The Ultimate Summer Blush Guide
Pretty in pink.
We are in a blush renaissance. Traditionally, blush has been a staple in makeup routines for enhancing complexions by adding colour to cheeks. It was often a rotation of the same powdery pink hues. In the early 2010s, there was a shift from rosy cheeks as the beauty industry embraced a muted matte aesthetic. This era was defined by cut-crease eyeshadows, grey contours, and bold, sharp eyeliners.
But today, blushed cheeks—pinks, reds, purples, and terra cottas—are trending once again. The shift is also partly due to a reinvention of blush formulas. Chalk-like powders have graduated to blends and gel-like consistencies, silky liquids, and watery tints.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of our picks for blushes of the summer, based on texture.
Cream blushes
This on-the-go cream blush melts onto the skin and leaves a satin-like wash of colour on the cheeks. A lightweight formula, its finish has a glow effect but does not feel greasy and lasts all day. The name says it all: it’s a compact blush that can fit in your purse or pocket, ideal for quick touch-ups. Available in six shades.
Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick
Lady Gaga’s brand has introduced a serum-based blush with more than 70 per cent skin care complexes that makes skin look hydrated and plumped with a glassy finish. This blush offers a reflective burst of colour on the skin that can double up as a natural highlighter. It comes in eight vibrant shades.
Liquid blushes
Saie Dew Blush Blendable Liquid Blush
For those new to trying blush, Dew Blush is a liquid that aims to deliver the right amount of pigment each time. The blend leaves a light, fresh look on the skin, making it nearly impossible to make a mistake while applying it. This well-rounded product is not too dewy for the summer, so it doesn’t feel like it will slide off, and it’s not drying during those colder months.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
When it comes to highly pigmented blushes, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is at the top of the list. This long-lasting blush will leave a soft and healthy flush on the cheeks. If you’re looking for a blush that you can trust will not fade away until it’s time for your nightly skin-care routine, this might be the one. Ideal to wear to go to an event, a wedding, or a birthday and feel glamorous, it is available in both matte and dewy finishes.
Huda Beauty Blush Filter Liquid Blush
This blush leaves a soft colour on the skin without disrupting base makeup underneath. It dries on the cheek for a natural long-wearing flush. A little bit definitely goes a long way for this candy-scented product.
Powder blushes
Kosas Blush is Life Baked Talc-Free Dimensional + Brightening Blush
The latest Kosas release is a talc-free hybrid powder blush with a smooth, silky texture, infused with squalane and hyaluronic acid. It offers a dimensional colour and highlighter duo for an illuminating flush. Most powder blushes can feel drying, especially in colder weather. This feels like a liquid blush when applying, while providing the lasting effects of a powder blush.
Patrick Ta Beauty Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo
Patrick Ta’s bestselling duo compact combines powder and cream blush for a radiant glow. Available in 14 shades, Patrick Ta suggests layering the cream blush over the powder formula to enhance the effects. This option is ideal for when you’re on the go or travelling with a small makeup bag.
Blush tints
Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint
Milk Makeup has released a blush stain that leaves a cooling but also hydrating feel on the skin. Its colour will last all day like a tinted stain to mimic a natural blushed look.
