While cream blushes melt into the skin like a dream and liquid blushes pack insane pigment (see Rare Beauty for proof), there’s just nothing like the best powder blushes. They’re easy to swipe on with a makeup brush and blend seamlessly for color that lasts for hours. Whether matte or shimmery, powder blush has to be my all-time favorite step in my makeup routine. Take it from my vanity, which is absolutely filled with them.
“Powder blush is a go-to for a reason,” concurs celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay Braha. “It’s long-lasting, easy to apply, and gives the skin a soft, velvety finish. I love using it year-round to add a pop of color to the apples of my cheeks or along the tops of my cheekbones.” It's a fool-proof recipe to looking like you got a little sun on a tropical island. That being said, it's no surprise that brands are breathing new life into the category. Saie, Kosas, Westman Atelier, and YSL have all developed upgraded formulas that promise to look silky (not cakey) on the skin.
With so many options on the table, I’ve been busy testing. Here, you'll find my all-time favorites, along with expert application tips from Braha and makeup artist Elaina Badro. Read below for the 13 best powder blushes on the market.
The Best Powder Blushes
- The Best Powder Blush Overall: Kosas Blush is Life
- The Best Highly-Pigmented Powder Blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder
- The Best New-to-Market Powder Blush: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo
- The Best Velvet-Finish Powder Blush: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush
- The Best Shimmery Powder Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
This blush has everything you could ever ask for, and then some. It's a talc-free powder blush that's baked and swirled with two different tones to create eight buildable and radiant shades. The silky smooth texture melts into the skin and blends out seamlessly with no harsh streaks or annoying glitter flecks. Not only are the stunning colors long-wearing, but they're formulated with squalene and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated and healthy all day long.
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Buildable
Shades: 8
What I Love: Melts into skin; Skin-loving ingredients; Slight radiance; Long-lasting
What I Don't: Some reviewers say the product shatters easily.
Review for MC: "The Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Blush has become my absolute favorite powder blush in my collection—specifically in shade Euphoria. The very buildable coverage and blendable texture make application so quick and easy. It also has just enough shimmer so that I don't feel the need to swipe on a highlighter, but not too much to where I'm finding annoying flakes of glitter around my face. Consider it Goldilocks. Plus, with squalene and hyaluronic acid, I feel great about packing the pigment onto the apples of my cheeks for a flush that lasts." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer.
Emma Aerin Becker uses Kosas Blush Is Life
"If you're looking for something a little bit more pigmented, I really do love the Haus Labs blushes," says Braha. "They have a lot of pigment, they are super finely milled, and they blend really easily on the skin." The six shades (including a red!) are made with fermented arnica to help reduce redness and squalene for hydration.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: High
Shades: 6
What I Love: Super pigmented; Pro-approved; Skincare ingredients; Blurring effect
What I Don't: Brighter shades can be too pigmented for some, so be sure to use a light hand!
Review for MC: "The Haus Labs blush in shade Dragon Fruit Daze had a chokehold on me and my makeup routine. With its super high pigment, the neon cool pink shade gives me a gorgeous pop of color with one to two quick swipes. The finely milled matte formula provides an amazing blurring and smoothing effect on my skin that blends out so easily. I also obviously love the skin-loving ingredients packed inside, like arnica, squalene, and vitamins C and E." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder
Just last week, Westman Atelier launched its Baby Cheeks Powder Duos, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on them. While they're a very pricey powder blush option, each product comes with two shades—either two blushes or a blush and contour. The soft matte formula is quite sheer yet super buildable, making it suitable for every level of intensity. All six shades feel super lightweight on the skin and never look streaky.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Sheer
Shades: 6
What I Love: 2-for-1 product; Buildable formula; Soft matte finish
What I Don't: Pricier than other products on this list.
Review for MC: "I was so excited to try out these powder duos, and the blush shades most certainly did not disappoint. The pigment was definitely more sheer than I anticipated, however they give off a gorgeous light flush that blends out beautifully. I also found that the soft matte formula is super easy to build up for a brighter pop that stays streak-free. I swiped shade Petal across the apples of my cheeks and blended it up to my temples for a light mauve blush, and further sculpted my face with its complimentary shade, Cool Beige Coffee. I seriously looked fresh off the beach with my make-shift tan and sun-kissed cheeks." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo
Pat McGrath never fails to develop stunning makeup products, and her Skin Fetish Divine Blush is no exception. With a satin finish, the product can look radiant when unset and matte when used underneath a setting powder. The lightweight formula glides onto the skin and boasts a medium coverage that's both buildable and colorful in its own right.
Finish: Satin
Coverage: Medium
Shades: 8
What I Love: Medium coverage; Velvety satin finish; Lightweight
What I Don't: Some reviewers find the product patchy.
Review for MC: "I don't know how many times I have repurchased the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Blush in the shade Divine Rose, and I don't want to know. I'm obsessed with the velvety satin finish that's somehow radiant without any shimmer, and yet still blurring on the skin. The medium coverage formula makes it easy to apply without going overboard and even easier to build up and blend out." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush
Braha says Hourglass makes her favorite shimmery powder blushes. "They are marbleized and have very slight, almost like a highlight effect on the skin," she explains, "which is great for summer if you're looking for something that just looks like a flush from within." The handmade powders come in seven, dimensional shades that deliver a natural radiant finish.
Finish: Shimmer
Coverage: Medium
Shades: 7
What I Love: Stunning shimmers; Pro-approved; Lit-from-within look
What I Don't: Not super long-lasting
Review for MC: "If I'm ever looking for a quick glow with a hint of color, this is the product I'm reaching for. It's like a gorgeous highlighter and blush hybrid that's so easy to swipe on and walk out the door. The shimmer isn't overpowering, and the subtle blush shade is stunning. It's super natural, but still very noticeable—great for no makeup-makeup looks. This is definitely a cult-favorite product for a reason!" — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker uses Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
Other Powder Blushes I Love
"A great ultra luxury option is the Dior Color-Awakening Blush," says Badro. "These blushes are great because they offer a range of tones. They also tend to blend really well, too, as they are super lightweight." Even Kylie Jenner swears by this product, showing it off as a staple in her 2018 King Kylie-era makeup routine.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Sheer
Shades: 6
What I Love: Pro-approved; Celeb-loved; Natural, sheer finish
What I Don't: Too sheer for some reviewers.
Customer Review: "Just bought this blush after wanting it for a while, and after testing it out, I like it! It is buildable which is perfect if you’re going for a minimal look. I’m sure it can build up very well. It blends great and looks natural." — Sephora
Saie hello to a gorgeous natural wash of color with Saie's Supersuede Baked Powder Blush. "It actually offers a flush of color, so for individuals looking for a lightweight application, this one is a great option," says Badro, who adds, "It’s also not very drying." This is due to its skincare-forward formula, which includes squalene, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Light
Shades: 6
What I Love: Diffused wash of color; Natural finish; Skincare ingredients
What I Don't: Some reviewers complain the blush is hard to blend
Customer Review: "I am absolutely in love with the Saie Blush! The formula is stunning—smooth, blendable, and gives the perfect natural flush to my cheeks. It has a beautiful, buildable color that works perfectly for any skin tone, and I love that it feels lightweight and dewy without being greasy. I’ve been using it daily, and it’s become my go-to blush! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a natural, glowing look." — Sephora
I'm a huge fan of the Armani Luminous Silk product line (their concealer is incredible), and the powder blush is incredible. The ultra-finely milled formula glides on like silk and features light-reflecting pigments that work to evenly bounce light off the face for a soft-focus, glowy effect. Consider a blush and highlight duo all wrapped up into one pan. With a few swirls of a brush in any of the eight shades, your cheeks will look full of life and lit from within.
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Light
Shades: 8
What I Love: Very glowy; Large shade range; Long-wearing
What I Don't: Some reviewers find it hard to build up color pigment.
Customer Review: "I've received so many compliments while wearing this blush (Euphoric 50). I wear it over luminous silk foundation by Armani in shade 1.5. It feels like a blush and a highlighter in one, it looks like I have a highlighter on angles of my cheeks (iykyk). This blush is definitely buildable and I love that, because sometimes I want that no makeup makeup look." — Sephora
The first of its kind, Tower 28 has granted us a setting blush, which combines the benefits of a setting powder with a richly pigmented blush for 12-hour fade-proof color and blurred skin. While we've all been told that blush is the first makeup product to fade, the Getset Matte Powder Blush has solved this problem. The product has only been out for three weeks, and yet it already has a 97% recommendation rate on Sephora with 4.8 stars.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: High
Shades: 6
What I Love: Very long-lasting; Blurring effect; High pigmentation
What I Don't: One reviewer found it too drying.
Customer Review: "I love how blurring and lightweight this powder blush is. It is the easiest blush and the color can be built up without looking like you have a ton of powder on your cheeks. It's not patchy at all although it is matte. It lasts longer than other blushes but it doesn't last all day on my cheeks. Overall I am very impressed with this blush and it makes me want to try their face setting powder now!" — Sephora
Makeup by Mario's Soft Pop Powder Blush is very aptly named—it really does give a gorgeous soft pop of the cheeks. The silky powder texture is to die for, and it comes in six different shades—three matte and two shimmer. They're super buildable and incredibly easy to blend out. It's also infused with micronized clay to restore radiance and a patented polymer for long-lasting color.
Finish: Matte and Shimmer
Coverage: Medium
Shades: 3 Matte, 2 Shimmer
What I Love: Silky powder texture; Long-lasting; Layers well over cream
What I Don't: Not suited for all skin tones
Customer Review: "This is the perfect every day blush. It leaves my cheeks looking flushed in such a beautiful and natural way. The packaging is perfect and easy to use and the product leaves my skin still looking fresh whilst not super dewy. Loveee that it doesn’t have much glitter in it!" — Sephora
While light pink loose setting powders have recently become popular for their color correcting abilities, Givenchy did it first when they created the Prisme Libre Loose Powder Blush. The four-color loose powder blush is ultra finely milled, absolutely weightless, and lasts up to 12 hours on the skin. There are six shades of the iconic formula, which are all suited for any skin tone. Pro tip: diffuse the color over the skin with a fluffy brush for a natural, second-skin finish, or pack the powder onto the cheeks for a more intense payoff.
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Buildable
Shades: 6
What I Love: Unique formula; Four shades in each product; Very buildable depending on application; Long-lasting
What I Don't: Can't promise the same exact color each time
Customer Review: "One of my favorite blushes by far. Price is definitely worth it for the color pay off and for the longevity of it without setting spray. Color is buildable and if you love scent this has a light floral in a way. Highly recommend! Will keep repurchasing." — Nordstrom
How to Apply Powder Blush
Unlike creams or liquids, powder blush doesn’t melt into the skin as easily, so application technique is key. Braha and Badro explain that to get a soft, diffused flush, use a fluffy, tapered brush to swirl into the blush. And don't forget to tap off any excess powder before applying.
Then, brush on the product at the apples of your cheeks and blend upward toward your temples for a lifted effect. To find where to start, Badro recommends smiling in the mirror to catch where your cheeks become fuller. "You can also layer blushes to add dimension or build up the color gradually for your perfect look," adds Braha.
What To Look For in a Powder Blush
"The key to a flattering finish is choosing a finely milled formula that blends smoothly without looking patchy or sitting on top of the skin," Braha says. Badro concurs, noting that "powder blushes should always apply smoothly."
Badro also shares that skin texture plays a huge role in deciding which blush is best for you. "If you have texture on your skin, I’d advise away from shimmer powder blushes and stick to mattes."
Why Trust Marie Claire
Emma Aerin Becker is an experienced beauty writer, focusing on shopping roundups, digital features, and trend stories. She's a regular contributor to Marie Claire, and has words in Byrdie, Page Six Style, People magazine, and more. She spoke with two celebrity makeup artists to compile this list of the best powder blushes
Marie Claire is also a leading blush expert, having produced content about the best blushes in every form, recently released blushes, and niche trends in the blush space. We're constantly scanning and reviewing new launches, as well.
How We Tested
For this story, we sourced editor and makeup artist-beloved drugstore blushes and tested over 11 top-selling formulas. We evaluated each blush based on finish, pigment, staying power, price, and results.
Meet The Experts
With more than 15 years of working as a professional makeup artist with M-A-C and Gucci, Elaina Badro has extensive experience working with all skin tones and skin types. She has gained international recognition through her work as a celebrity and high-fashion makeup artist, with hundreds of A-list clients including like Carrie Underwood, Olivia Wilde, Kris Jenner, Snoop Dogg, French Montana, Debby Ryan, and Big Sean. Beyond her work with celebrities, Elaina has built an eponymous luxury beauty brand.
Judi Gabbay Braha is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York. Her work has been featured in Seventeen Magazine, Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, Nylon and more. She has learned tricks of the Hollywood trade from top artists such as Mario Dedivanovic, Scott Barnes, Samuel Rauda and Patrick Ta. And, she's worked with networks such as Bravo, TLC, ABC and more.
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