Until recently, blusher was very much an afterthought in my makeup bag—I relied upon mascara to make me look awake and bronzer to add a glow to my skin. If I was doing a full face of makeup, I'd maybe add a few dabs of a muted blusher to my cheeks, but more often than not I'd skip the step altogether. To be quite honest, blusher always felt a bit scary—after all it can be so easy to overdo application, and as someone with a lot of rosy tones within their skin, I was always concerned about looking overly flushed.
Then I discovered cream and liquid blushers and everything changed. Not only are cream and liquid formulas significantly easier to apply than their powder counterparts, but they never look cakey. I've also found them to be longer lasting, and I love the fact that, unlike powders, they don't settle in or draw attention to my acne scarring, or to dry patches or fine lines.
It's this very perk in fact, which makes cream and liquid formulas the best blushers for mature skin. "Focusing on creamy, hydrating textures and luminous finishes will help achieve a fresh, glowing look that complements mature skin beautifully," says makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis. "This is because mature skin types benefit from blushers that are hydrating, blendable, and provide a youthful, natural glow."
Shop the Best Blushers for Mature Skin:
- Nars Liquid Blush
- Beauty Pie Supercheek Cream Blush
- Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
- Trinny London Flush Blush
- Glossier Cloud Paint
- Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge
- Merit Flush Balm
- Jones Road The Best Blush
- Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
- Rhode Pocket Blush
- Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
- Refy Cream Blush
- Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint
What should you avoid in blushers for mature skin?
As we get older, skin naturally becomes drier and loses volume, resulting in it feeling thinner and looser. This means it creases much more easily, leading to fine lines and wrinkles appearing. "Avoid matte and overly powdery formulas which can emphasise dryness and fine lines, and also dull the face," advises Nguyen-Grealis. "Glitter-heavy blushes can settle into wrinkles too." When it comes to choosing blusher colours, she recommends avoiding very dark or overly bright shades, which can sometimes look too harsh.
How should you apply blusher to mature skin?
"Ensure the skin is well-moisturised and primed to create a smooth canvas," says Nguyen-Grealis. "Smile gently and apply blush to the highest point of the apples of your cheeks, blending upwards toward the temples. Avoid applying too close to the nose or too low, which can drag the face down."
As for the best tools to use to apply blusher to mature skin? "Use a damp makeup sponge, your fingers, or a soft brush to blend the product for a natural finish," says Nguyen-Grealis. "If needed, lightly set with translucent powder to avoid overemphasising texture while maintaining a luminous finish."
The Best Blushers for Mature Skin:
1. Nars Liquid Blush
Formula: Liquid
Number of shades: 3
Finish: Subtly shimmery
Just a few tiny dots of this pigmented liquid formula makes light work of adding a rosy flush to cheeks—simply dab on with your fingertips for truly effortless application. The addition of monoi and tamanu oils makes it a great option for dry skin or for those who seek a radiant and glowy finish. For a universally-flattering result, opt for the shade Orgasm—a peachy-pink hue which has become something of a cult classic.
Customer Review: "Everything about this blush is superb. It is buildable and definitely stays on your cheeks like it says. I will definitely be buying this blush again."
2. Beauty Pie Supercheek Cream Blush
Price shown is member price.
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 8
Finish: Radiant matte
This blush is one of the best Beauty Pie products, hands down. The buttery texture melts into cheeks to bestow a sheer tint to the cheeks that isn't overly dewy nor matte—it's the perfect radiant middle ground.
Customer Review: "This is my second pot of this blush. I chose Universal Pink to compliment the other color I have. It is heavily pigmented and glides on smoothly. I'm 74, have nice skin, but I'm done with powder blush. I just LOVE using this creamy blush. "
3. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
Formula: Liquid
Number of shades: 7
Finish: High gloss, pearlescent
One of Nguyen-Grealis' top picks, this liquid blusher is perfect for mature skin that's looking dull and tired, since it delivers a healthy dose of glow as well as colour. What's more, the sheer solution and built-in sponge applicator makes it impossible to overdo.
Customer Review: "If I had to chose one makeup item to wear, THIS IS IT! It makes my cheeks the perfect shade of rosy as well as dewy/shimmery! I am obsessed. It looks so good when you have a tan as well. Makes your every day make up so much more elevated."
4. Trinny London Flush Blush
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 6
Finish: Luminous glow
Those who seek a natural-looking finish will love the muted shade range and subtle glowy finish offered by these easy-to-apply cream blushers. Expect a delicate hint of colour that lasts in place all day.
Customer Review: "I really love this blush. It's very creamy without being tacky or sticky on your skin. It's definitely buildable, so you can have as much or as little as you want, and a little goes a long way."
5. Glossier Cloud Paint
Formula: Liquid
Number of shades: 11
Finish: Sheer glow
A staple in many a makeup artist's kit (including Nguyen-Grealis'), Glossier's iconic Cloud Paint blushers are one of the brand's most-loved and bestselling products. They're highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, but the sheer, liquid formula blends seamlessly onto even the most textured skin. Plus, the tiny tubes will last you a surprisingly long time.
Customer Review: "I’ve been loyal to this blush from 2019, a little goes a long way for me and I just recently picked up a few new shades. Cannot express how much I love them, I use them almost everyday and in every single makeup routine I have. You can’t go wrong with Cloud Paint."
6. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 9
Finish: Dewy tint
Another makeup artist staple and cult classic, Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge does double duty as both cheek tint and lip tint. The sheer formula is well-suited to mature skin types, and is also impossible to overdo—simply dab on and blend out using your fingertips.
Customer Review: "Lovely blusher, stays on my face for ages and so easy to apply with a couple of dabs on my fingertips. This little pots lasts forever too!"
7. Merit Flush Balm
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 13
Finish: Satin matte
One of my personal favourites, Merit's cream blushers are definitely amongst the more long-lasting formulas that I've tried, so if you want a blusher that looks as good at 8PM as it did at 8AM, look no further. The satin matte finish gives cheeks a truly natural-looking finish, and the shade range caters to all preferences and skin tones, from light and neutral to bright and deep hues.
Customer Review: "These flush balm blushes are very moisturising. I prefer to use this on days when I do no makeup looks or extreme minimal makeup when I want a really skin-like finish. This did dry down to a satiny powder feel with a radiant look but more satin matte feel. Stunning colour too. I love this warm taupe-y colour rich and perfect for this time of year."
8. Jones Road The Best Blush
Formula: Powder
Number of shades: 5
Finish: Subtle shimmer
If you do prefer a powder blush, this would be my top recommendation. The formula actually blends really smoothly across skin and doesn't cling to dry or textured areas—thanks to the addition of squalane—and a hint of shimmer adds a noticeable brightening effect to skin.
Customer Review: "I love the blush. It’s buildable, and the colour is natural. I’m going to be 70 in a month and it looks wonderful on my skin."
9. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 8
Finish: Natural flush
Hydrating berryflux vita, jojoba seed oil, and vitis vita grape extract help to make this formula nourishing for skin and easy to apply—it truly melts onto skin. While the price may seem steep, rest assured that a little goes a long way—this blush will be a staple in your makeup bag all year long. Read our full review of Westman Atelier's Baby Cheeks Blush Stick.
Customer Review: "Such a gorgeous blush, looks very luxurious and i love the minimalist packaging. The formula glides on so effortlessly and it’s easy to blend with fingers of brush. Perfect pigment and it doesn’t disturb makeup underneath. The magnetic closure is another plus."
10. Rhode Pocket Blush
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 6
Finish: Natural glow
Scroll through the reviews and you'll see that this blusher is loved by a wide range of skin types and ages—and for good reason. The formula isn't overly pigmented, so is easy to apply, and can be built up if you do prefer a noticeably rosy finish. What's more, it lasts incredibly well—no midday top-ups required.
Customer Review: "I love this blush! Very pretty neutral colour on me that immediately awakens my face. Great application and wear too."
11. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 13
Finish: Soft flush
This one does require a little more skill to apply, so is perhaps not the best option to go for if you're a total newbie to applying liquid blusher. it's super-pigmented, so you only need a tiny dot on each cheek, then a fluffy brush to blend out the colour. The result is a fresh, natural-looking flush, that doesn't settle in or emphasise fine lines and wrinkles.
Customer Review: "Love how this liquid blush is super pigmented and a little goes a long way, it looks and feels amazing and there is a wide range of shades available, perfect for every skin tone."
12. Refy Cream Blush
Formula: Cream
Number of shades: 5
Finish: Natural and dewy
This was the product that made me fall in love with cream blushers in the first place. The formula is sheer and dewy so never looks cakey nor does it draw attention to textural irregularities in my skin.
Customer Review: "This is such a beautiful colour of cream blush that blends so effortlessly. I don't typically set my face with powder much anymore and it will still look good by the end of a work day! Buildable and soft."
13. Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint
Formula: Jelly
Number of shades: 5
Finish: Sheer gloss
Combining the benefits of liquid and cream formulas in one, this unique jelly-textured blusher is another brilliant option for mature skin types. The sheer, glossy finish adds a subtle tint of colour and a fresh, healthy sheen to skin.
Customer Review: "I absolutely LOVE this product. Its so easy to use and lasts forever on the cheeks, even without makeup. If you are scared of the darker shades, try the newer shades. They’re softer and not as intense."
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