My Favorite Cream Blushes

Blushes have always been one of my favorite makeup items. I find they just make such a difference. They add color and life back into my pale ass skin. For years I was terrified of cream and liquid blushes. I would only ever use powder blushes. But, as I got more experienced with makeup and tried new techniques, I realized that I definitely gravitate more towards cream products. They look so much more natural and glowy and I find that they really keep my face from looking too cakey especially in the drier months. And even though I do love cream blushes, I’ve noticed that I don’t talk about them a ton here on ze blog. So, I thought it was time that I dedicate a whole post to my favorite cream and liquid blushes. Keep on reading to find out which ones you need in your collection!

Stick Cream Blushes

Ahh stick cream blushes. These are easily my favorite type of cream blushes. They tend to be mess-free and are versatile in the ways you can apply them. My personal favorite way to use them is by taking a blush (either synthetic or natural, they both work) brush (one that isn’t too dense and more on the fluffy side) and swirling it directly on top of the stick blush. I then apply it to my cheeks exactly as I would a powder. It helps apply the blush sparingly and really blends it out. I find that if I apply the stick blush directly to my cheeks, it often removes the foundation underneath. Using a brush takes care of this problem. Some of my favorite cream stick blushes are the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick ($37CAD/$28USD), the YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Duo Stick ($40CAD/$45USD) (which may or may not be discontinued sadly) and the Guerlain Terracotta Highlighter Stick ($62CAD/$47USD).

The Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick is in the shade Werk, a dusty rose with a satin finish. I highly recommend the $20CAD/$15USD mini size that I have as a little bit of product goes a long way. It will be quite a while before I reach the end of this stick! The YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Duo Stick is also wonderful in the shade #6 From Prude To Nude. Wow, if that shade name doesn’t describe me, I don’t know what does (hehe). Half of the stick is a neutral brown shade and the other half is a dusty rose, similar to the Milk Makeup shade. I just blend the two colours together and it’s the perfect everyday nude cheek colour. I guess you could use half to apply bronzer and half to apply blush but that just seems a lil’ too complicated for me. The last cream blush is the perfect Guerlain Terracotta Highlighter Stick. I can’t say enough good things about this blush. As you will find out in a couple of months in my Favorite Makeup of 2020 post (coming soon), this is my holy grail blush. I love this more than anything I’ve ever loved. Although it’s technically labelled as a highlighter, it is in the shade 04 Universal Blush. It gives a golden-pink glow that is so beautiful. It also has a more powdery finish than the other stick blushes that I have featured in this post so if you gravitate towards more powder and less cream or if you have oily skin, this could be the one for you!

As I finished writing this post, I realized I left a very crucial stick blush out. The Burt’s Bees 100% Natural All Aglow Lip & Cheek Stick ($21.99CAD/$12.99USD) in the shade, Peony Pool, is a perfect alternative if you are looking for something a little less pricey. I’d say it’s most similar to the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick as it’s very creamy with a hydrating core made of coconut oil. And I should note that another benefit of stick cream blushes is that they can usually all be used on the lips as well! Who doesn’t love a matching lip and cheek combo?!

Tube Cream Blushes

Ahhh, cream blushes in a tube. So messy and yet they hold a certain appeal for me. A je ne sais quois of sorts. I have three favorites to show you today: two from Glossier, the OG of tube blushes, and one from Flower Beauty. Although there is one from Quo at Shoppers Drug Mart that I’ve been meaning to give a try. I’ll do an update on this post if that one ends up being spectacular. I find that liquid blushes in tubes tend to be the most difficult to apply. I am always squirting out way too much product and I can’t seem to decide if I like applying them better with a beauty blender or just a fluffy brush. But one thing is for sure, I do not like applying these with my fingers. I don’t know how some of you do that.

Let’s start with the Glossier Cloud Paints. I have two whole posts already dedicated to these so please check those out here and here. I love these blushes. As they are a gel-cream, the formula is so lightweight that they are super easy to blend out without being sticky or too pigmented. They have the perfect level of sheerness. Plus the shades are gorgeous. Dusk is a brownish nude with a coral undertone and Puff is a light, cool pink. And because they are so sheer and lightweight, I love mixing and matching the shades together. Eventually I will have all six shades. Hold me to that. The Flower Beauty Blush Bomb ($13.29CAD/$9.99USD) comes in a close second to these Glossier Cloud Paints (full review here). Mine is in the shade Melon and it’s a bright coral pink. It’s absolutely beautiful but I have to say the formula just isn’t as great as Glossier’s. It’s close, but just not the same. It’s a little bit more pigmented so you definitely have to be cautious with how much you’re applying. I’ve definitely resembled a clown in the past with this if I’m not being careful. However, I find if you use a super fluffy brush, squirt a little bit of product out and dab, dab, dab, you can achieve the perfect natural blush with this. Plus the finish is a little bit more glossy than the Cloud Paint’s natural satin finish which I love!

Pot Cream Blushes

The last category of cream or liquid blushes is definitely the most rare: pot blushes (not pot blushes but pot blushes. There is no CBD in these). The unicorn of cream blushes, one might say. But, rare as they are, I do think they are the easiest to use. You just pop the top, swirl your brush in them and apply! Quick, easy and relatively mess-free which seems to be the three factors on which I consistently judge cream blushes on. But unfortunately, I only have two blushes to feature from this category. I used to have a wonderful Benefit cream blush called the Majorette Blush (full review here from 2014) but that has sadly been retired from my collection (and Benefit’s product lineup). And so alas, we will have to make do with these two blushes.

The first is the Teeez Cosmetics Soft As Sin Cream Blush in the shade Flirty Pink. There are so many things I love about this blush. It contains nourishing Vitamin E, giving it a velvety finish. It is very sheer so it’s easy to apply and blend out. When I want a bit more colour on my cheeks, I’ll use a brush to apply it but when I want the sheerest wash of colour, a damp Beauty Blender works perfectly! The shade is absolutely perfect as well. It’s a cool light pink with almost a purple-y mauve undertone. It’s truly gorgeous! And, if I want a more pigmented blush that day, I love applying a powder overtop of this creamy base. The two work together so well to create a really long lasting cheek colour. The next blush is the Elizabeth Arden Cool Glow Cheek Tint ($34CAD/$26.50USD). This product is absolutely fascinating to me and I’m surprised more brands haven’t copied the concept. It’s a water-based, cool-to-the-touch gel formula that not only blends seamlessly but also helps to create this really luminous, healthy looking glow. It’s so sheer yet glowy. Plus, it has a netted mesh over the top of the pot to deliver the perfect amount of product for each application and keep the mess at bay. And the shade, #02 Pink Perfection is so pretty as well. It’s truly Pink Perfection. It’s similar to the Teeez Cosmetics blush in that it’s a cool toned light pink but it doesn’t have as much of that purple undertone and it has a very slight metallic shimmer.

---

Dang. Who knew I could write so many words about cream blushes? 1500 words. Just like that. Now, if only I could write that much and that quick when I’m writing my MBA papers. That would come in handy. But it’s easy to write a lot when you really believe in what you’re writing. And boy, I really do believe in these blushes. I just love cream blushes. Do you have any favorite blushes? If so, please let me know. I need to know.

Shop The Post:

*ftc disclaimer: Some products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!