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A Royal Flush: The best blushers for a healthy glow in seconds

 

a light skinned model and darker skinned model close up of faces

Picture the scene: you’re stuck on a desert island with just a single {make up} item at your disposal. (Don’t worry, we’ll throw a free {SPF} into this hypothetical situation — we’re not complete monsters, after all). What do you choose? If you’re anything like us, we’re willing to bet your very favourite {blusher} falls pretty high up on your priority list.

Yes, blusher is your secret weapon for transforming from ‘I just rolled out of bed’ to ‘I’ve just returned from a 7-day all-inclusive holiday’ in just a few seconds, distracting from a tired complexion and delivering a healthy dose of radiance in its place. There’s a reason it’s found its place as the internet’s {make up product du jour} (and if it’s good enough for TikTok…).

Still not found your forever rouge, however? Fear not. Whether you favour a natural flush or a more vibrant pop of colour, these are the very best blushers to get your hands on right now…

  1. For a bright pop of colour

So you’re ready to go bold? PATRICK TA’s {Major Headlines Double-Take Crème and Powder Blush Duo} will do exactly what it says on the tin, turning heads thanks to a double-whammy of high-intensity pigment in stand-out-from-the-crowd shades. 

Within this chic compact you’ll find a hydrating cream and a soft-as-silk powder. Layered together, we promise you powerful, punchy colour payoff that lends itself quite beautifully to more editorial looks. Try buffing ‘She’s Vibrant’, a bright peachy-pink, up onto temples for ‘80s inspired high glamour. Patrick recommends using the powder first, then the cream blush on top — and we take on board whatever the make up maestro suggests…

nars orgasm blush

1. For a natural, healthy looking flush:

Winning the approval of so many make up mavens, NARS continues to top our ‘best of blusher’ lists, delivering a radiant complexion with an iconic formula. Using micronised powders, this blusher gives a natural, healthy-looking colour that will immediately make you look wide awake. Of course, most iconic is the universally flattering shade ‘Orgasm’, a peachy pink with golden shimmer. Or, if you want to really ramp up the shimmer levels, why not try ‘Super Orgasm’?

1. For the Gen Z mega-flush

Beloved by TikTok (and for good reason) {Charlotte Tilbury}’s Pillow Talk range (you know, the ‘your lips but better’ lipstick and liner everyone raves about?) has expanded. The new kid on the block? The {Pillow Talk Lip and Cheek Glow}, which promises a radiant flush of cream colour wherever you lay it.

To really channel that Gen Z blusher look, more is most certainly more. Grab a fluffy brush and start buffing this lustrous formula across the bridge of your nose and over the top of your cheekbones, blending it out into your hairline (no harsh lines here, please!). Yes, it may sound a little scary — but trust us when we say this will give you a youthful, radiant look almost instantly.

two models with glowy make up

1. For a lit-from-within blush

As the name suggests, Rituel de Fille’s {Inner Glow Crème Pigment} are perfect for mimicking that natural, ‘pinched-your-cheeks’ prettiness, blending seamlessly with a dewy finish. These gorgeous blushes nourish and enhance your complexion with wearable, buildable washes of colour — and they’re cruelty-free and made with 99% natural extracts! Use your fingers or a brush to achieve an ever-so-pretty flush.

1. For a natural, matte finish

Looking for a classic blush that will stand the test of time in your make up collection? May we introduce you to VIEVE’s {Sunset Blusher}? With a satin-matte finish, this powder will sit pretty over make up thanks to an ultra-soft formula that actually melds with your skin, giving a warming flush to rival that of golden hour on the Amalfi Coast. 

 

In fact, each shade of this blusher was inspired by VIEVE founder Jamie Genevieve’s love of sun-soaked evenings spent in Italy; we particularly love Malbec, a warm, berry shade that will look especially radiant on darker skin tones.

1. For all the glow

You’ve heard of CC creams… but how about CC blusher? By Terry’s {Brightening CC Blush} unites nourishing skin care (think: rose stem cells to keep your skin barrier in tip-top health) and an oh-so-illuminating formula (you’ve got innovative light reflecting prisms to thank for that). The result? A radiance-boosting blusher that lasts all day long.

For a ‘freshly-pinched’ glow across your cheeks, look to the shade ‘Rosy Flash’. With a very subtle shimmer — not chunky glitter — just a few clicks of this blusher pen (oooh, fancy!) delivers all the sheen, whether you’re opting for all-out glam or every day hydration.

1. For a barely-there blush

Not quite a blusher convert? For the rosy-cheeked novices, a sheer formula like Huda Beauty’s {Cheeky Tint Blush Stick} will do the trick. With five suits-everyone shades (from the warm ‘n’ peachy ‘Perky Peach’ to the deeper plum ‘Baddie Berry’) this stick might look a little scary at first glance.

But dab a little of this skin care infused-formula onto the apples of your cheeks, tap it out with your fingers and enjoy the dewy, oh-so-subtle wash of colour left in its place. The best part? This flexible formula can easily be layered to build a more intense finish as you grow more confident.

 

SHOP BLUSHERS >>

 



Chloe Lawrance

Chloe Lawrance

Senior Copywriter

Chloe is a Copywriter at Cult Beauty. She is a skin care fanatic and you can normally find her dispensing advice and recommendations to just about anybody that will listen (her cardinal rules? SPF daily; just say ‘no’ to face wipes; there’s no such thing as too much hydration). Chloe’s perfect day would be spent laying in the sun, a book in one hand and a cocktail (one spicy margarita, please) in the other. However, living in East London, the most she can usually hope for is sneaking 20 minutes with her Kindle and a pint in a pub garden.