I Exclusively Wear Liquid Blush—Here Are the 13 Best for Just-Pinched Cheeks in Seconds

While I don’t consider myself to be a liquid blush pro when it comes to coming up with new and unexpected ways to create makeup looks for my everyday lifestyle, I’ve started to notice an uptick in compliments from strangers on the blush I wear. I stick to two basic components when selecting a liquid blush at the start of my day: 1) it must add a good amount of vibrancy and life to my deep complexion, and 2) its liquid formula must withstand everything from post-pilates sweat to New York City’s wild weather.

In my three years of experience as a beauty editor, I’ve been able to test and review hundreds of blush products offering big promises but not as much follow-through. Through the same process, I’ve also discovered countless standout liquid blush products that keep me coming back. Since I’ve sworn off gatekeeping for the year, I’m sharing a few of my favorite finds below that have beat all my loft expectations (plus helpful information about what each of them offers). You can thank me later!

The Best Liquid Blush, Listed

• Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush
• Best “Lit-From-Within” Glow: Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush
• Best Long-Lasting Finish: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush
• Best for Enhancing Rosiness: Perricone MD No Makeup Blush
• Best Shade Availability: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush

Who What Wear Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wears the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush in Vivid Coral.

Best “Lit-from-Within” Glow: Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush

Best for a Barely There Look: Rodial Blush Drops

Best Skincare-Infused Formula: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush

Best Long-Lasting Finish: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush

Thomas wearing the Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush in Imagine.

Best Flawless Application: e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Blush

Best Universal Shade: Trish McEvoy Liquid Face Color

Best for On-the-Go Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beauty Blush Wand

Thomas wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk.

Best for Enhancing Rosiness: Perricone MD No Makeup Blush

Best Texture-Blurring Finish: Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Liquid Blush

Best for Multipurpose Benefits: Drunk Elephant O-Bloos Rosi Drops

Best Shade Availability: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

Best Affordable Option: SheGlam Color Bloom Liquid Blush

What To Look For

When shopping for a liquid blush to add to your makeup routine, keep in mind what your personal goals are for your desired looks. Would you like a liquid blush for bold looks that are more editorial? Or is it best to go with a product that can add a natural, “just pinched” flush to your complexion? Next, consider how you’d like the product to be applied (with warm fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush). If you’re testing a product in store, take note of how quickly its formula blends in the skin, as well as if it can be layered with other products without creating any pilling or separating.

Finally, compare and contrast the ingredients of your formulas. While some blush formulas may be uniquely infused with skin-loving ingredients that work to not only enhance but nourish your complexion and offer a sheer finish, others may possess multitasking formulas that can be used on the cheeks, lips, and wherever else you’d like to add color.

How We Chose

In all honesty, I believed all the liquid blushes performed as expected when it came to ease of application and longevity. This time around, the biggest deciding factors for me were the amount of pigment each formula could provide and how the they looked against my deep skin tone. For example, I usually don’t use light pink shades (those with a white base), because they tend to read gray against my complexion. Instead, I gravitate towards pink shades that are orange or red based since they bring out my undertones and add dimension to my otherwise round face.

I also paid special attention to how well the formulas could be layered and blended with other products. While I would describe myself as a makeup minimalist, I do like to play with layering products through underpainting for a natural-looking finish. The liquid blushes shared in the the top five list are the ones that look good against my skin tone as well as layer and blend well with highlighter, concealer, and foundation.

Why Trust Us

Since the official launch in 2006, Who What Wear has defined itself as a leading digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication. Through out first-person testing, reviews, and expert input, the goal is to provide our readers with products to help define and evolve their personal style and to shop smart. Think of Who What Wear as your #1 source for inspiration across beauty and fashion.

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.