Liquid Blush is the Easiest Way to Get A Soft, Natural Flush—Trust, I've Tested Everything

If you're looking for the holy grail, crème de la crème, cult favorite of *all* the liquid blushes around, get yourself the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Highlighter Wand in Peachgasm. While yes, it is technically a highlighter stick (there's a tiny bit of shimmer in it), it imparts the most beautiful natural flush that is legit the perfect hue on every skin tone. And, if you aren't a fan of shimmer, the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand is just as fabulous—easy to blend, buildable, and has a soft cloudlike finish.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Shimmery

One Cosmo editor says: "Although this is super shimmery, it's not loaded with heavy glitters that emphasize my textured skin or acne. Instead, it makes my cheeks look like shiny orbs of light. I get hella compliments every time I swipe this one on." — Beth Gillette, beauty editor

The O.G. of liquid blushes (fr, it first launched in 1977), this one won’t smear, smudge, or fade during the day. The liquid formula literally stains the skin (and lips!) with juicy rose-colored pigments that look vibrant for hours and hours. Beyond just being a top-tier liquid blush, Cosmo readers even named it their MVP makeup product in our Readers' Choice Awards.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo reader says: "It feels so light on my skin and doesn’t try my cheeks out like some powder blushes. One million percent recommend!”

There's no such thing as too much SPF, so why not get a little extra boost of protection from your blush? Nudestix multi-tasking liquid blush imparts a touch of color to your cheeks—and lips!—while offering SPF 30. You'll love wearing it on no makeup-makeup days as well as for more glam events since the pigment can be built up. Cosmo staffers literally can't live without it either. This won our hearts, and a Holy Grail Beauty Award in 2024.

• Shade options: 5
• Finish: Radiant

One Cosmo editor says: "I'm currently in Hawaii—brag—and I've worn this blush every day. Not only does it add a lil extra SPF, but it gives my cheeks a flush but doesn't even look like I'm wearing makeup." — Beth Gillette, beauty editor

You know that TikTok blush filter that gives you the perfect sweep of color and also blurs your complexion? Huda Beauty brought that to life with this liquid blush. The formula contains finely milled micro-pearls that provide an airbrushed effect as you blend out the pigment. And Huda also doesn't play with the options: Choose between 11 (!!) shades ranging from Bubblegum, a soft pink, to Coco-Loco, a deep chocolate brown.

• Shade options: 11
• Finish: Radiant

One Cosmo editor says: "New favorite liquid blush unlocked. There's not much I don't love about this. The peanut-shaped applicator makes application seamless, the formula blends with minimal effort, and it gives me the rosy flush of my dreams. Also, random, but this smells like candy, and I never knew I wanted my blush to smell delicious, but now it's a necessity!" — Mary Honkus, contributing beauty editor

Struggle with dark spots and dryness on your cheeks? This liquid blush actually works to even out your skin tone and moisturize, thanks to niacinamide and watermelon extract. The fact that this leaves behind a beautiful swath of color feels like a bonus. This became an immediate vanity staple from the first application—and now we need Glow Recipe to make more colors. (Glow Recipe, if you're reading this, two is not enough!)

• Shade options: 2
• Finish: Dewy

One Cosmo editor says: "As a liquid blush-obsessed beauty editor, I've tried nearly every formula out there. And I love this one from Glow Recipe for a pigmented sheen. It leaves just the right amount of flush on my cheeks and feels super lightweight. Since it's basically skincare, it blends really well onto my face and doesn't dry patchy."—Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor

If you've been obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter's blush—let's be real, who isn't—you can *officially* replicate the look because this is the exact product her makeup artist uses. While very pigmented, this melts into skin with minimal effort, and aside from the superstar-worthy color, it also hydrates skin, too.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo editor says: "Obvi I tried these because Sabby wears them, and now I, too, can't live without them. I mix Delicate Mauve and Bold Pink, per Sabrina's makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez's suggestion, and it gives me the perfect bold, ultra-blushed look every time." — BG

Don't let the itty bitty bottle fool you—this Hourglass blush will last you years because all you need is the tiniest dab. The ultra-light formula does double duty, giving you a natural flush while also keeping cheeks (and wherever else you apply it) hydrated, smooth and plump. This is also the best blush to travel with because the container is smaller than the palm of your hand. Fun fact: Makeup artist Emily Cheng told Gillette that Gracie Abrams loves this blush so much, she got Cheng to start using it.

• Shade options: 7
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo reader says: "I love how blurred the blush sits on the cheeks, no harsh lines. You can totally pack on more color if needed, but trust me in person it's very pigmented in a flattering way. I plan to buy a couple more colors next. Highly recommended."

IK you've already seen this one all over your FYP, but lemme explain exactly why Rare Beauty's blush is so goated. A lot of liquid blushes have shimmer, which is fine if you’re into the dewy highlighter look. But if you’re not? The Rare Beauty blush has matte options that'll be your go-to. It dries down to a shine-free finish that looks gorgeous IRL and in photos. Plus, it will last almost a life time (no exaggeration, lol.) It's no surprise this continuously wins Cosmo's Reader's Choice Awards—it truly is that good.

• Shade options: 4 matte, 7 radiant
• Finish: Matte or radiant

One Cosmo reader says: “I own three of these blushes, one of which I bought in 2021. Don’t come for me, but I’m still using it because it’s nowhere NEAR empty. It’s my favorite blush; it blends out beautifully and lasts all day. It's prob expired, but you’ll have to pry this blush from my cold, dead hands.” —Jayne Lemire, executive assistant

I get it, not everyone is a blush person—which is why I added this ultra-sheer option to the list. It gives your cheeks *just* the right amount of subtle, realistic-looking color that doesn’t look overly done or made-up, even when you opt for a bright color like Power Pink.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Natural
  

One Cosmo editor says: "Even on days when I don't feel like wearing makeup I'll blend a dab of this into my cheekbones to make me look alive. The sheer wash of color really brings my complexion to life and it's the easiest to blend." — MH

Liquid blush, in general, was practically made for dry skin. But this formula in particular is like a lil extra moisturizer just for your cheeks. It's ultra-hydrating, using hyaluronic acid (a humectant that draws moisture to the skin), vitamin E, and coconut water to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and supple for hours.

• Shade options: 4
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo reader says: "This is an absolutely gorgeous and easy-to-use product! The sheen it gives is more of a dewy or 'wet; look without emphasizing texture, and although it looks scary when first applied, it's a beautiful sheer blush. It also has a moisturizing feeling without feeling tacky or heavy."

We're pretty huge fans of most everything Saie makes around here, but their liquid blush is by far one of our faves. The creamy gel texture melts right into the skin and never looks streaky or cakey. It's made with ingredients that are clean (aka good for you and the planet), and the sustainable packaging is designed with the environment in mind. A win-win.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo reader says: "This is the easiest blush in the world to use. It melts into skin without ever emphasizing uneven texture, can be applied with fingers or a brush, and gives my skin a soft flush that's really natural." —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director

News flash: You don’t need to spend a ton of $$ to get a high-quality liquid blush. This $11 option from drugstore makeup brand Milani is proof. Even though it’s inexpensive, it has a ton of 5-star reviews, is easy to blend and build, and comes in six ultra-flattering shades to boot.

• Shade options: 6
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo reader says: "My skin has been looking very dried out lately so I thought I would move away from powder blush. I bought this based on the other positive reviews and I'm very pleased I did. This is a highly pigmented liquid formula...It is very blendable and you can get a nice flush to your cheeks."

You know how some blushes can settle into fine lines and pores and make your skin texture look rough and uneven? Well, you won’t have to worry about that with Glossier’s Cloud Paint. It’s made with special blurring pigments that give cheeks a smooth, soft finish. It layers so easily over legit every type of full-coverage foundation, skin tint, tinted moisturizer—you name it.

• Shade options: 8
• Finish: Natural

One Cosmo editor says: "Cloud Paint is still my go-to cream blush. Any time I'm putting any form of makeup on my face—whether it's subtle, five-minute 'no-makeup makeup' look to wander around New York City on a sunny day or an evening look for my best friend's wedding, I will indeed be using Cloud Paint." — Madison McGee, commerce editor