Affordable drugstore blush options for all skin types
Need to add some drama to a makeup routine? Learn about finding the right blush on a budget.
Blush! Makeup users can't get enough of it. This pigmented product is definitely having a moment, with its almost magical ability to breathe vitality into any look.
And with the spotlight of internet influencers — and the various tendencias they're trying out for the camera - both luxury and drugstore brands are keeping up. More and more blush options are hitting the shelves, including crema, liquid y polvo formulas.
To reap the ultimate rewards of rosy cheeks, getting matched with the right formula is a must. Never fear. New York City based celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa and Houston based beauty influencer Rose Siard can help makeup lovers find the right blush formulas for every skin type and skin tone.
En este artículo:
What color blush should someone wear?
Blush is sold in dozens of colors (usually in shades of orange, pink and red), with the majority falling in the rosy sector. Each blush color is then tinted with cool or warm undertones, which is why some blushes work better for some skin tones than others. So which one works best for each skin tone?
Figueroa notes that soft pinks with cooler undertones work best on fair skin tones. Peaches and corals look best on medium skin tones, while more vibrant colors, like plums and oranges, tend to be most fitting for darker skin tones, she explains.
But here's the thing: There's no hard and fast rule when it comes to blush. "Almost all shades can be worn effectively by the entire range of skin tones," Siard says. You just need the confidence to give colors outside your comfort zone a try.
"I look at blush the same way I look at eye shadow," Siard says. "Someone can use vibrant colors to express themselves or as a way to add subtle color and warmth to their face."
The best blush for each skin type
Let's dive into skin type. Even the best color blush won't be any fun if it doesn't wear well and isn't friendly to skin.
The best blush for dry skin
Cream and liquid blushes work well with dry skin, notes Siard. The reason? These supple, more fluid formulations apply more evenly.
With this in mind, both Figueroa and Siard suggest reaching for the Milani Cheek Kiss cream blush. “This blush is great to give a hydrated look to the skin with a pop of color and can be used on the cheeks and lips,” Figueroa says.
The best blush for oily skin
Since oily skin has a tendency to look quite shiny, powder blushes are a great option. Siard points out that a fabulous powder blush is the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24 hour Fresh Wear soft matte blush, which is known for its impressive color payoff and smooth application.
To apply powder blush for the best result, Siard likes to use an asymmetrical, semidense synthetic fiber brush. But it's all about personal preference, so pick a blush cepillo accordingly.
Figueroa prefers to use a fluffy brush, like the Real Techniques blush brush. “I like to take the brush, smile and swipe from the cheekbones to the temples for a lifted look,” she says.
Siard is a particularly big fan of powder blush because it stays put on the face, both in terms of location and longevity. That said, she admits that powder blush can look patchy if it's applied over unset foundation.
Consider applying a setting powder on top of foundation before adding powder blush.
The best blush for mature skin
Mature skin tends to be on the drier side. It's also more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. That leads both Figueroa and Siard to suggest a liquid or cream formula. Opting for a powder blush, they warn, can actually enhance the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Some powder formulas are hydrating, though, like the Physicians Formula - Rubor con mantequilla de murumuru. "This blush formula is rich in nutrients while giving major color payoff," Figueroa says, noting that it works well for combination skin, too. "It makes the skin feel soft and is more of a mix of a powder and cream blush."
If you are in the market for a liquid blush, however, keep an eye out for products with expansive shade ranges and, if possible, convenient wand applicators. And note this: It's much easier to over apply liquid and cream formulas than powder blushes, Figueroa warns.
The best blush for darker skin tones
While Siard notes that nearly all blushes can be enjoyed by all skin types, Figueroa emphasizes that some shades do look better on dark skin tones. She suggests brighter pinks, plums and oranges because the highly pigmented cheek products will show up more vividly.
With that in mind, those with darker skin tones should consider stocking their makeup bags with blushes like Pixi On-the-Glow blush in Ruby.
The best blush for fair skin
Again, almost all shades of blush can be worn by all skin types. But there are some that pop on fairer skin. Figueroa favors light peach shades for pale skin tones. Stick to light colors, such as baby or rosy pink. And if someone has pink-toned skin, they may want to aim for cool undertones and yellow-based blushes to counteract that.
Consider Pixi On-the-Glow blush in Fleur or CoverGirl TrueBlend So Flushed in Coral Crush.
Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult with your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.
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FOR HELP MAKEUP LOVERS FIND THE RIGHT BLUSH FORMULAS FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE AND SKIN TONE SOURCE 1: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR HELP MAKEUP LOVERS FIND THE RIGHT BLUSH FORMULAS FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE AND SKIN TONE SOURCE 2: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR SOFT PINKS WITH COOLER UNDERTONES WORK BEST ON FAIR SKIN TONES SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR ALMOST ALL SHADES CAN BE WORN EFFECTIVELY BY THE ENTIRE RANGE OF SKIN TONES SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR USE VIBRANT COLORS TO EXPRESS YOURSELF OR AS A WAY TO ADD SUBTLE COLOR AND WARMTH SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR CREAM AND LIQUID BLUSHES WORK WELL WITH DRY SKIN SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR GIVE A HYDRATED LOOK TO THE SKIN WITH A POP OF COLOR SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR REACHING FOR THE MILANI CHEEK KISS CREAM BLUSH SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR IMPRESSIVE COLOR PAYOFF AND SMOOTH APPLICATION SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR ASYMMETRICAL, SEMIDENSE SYNTHETIC FIBER BRUSH SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR USE A FLUFFY BRUSH SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR POWDER BLUSH STAYS PUT ON THE FACE, BOTH IN TERMS OF LOCATION AND LONGEVITY SOURCE: Rose Siard, interview, October 2023.
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FOR MATURE SKIN TENDS TO BE ON THE DRIER SIDE SOURCE: National Institute on Aging. Skin care and aging. Updated February 11, 2025.
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FOR SUGGEST A LIQUID OR CREAM FORMULA SOURCE 1: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR SUGGEST A LIQUID OR CREAM FORMULA SOURCE 2: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR MAKES THE SKIN FEEL SOFT AND IS MORE OF A MIX OF A POWDER AND CREAM BLUSH SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR BRIGHTER PINKS, PLUMS AND ORANGES BECAUSE THE HIGHLY PIGMENTED CHEEK PRODUCTS WILL SHOW UP MORE VIVIDLY SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.
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FOR AIM FOR COOL UNDERTONES AND YELLOW-BASED BLUSHES SOURCE: Nydia Figeroa, interview, October 2023.