The 15 Best Cream Blushes for a Natural Flush

RMS, Rare Beauty, and Tower28 top our list.

collage of the best cream blushes including rare beauty blush and atelier
(Image credit: Future)

In case you somehow missed the memo: Blush is having a *major* moment. Overly flushed cheeks (a.k.a. sunburnt blush) has taken over TikTok; the pros named bold blush one of the biggest makeup trends of 2022; and there are an influx of innovative, new formulas to choose from. While some of the best blushes take powder or liquid form, cream blushes are our go-tos for a buildable, dewy flush. “A cream product carries skincare-like ingredients and leaves the skin looking radiant and supple,” says makeup artist Dominique Lerma. In other words: Cream blush is a healthy glow in product form.

To hype up cream blushes just a wee bit more (sorry, not sorry), they’re by far the easiest formula to apply—like, they’re foolproof. Lerma recommends using a synthetic bristle brush, like the Omnia Pro BOM-186, for controlled, clump-free application. You can also go straight in with your hands—just make sure they’re clean. Tap your ring and middle finger in an upwards motion, from the apple of your cheek to your temple, and you’ll be rosy and ready to go. 

With that in mind, it’s time to shop. Here, we’ve rounded up the best cream blushes in the game, from easy-to-apply sticks to cheek and lip duos. 

Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.