, making them great for deeper skin tones," Richelle told Shop TODAY. "They're also more hydrating, so people with dry skin benefit from them as well."
"To apply liquid blush, use a dampened sponge to blend and soften edges," Richelle continued. "Use the remnants of your foundation brush or sponge to tamp down the intensity of the color if it's bolder than desired."
Interested in trying a liquid or cream blush yourself? We've rounded up 17 popular products out there, guaranteed to give your cheeks a rosy glow.
Liquid and cream blushes to try
Maybelline Cheek Heat Blush
Maybelline's Cheek Heat is a lightweight gel-cream that glides on with ease. It comes in several different shades, ranging from sheer pinks to deep berries.
Glossier Cloud Paint
Glossier's Cloud Paint is also a gel-cream that is beloved by Shop TODAY editors. It comes in eight buildable shades that can be dabbed onto your cheeks with your fingers to create what the brand describes as a "a natural, flushed-from-within glow."
Milani Cheek Kiss Blush
Shop TODAY Associate Editor Danielle Murphy uses Milani's Cheek Kiss Blush in the shade Rose Romance. "A little goes a long way with this formula," she says. "It feels lightweight but still offers a surprising amount of pigment."
NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush
NYX's blush comes with its own applicator, which helps make the process a bit easier and more precise. The vegan formula comes in six different colors, ranging from bright reds to nude shades.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Melting Cream Blush
Selena Gomez's beauty line, Rare Beauty, features a cream blush that has more than 116,000 "loves" from Sephora shoppers. It boasts a satin finish and light coverage that can help you perfect the trendy "no-makeup" makeup look.
Pacifica Beauty Cheeky Cherry Cheek Stain
This liquid blush comes in three different sheer flushes of color and can be applied with your fingers. It also includes natural ingredients like sweet cherry, sappan bark extract and vitamin E to give skin a little bit of love.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Dewy Blush Elixir
Long-lasting and easy to blend, this glides onto skin and is enriched with anti-aging super fruits like blueberry and cranberry. It's also made with cheek-plumping moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, aloe vera and cactus flower.
GrandePOP Cosmetics Plumping Liquid Blush
This plumping blush firms and tightens fine lines. It's also available in a wide variety of shades, from light pink macaroon to dark red cinnamon sugar.
Lumene Invisible Illumination Liquid Blush
![Lumene Invisible Illumination [KAUNIS] Watercolor Blush, Pink Blossom, 0.5 Fl Oz](f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2/newscms/2023_18/1721880/315gjc371rl-sl500--60ad0f7ea2a84.jpg)
It's all about adding a healthy flush of color with this weightless liquid blush. The formula contains ingredients designed to improve the skin's natural luminescence for a dewy complexion.
Cheekslime Lip and Cheek Tint
This buildable cheek and lip tint is infused with liquid plant collagen and gives any skin tone a multidimensional pop of color.
Ellice Darien Beauty Cream Blush
This moisturizing cream blush is perfect for mature and dry skin because of its highly moisturizing formula.
Winky Lux Cheeky Rose Blush
This creamy blush is infused with carnauba and vitamin E for a moisturizing finish. It can also be applied using your fingertips or an angled brush.
EM Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush
A luxurious serum-style blush, this lightweight formula gives skin a dewy glow and amplifies the skin's natural radiance.
Purlisse Blush Glow BB Cheek Color
Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid moisturize skin while this blush provides a natural glow. Designed to be worn alone or over makeup, this is the perfect product that can easily complete a daytime or nighttime look.
The Crème Shop Très Cheek Cushion Blush
This rouge-style cream blush is long-lasting and comes in three rich shades. The pigmented formula is enriched with skin-friendly ingredients such as allantoin (for healing), vitamin C (for brightening) and vitamin E (for moisturizing).
ColourPop Blush Stix
Simply roll this cream blush up in its tube and apply to your cheeks for a perfect pop of moisturizing color.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Flush
This highly pigmented liquid blush works on cheeks, lips and eyes and is designed to smooth the appearance of pores and fine lines.
For more stories like this, check out:
- The 32 new beauty, home and fashion launches that caught our eye in January
- This TikTok-viral foundation completely covers my pores and acne scars
- My foundation has never looked better thanks to this $9 kabuki brush
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