10 best cream blushes for a natural and long-lasting flush

After lots of research and testing, it’s Merit Beauty flush balm that I ultimately found to be the best cream blush for lots of reasons.

If you’ve ever found blush intimidating and are wary of looking clownish, the domed, balmy option from Merit deserves a spot in your makeup bag, as you can never apply too much. Simply apply it straight onto your cheeks, with a dot or a single swipe, and pat it into your skin with fingers or use a brush for an instant wash of sheer, creamy colour.

My go-to shade is le bonbon – a bright pop of pink that’s not nearly as intimidating as it may look, but there are 13 shades in total to pick from, spanning vibrant pinks and corals, classic dusty pink tones and neutral golden browns, so you can find a shade to suit your skin tone. The only downside is that because it is so sheer, it doesn’t have the best staying power. That said, this is the quickest pick-me-up product in my arsenal and is easily the best blush I’ve tried.

One of the many makeup gems from Victoria Beckham’s eponymous beauty line is her cheeky posh sticks. The creamy formulas are housed in ultra-chic twist-up casings that are compact and ideal for precise application and easy blending.

You can dot this directly onto your cheeks, or pick up the colour with a fluffy brush and dab it on – in an instant, your complexion will look lifted, luminous and brighter.

There are seven shades, but my pick of the bunch is knickers – a light peach that blends into a beautiful bloom across your cheeks. While expensive, this is a luxury blush worth the splurge, with a dewy finish and buildable texture. It blends seamlessly into the skin, making it a great choice if you’re new to blush.

If you’re looking for something affordable to add to your makeup bag, 17. melting cream blush is the best budget option. I put this cream blush through its paces and was left impressed by its buttery soft texture and easy blendability, all for the budget price of just £4. I particularly enjoyed the shade 020 peach vibes, thanks to its velvety soft finish, which, admittedly, leans more pink than peach, but it’s subtle and flattering, even on my rosacea-prone skin.

The formula is quite sheer, meaning it blends easily – you can’t apply too much – but it does fade slightly throughout the day. For the price, though, it makes an intimidating-looking colour a foolproof experience.

Nars the multiple stick is a satin, matte, multi-purpose formula for cheeks, eyes and lips. The texture has no shimmer, while a sophisticated shade range offers a palette of comfortable, easy-to-blend, soft-focus finishes. My go-to shade is behave, a soft mauve pink, but you’ll also find deep plums, peachy pinks, and reds among the 12 available.

It’s ideal for a tonal (using one shade) make-up look that requires little effort, and it’s very forgiving. No brushes are needed for a seamless application, and the cream-to-powder formula delivers long-wearing colour payoff without disrupting makeup underneath.

If you love low-commitment makeup that barely needs a mirror to apply and looks immediately more polished, Jones Road is hard to beat. The creamy lip and cheek stick comes in an array of shades, ranging from plums, pinks, peaches and chocolate mocha – my favourite is bright pink rose.

Delivering a lightweight wash of colour, they’re convenient, easy to blend and offer the same natural finish as the rest the brand’s make-up line, blended in with just a tap of your finger.

It also doubles up as a subtle lip colour, toeing the line between a radiant finish and a hydrating lip product that’s flattering no matter how much you apply.

Hailing from Korean beauty brand Soko Glam, the dasique souffle color pots are a fresh, fun and innovative product for a reasonable price. The cream blush is unlike any other in this review – it has a whipped mousse texture that’s playful and fun, but no less effective.

With a silky-smooth texture, two to three dabs of this blush using the included brush is all you need for a soft matte finish and brightening flush of colour.

Despite how pigmented it looks, the payoff is actually sheer and velvety, and easily buildable, so there’s room for error if you apply too much or too little.

Similar to the Jones Road cream blush, Trinny London lip2cheek can double up as a glossy wash of colour for the cheeks and the lips. Unlike a traditional pigment-rich cream blush, the shimmery formula adds a sheer, dewy finish that can be worn alone for a subtle wash of colour or as a highlighter for an iridescent glow.

It has tackiness that keeps it in place, and is ideal if you like to steer clear of anything matte. My favourite shade is Emily, a russet rose colour that can be layered up to build intensity.

My only gripe is that it can be tricky to top up on the go if you're wearing it as lipstick, particularly if it has faded after eating and drinking, as you'll need a wipe or tissue to clean your hands afterwards. If you'd prefer not to do that, you can always use a flat brush to apply and bring it with you.

If you love a lightweight cream blush formula that you can easily blend and build, I’d recommend Rhode’s viral pocket blushes. It’s available in 10 shades, and although toasted teddy has rave reviews on TikTok, for my rosacea-prone cheeks, the neutral peach tone of “freckle” was much more flattering.

It provides a sought-after sun-kissed look without overpowering your face and is the easiest formula to blend with just your fingers. The colour payoff is subtle enough not to leave you looking clownish but punchy enough to revive a tired complexion.

The beautiful flush of colour they provide is worth a less-than-long-wearing formula, which is often the case with cream formulas anyway. For me, the clunky packaging could be much more streamlined into a more conveniently slim stick, but the product performance still stands.

Since launching in 2019, Tower28 has built a reputation for playful yet clinically vetted formulas that are sensitive-skin-friendly, following founder Amy Liu’s difficulty finding suitable makeup and skincare for her eczema.

However, you won’t find any clinical minimalism here; instead, the brand’s signature style of bold colours and lively packaging runs throughout its range. Its cream blushes add a diffused layer of colour to cheeks with a longer-lasting formula that you can typically expect from cream formats.

I loved the berry shade after hours, which is far less intense than it looks, complete with a dewy, luminous finish and streamlined packaging with all the fun but none of the faff.

If you want the luxury experience of a premium product for less than £20, Sculpted by Aimee’s cream luxe blush ticks all the boxes. The gold pan is sleek and convenient, with a compact mirror that folds flat.

It has a radiant finish that adds a glow without the wetness that can come from dewier liquid blushes, but if you really want to set it in place all day, a dusting of blush powder over the top can lock it in without disruption. It melted into my skin with a creamy, blendable formula that felt comfortable, wasn’t drying and didn’t cling to fine lines.