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There’s something oddly aspirational about that flushed, sun-drenched glow you’d get as a kid, cheeks tinged and nose kissed red. The best red blushes aim to recreate that exact effect: warm, radiant, and effortless, but without the sting of a sunburn or the unpredictability of a full-face flush. Long viewed as intimidating, red blush has made a serious comeback as a surprisingly wearable essential that mimics the way skin naturally warms up. It’s less about trend and more about tone: The right red brings life to the skin in a way that pinks and peaches just don’t. But choosing the right formula (and knowing how to apply it) is everything.
Our Top Red Blushes
- Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint in Flaming Red, $39
- Best Powder Blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder in Watermelon Bliss, $32
- Best Long-Wearing: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint in Spritz, $26
- Best Matte Finish: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed in Red Velvet, $25
- Best Cream Blush: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Daiquiri Dip, $28
- Best Color Payoff: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Love, $25
- Best Dewy Finish: Pat McGrath Lab Divine Cream Blush: Legendary Glow Color Balm in Electric Bloom Glow, $29
- Best True Red: Juvia’s Place Blushed Cream Blush in Cheeky Cherry, $16
- Best Drugstore Blush: Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Merlot Moment, $10
- Best Blush Palette: Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Cabana Club, $19
If you’re looking for guidance on how to nail that perfectly sunburnt flush, you’re in the right place. We tapped makeup artists to share their insights on everything from undertone-matching to strategic placement based on face shape. Paired with editor-tested favorites—across powders, creams, stains, and sticks. This curation of red blushes has something for every finish, formula, and flush intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint in Flaming Red
Why we love it: We’re all looking to achieve that radiant sunburnt flush without the actual sunburn, and Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush in Flaming Red does just that. This liquid formula glides on like a serum, delivering a sheer wash of color that blends seamlessly with either your fingers or a brush. The doe-foot applicator makes placement intuitive: one dot for a soft, flush look, two for a lifted, sculpted look, and three for a full-glam finish. Infused with Armani’s Micro–fil technology, it blends into the skin without streaks or patches and lasts all day without fading.
“I’ve always shied away from red blush, as it can quickly look intense. (There’s a fine line between a sexy, demure flush and looking like you’re performing at a kid’s party with a squeaky red nose.) But this blush changed my mind about fiery tones. Yes, it’s pigmented (so applying it gradually is key), but it blends beautifully into a natural-looking ‘I just had a really great date’ kind of flush. It sets in place for hours, too—lasting through that date and whatever might follow.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
- Blush type: liquid
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: micro–fil technology
- Red shade options: Flaming Red
Best Powder Blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder in Watermelon Bliss
Why we love it: If you’re looking to commit to a serious punch of red, opt for Haus Labs’ Color Fuse Blush in Watermelon Bliss. The vivid, pigmented powder glides on smoothly without clinging to texture or requiring multiple applications, while the fruit-inspired shade strikes the perfect balance as a true red with subtle warmth. The soft, natural finish makes the formula easy for everyday wear, but it’s also buildable enough to push into bolder, editorial territory.
Beyond its impressive color performance, the ingredient list elevates this blush into skincare territory. Fermented arnica works to calm redness and irritation, while hydraberry extract from red raspberries provides hydration and strengthens the skin barrier. Squalane and shea butter help keep your cheeks conditioned throughout the day.
“My friends say I suffer from blush blindness, and honestly, they might be right. I can’t get enough of the Haus Labs Powder Blushes, especially the Watermelon Bliss shade. As a certified dewy gal, I try to avoid looking too glowy in the heat since it can be mistaken for oily. So I opt for a powder blush, which helps balance my radiant routine, giving my look a more natural finish—neither ultra dewy nor overly matte. With just one swipe, I’m able to add that bright pop of color that ties my look together. It’s velvety and incredibly pigmented, which speaks to how rich and high-quality the formula is.” —Bianca Richards, senior media manager
- Blush type: powder
- Finish: natural
- Key ingredients: fermented arnica, hydraberry, squalane
- Red shade options: Watermelon Bliss, French Rosette
Best Long-Wearing: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint in Spritz
Why we love it: While the jelly texture—cool to the touch and bouncy on swipe—is what gets your attention at first, Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tint is a game-changer for blushes in other ways. With the uptick in all things stain, you can get buildable color payoff—from barely-there to in-your-face—and all-day wear in this pocket-size tube. The finish is natural and dries down fast enough to avoid transfer, while allowing you time to blend. “Spritz” is a vibrant coral-red that instantly wakes up the face, especially when tapped across cheeks and lips for that cohesive, sun-flushed effect. It’s also infused with aloe, seawater, and vegan collagen, ingredients that feel especially right for warm-weather wear.
“A blush stain can be quite intimidating, and this one from Milk Makeup, if not applied correctly, can be a recipe for disaster (I know from experience). However, with much trial and error, I found that using a blush brush instead of applying the blush stick directly to my face allowed for a more naturally diffused look that I can build up. It stays all day and is great for layering under foundation for a natural flush.” —Jailynn Taylor, contributor
- Blush type: gel
- Finish: natural
- Key ingredients: collagen, aloe, seawater
- Red shade options: Chill, Spritz
Best Matte Finish: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed in Red Velvet
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed in Red Velvet
Why we love it: Many cream blushes stay dewy, but this one from Danessa Myricks sets like a powder. The Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder melts in like a balm, then sets to a blurred matte finish that diffuses texture and grips like nothing else. The transformation is instant: buttery on application, with an airbrushed finish once blended. “Red Velvet” is a vivid, deep red that builds from a sheer flush to full-impact glam depending on your application.
On the cheeks, it sculpts, and on the lips, it stains, so you can achieve a monochromatic look with just one product. The formula’s upsalite technology controls oil and sweat for serious staying power, while hyaluronic acid and olive-derived squalane ensure the matte finish stays smooth, not cakey or dry. Making this an ideal red blush for those with oily or combination skin types who usually avoid creams.
“If I can’t see a blush shade on my skin at first swipe, then it doesn’t pass my brown girl test. Not only does this blush appear, it pops after one quick dab! I always recommend it to my friends with darker skin tones who want a blush with powerful pigment that lasts. It’s got a cream-to-powder formula that blends and builds easily, so you can go subtle flushed belle or full on ’80s disco diva.”—Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
- Blush type: cream
- Finish: matte
- Key ingredients: upsalite, olive-derived squalane, hyaluronic acid
- Red shade options: Red Velvet
Best Cream Blush: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Daiquiri Dip
Fenty Beauty
Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Daiquiri Dip
Why we love it: If there’s one red blush that can stand up to heat, humidity, and a night of dancing, it’s Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush. The formula is light-as-air and melts into skin on contact, creating a smooth, natural-looking flush that resists sweat and won’t feel greasy or heavy. Daiquiri Dip, a vibrant coral-red shade, may look intense in the compact, but it blends down into a sheer, buildable wash of color. The formula is effortless to apply with just your fingers or a brush and won’t disturb your foundation.
Tester feedback from Taylor
“For me, it’s second nature to reach for a cream blush, and when summer rolls around, it’s Fenty Beauty Cheeks Suede Powder Blush in Daiquiri Dip or Big Melons. It glides on my skin like butter, and if I mess up, it’s easy to adjust. It offers a buildable flush of color and lasts all day, despite sweating or touching my face.” —Jailynn Taylor, contributor
- Blush type: cream
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: vitamin E, silica
- Red shade options: Daiquiri Dip, Big Melons
Best Color Payoff: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Love
Rare Beauty
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Love
Why we love it: A single dot of Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush goes a long way. It’s one of the most pigmented formulas on the market, but still manages to blend like a second skin. “Love” is a terracotta-leaning red with an ultra-light, almost watery texture, so it sinks in fast and sets without caking or clinging to the texture. The formula is infused with a calming botanical blend of lotus, gardenia, and white water lily to soothe the skin throughout the day. The doe-foot applicator lets you control exactly how much you use (again, start small), and the finish dries down to a blurred matte that lasts up to 12 hours. This is the blush you reach for when you need it to last all day—no touch-ups, no surprises.
Expert feedback from Brooklyn-based makeup artist Jada Marie
“Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has won me over—it’s smooth, creamy, and blends like a dream, especially when applied before concealer. I reach for it during full-glam looks because it holds its pigment all day, which is a must for clients who have a special event. I appreciate the range of shades, which caters to different skin tones and undertones. Since it’s a liquid, I like to tap it in gently to keep that punch of color without over-blending into the base. I also apply it with my finger over fully set and dry powders since it’s silicone-based and has little trouble blending nicely with other products already on the face.” —Jada Marie, makeup artist
- Blush type: liquid
- Finish: matte
- Key ingredients: lotus, gardenia, white water lily
- Red shade options: Love, Grateful
Best Dewy Finish: Pat McGrath Lab Divine Cream Blush: Legendary Glow Color Balm in Electric Bloom Glow
Pat McGrath Labs
Divine Cream Blush: Legendary Glow Color Balm in Electric Bloom Glow
Why we love it: The Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush Legendary Glow Color Balm is like a highlighter and blush in one, and the Electric Bloom Glow shade delivers a radiant, vivid red flush with a glass-skin sheen. Formulated with shea butter to moisturize, squalane to smooth and balance oil, and passionfruit extract to support collagen and fight free radicals, this blush nourishes skin while adding buildable color and diffuses onto skin without feeling greasy, leaving a healthy, dewy finish that mimics the glow of freshly facialed skin. The color payoff is versatile, too: Swipe it directly on for intense saturation or tap and blend with fingers for a sheer, sun-kissed wash.
Expert feedback from Marie
“Pat McGrath’s Divine Blush Skin Fetish is my go-to when I want that full glam moment—it’s luxe, pigmented, and astonishingly blurs texture like a pressed powder. The ultra-fine blush blends into the skin without overdrying, and I love that there are both matte and shimmer options to choose from. It’s perfect for anyone who wants that polished, airbrushed finish with buildable coverage. I use it on myself and clients when I need a long-lasting formula—think red carpet, bridal, or editorial glams!” —Jada Marie, makeup artist
- Blush type: cream
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: shea butter, squalane, passion fruit extract
- Red shade options: Electric Bloom Glow
Best True Red: Juvia’s Place Blushed Cream Blush in Cheeky Cherry
Juvia’s Place
Blushed Cream Blush in Cheeky Cherry
Why we love it: If you’ve been hunting for a true, fire-engine red blush, look no further than Juvia’s Place Blushed Cream Blush & Lip Tint in Cheeky Cherry. This high-impact multitasker pulls double duty as a cheek and lip tint with a creamy and velvety, second-skin texture that blends effortlessly and never leaves skin feeling oily. Cheeky Cherry can be tapped on for a sheer tint or layered for full-on editorial drama, all while giving skin a dewy glow.
“I love the Juvia’s Place cream blush because it has the most beautiful cherry/blue-red undertone. No orange in sight. It has a true blood-red undertone that universally looks good. The cream texture is easy to work with and is best applied with a sponge or dense face brush made for creams and liquids.” —Zak Taylor, makeup artist
- Blush type: cream
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: n/a
- Red shade options: Cheeky Cherry, Very Berry
Best Drugstore Blush: Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Merlot Moment
Milani
Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Merlot Moment
Why we love it: Milani’s Cheek Kiss Cream Blush is proof that you don’t need to splurge to get a gorgeous red flush. The Merlot Moment shade is a rich wine-red that gives cheeks that just-bitten, romantic flush. The balm-to-gel formula glides on like a dream and blends effortlessly for a sheer wash or builds up to a more dramatic, sculpted finish. You can apply it with a brush or fingers (no streaks either way), and thanks to its lightweight texture, it layers without pilling or patchiness. Pomegranate, watermelon, and rose extracts bring a touch of hydration, while vitamins A, C, and E help brighten and protect. At just $11, this blush delivers a luxe finish that rivals products triple the price.
Expert feedback from Taylor
“I keep the Milani cream blush in my freelance kit because I love how small the packaging is and how easy it is to travel with. This one has more of a neutral red undertone to it. It’s not a bright, shocking red, so it doesn’t take as long to blend in, and I find it can look a lot more natural. This particular shade I love using on medium skin tones who want a blush that’s on the softer side.” —Zak Taylor, makeup artist
- Blush type: cream
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: pomegranate extract, rose extract, vitamin E
- Red shade options: Merlot Moment
Best Blush Palette: Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Cabana Club
Morphe
Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Cabana Club
Why we love it: Why settle for one red blush when you can have three? The Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Cabana Club offers a tonal trio of cream, balm, and powder, all in the same vibrant watermelon shade, allowing you to layer or tailor to your desired finish. The satin cream gives a dewy flush, the luminous balm amps up glow, and the velvet powder diffuses everything into a soft blur. Together, they create a dimensional look that mimics how skin naturally flushes in sunlight. Plus, it’s infused with hydrating avocado oil, softening mango butter, and antioxidant-rich phytomucin for a formula that treats while it tints.
Expert feedback from Taylor
“This Morphe blush trio has everything you’d want. Inside the same compact, you get a highly pigmented cream blush, a highlight balm in a similar color (I love to mix the highlight balm with the cream blush when I want a sparkle in the blush), and lastly, a powder blush to set it all with. This blush shade is more of a vibrant, summery red—red with a pink undertone, for sure.” —Zak Taylor, makeup artist
- Blush type: cream, balm, powder
- Finish: satin, shimmer, matte
- Key ingredients: phytomucin, avocado oil, mango butter
- Red shade options: Cabana Club, Wine & Dine
Frequently Asked Questions
What skin tone looks good with red blush?
Red blush works across all skin tones—it’s just a matter of choosing the right shade and applying it with intention. “Red blush looks amazing on everyone—it’s all about finding the right shade and application,” Jada Marie, a makeup artist based in Brooklyn, explains, “For fair skin, go for a soft, sheer red and build it up slowly to avoid the red overpowering your complexion. Medium to olive tones look stunning in deeper reds that bring warmth and dimension. And for dark to deep skin, rich, bold reds pop beautifully and give a striking effect.”
Zak Taylor, an Indianapolis-based makeup artist, compares red blush to a red lip: universally flattering when applied well. “It will ultimately depend on the application and placement. Just as red lips are universal, I feel the same way about red blush, ” Taylor says. “Out of all the blush tones available, I’ve always found red blush mimics a glow from within the skin instead of just sitting on top.”
Does red blush look more natural?
According to Taylor, a red blush can look surprisingly natural, especially when it mirrors the tones we naturally flush. “It depends on the application of the red blush, though,” he notes. “The boldness of the red is easy to get carried away with and not a very easy mistake to fix.” To avoid going overboard, Taylor prefers cream blushes for their ease and flexibility. “They’re easier to add more if needed during application, and the easiest to fix since you want to apply cream formulas while your base makeup hasn’t been set with powder products,” he explains. “You’re able to just wipe it off or blend the edges with your other base products.”
Marie adds that choosing a red blush that aligns with your undertone is key to achieving a natural-looking result. “Warm undertones complement reds that have hints of coral, peach, or brown, while cool undertones look best with berry, raisin, or fuchsia reds. Try avoiding blushes opposite to your undertone as it can clash and make your skin look ashy or exaggerate redness. If you’ve got a neutral undertone, you’ve got options between both cool and warm blushes—try avoiding anything too bright so it doesn’t overpower your balanced complexion.”
What’s the best placement for red blush?
Blush placement isn’t universal. Marie recommends tailoring placement to your bone structure: “For round faces, blending blush slightly above the cheeks and up toward the temples helps create a more sculpted look. Square faces look best with blush on the apples of the cheeks to soften angles and create the illusion of a rounder face. If you’ve got an oval face, focus on the apples and sweep along your contour to add width. Diamond faces look great with a high blush placement, while heart-shaped faces benefit from a soft U-shape along the cheekbones and up to the temples.”
Taylor adds that where you place blush should also align with the style of makeup you’re going for. “Blush placement usually depends on the makeup style you are going for. Soft and natural looks you’ll apply on the apples of the cheeks towards the front of the face, and also swiped across the bridge of the nose, where the sun usually hits. Bolder, more glam looks you are going to want to place it higher towards the temples to lift the face.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best red blushes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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