8 cream blush picks that are perfect for summer

Ditch the matte, powdery finish to cop a dewy, creamy, flushed look

Flushed, healthy cheeks headline a summery make-up look. However, using matte powder blushes in the scorching heat is a bad idea. While they may offer some mattifying and oil-soaking properties—depending on the ingredients in the formula—most will end up sitting on your skin like a layer of chalky powder. Gel-based or cream blushes, on the other hand, will sink into the skin, rendering a soft, natural-looking flush without overwhelming your skin. And, if you’re worried about the longevity, know that reapplying a cream blush is easier, thanks to its blendable texture. We list some of the best cream blushes that promise a long stay and a solid punch of colour.  

Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Rare Beauty

Packed with a robust punch of colour, this liquid-to-cream blush from Rare Beauty is a viral hit for all the right reasons. Available in a wide range of shades—from pinks and oranges to mauves and plums—this blush features a highly-blendable formula, and leaves behind a demi-matte, natural-looking finish. But what makes it so summer-appropriate is calming ingredients like white water lily and sunflower seed oil as well as a super long stay.

Blush Filter, Huda Beauty

If you love a buildable cream blush, turn to Huda Beauty’s newest Blush Fitler(s). The concentrated doe-foot applicator allows for controlled application, and the silky formulation promises effortless blending. While the lighter colours can be built to your liking, the deeper ones do the job in a dot or two. The best part? Every colour is Brown skin-friendly.

Putty Blush, e.l.f. Cosmetics

On a hot and sweaty day, hardly anything compares to a formulation packed with aluminum starch and silica, and basically works as a primer. This cream blush is just that. Coming from e.l.f.’s viral Putty family, it delivers a soft-focus colour pay-off that is super buildable and stays throughout the day. Ingredients like argan oil, glycerin, and vitamin E make it a good-for-your-skin make-up product, too.

Glow Play Blush, M.A.C Cosmetics

Bouncy, creamy, glowy—that’s what this cream blush is all about. The cushiony formula, enriched with jojoba and grape seed oils along with vitamin E, provides a sheer-to-buildable finish, blurs the appearance of pores, and leaves a soft glow. 

Stax All Over Color Blush Balm, Nudestix

This buttery-soft cream blush comes in vivid shades like hot magenta pink, blueberry-toned violet, and warm coral—perfect for summer days. The balmy texture makes application a breeze, leaving behind a cloud-like matte finish. Ingredients like rose flower extract, camellia seed oil, and safflower seed oil offer skincare benefits too. 

Jelly Blush, Kay Beauty

Packed with ceramides and peptides, this all-new Jelly Blush from Kay Beauty offers a gel-to-cream finish, ensuring the flush remains intact from AM to PM. It’s pigmented but allows for smooth application, without leaving behind stains that are tough to take off. Best blended with your fingers, use this blush on your cheeks or lips, and the colour deposition won’t disappoint. 

Halo Sheer To Stay Cream Cheek + Lip Tint, Smashbox

Packaged in an easy-to-use squeezy tube, this cream blush is great for achieving a natural, barely-there flush, for it almost melts into the skin. The formulation is infused with a complex of nourishing and skin-priming oils such as sunflower, jojoba, and apricot, leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks, Bobbi Brown

A classic best-seller from the house of Bobbi Brown, this cream blush pot is the multi-use make-up product that your skin will love. Loaded with castor oil, along with Bisabolol, vitamin E, and glycerin, this super creamy formula not only delivers colour but also care. It’s very blendable and can be worn all over your face—eyes, cheeks, and lips. 

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