My Oily Skin Has Never Got on With Blusher—Then I Tried These 7 Cheek Tints

Best Overall Cheek Tint

When it comes to TikTok-viral blushes, Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tints are one of the most widely shared cheek products of the last couple of years. Before trying it myself, I must admit that I thought it all seemed a little gimmicky and thought that the wobbly, jelly-like stick had been designed purely to be eye-catching and shareable online. However, I’m happy to admit when I’m wrong. This is one of the best cheek tints I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. And while I think that many skin types will get on well with it, it’s particularly brilliant for oily skin as it really does stay put until you take it off.

Best Cheek Tint for Subtle Glow

If you’re new to using cheek tints or simply prefer your makeup on the more natural side, then this will be right up your street. Brimming with skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, niacinamide to brighten and jojoba oil to moisturise, it is (as the name suggests) a dewy formulation that I think drier skin types will really love. It feels nourishing and cushiony when applied and, unlike other cheek tints, has a pleasing amount of blending time so you don’t need to rush with this one. The result is a kind of plump, peachy glow, but if you want something with more of an obvious colour pay-off, then this might not be for you. This is definitely a subtle, “lit from within” wash of colour rather than an obvious colour pop. But for a subtle, pared-back tint, it’s sheer perfection.

Best Long-Lasting Cheek Tint

Arguably the original cheek tints, there’s been a bottle of this iconic rosy stain in my makeup stash on and off for the best part of the last two decades. (And that’s only because makeup goes off—I’ve never actually made it to the end of a bottle, as you only need to use the smallest amount.) This gives a really classic flushed cheek look, the kind that makes it look like you’ve just got back from a bracing walk. It works really well on all skin tones, thanks to its buildability too. It has a watery formula which can be layered up depending on whether you want a really subtle or more vibrant effect. Although, be warned, it can take some practice to apply. I find that dotting it on and then immediately blending it out with my fingers works best, while others suggest dotting it onto your fingertips and applying that way. That said, once you’ve got the hang of it, it really cannot be rivalled in terms of staying power—it lasts from morning until night without shifting, so it’s great if you’re someone who wants their makeup to stay put.

Best Cheek Tint for Dry Skin

A makeup bestseller since the ‘70s, Clinique’s Black Honey lipstick has been enjoying something of a resurgence in recent years with a new generation of makeup wearers discovering the versatility of this sheer berry shade. Inspired by its comeback, Clinique launched a new iteration of the colour in this lip and cheek oil formulation. Offering the staying power of a cheek tint but with the hydration of cream or balm, this stuff is infused with nourishing oils like sunflower and jojoba to create a colour that melts into the skin and nourishes parched complexions. Unlike other tints that offer multipurpose benefits, this works genuinely well as a glossy lip oil too, so it really is a brilliant multitasker. The only downside? The sheeny finish means it does feel a little tacky as it doesn’t entirely dry down, but it’s worth it for that beautiful berry glow in my opinion.

Best Cheek Tint for Inclusive Shade Range

Admittedly, it was the range of shades that impressed me initially about this product—with soft peaches, rich berries and sunkissed bronze hues, there really is a colour to appeal to everyone. However, on swiping it on, I was glad to discover that the formula itself lives up to the shade range. Although it’s described as a liquid blush, this has all the staying power of a classic cheek tint to me. And I’d put some of that staying power down to the fact that once it’s settled onto the skin, you’re left with a natural, almost demi-matte finish that has just the right amount of radiance. Plus, once you’ve dotted it onto your skin, you have plenty of time to blend it out, layer it up and generally create the exact flush of colour that you’re looking for. And if you naturally have a lot of texture in your skin, like I do with large pores and scarring, then this also does a brilliant job of almost blurring over and plumping the complexion while it adds colour.

Best Multi-Purpose Cheek Tint

Despite launching to a huge amount of hype back in 2021, this cheek tint is the first product that I’ve tried from Pleasing, and it’s certainly convinced me to give more of the lineup a go. I’d describe this as a cheek tint for beginners as it requires none of that fast blending action before it dries down—instead, it’s more like a lip balm for your face. A buttery, oil-rich formula that glides on much more like a classic cream blush than a tint. However, like some of my favorite cheek tints on this list, what it does deliver is that natural, sheer flush of colour with just the right amount of glow. And while many of these tints promise to work just as well on lips as they do on cheeks, this one genuinely does. In fact, since testing these, they’ve become a staple in both my makeup bag and my handbag, thanks to the way they make it so fast and easy to add a pop of colour to your face. Sure, the staying power might not be amazing, but when the packaging is this portable, who cares? Touching up on the go is easy.

Best Cheek Tint for All Skin Tones

I’d place good money on the fact that we’ll be seeing this new cheek tint from Dolce & Gabbana absolutely everywhere this summer. The fact that it looks bright purple in the bottle is enough to guarantee it viral status, but luckily, it actually delivers as a brilliant cheek tint that’s worth the money, too. A truly personalised blush, the liquid inside is a pH-reacting formulation that transforms from its almost luminescent shade of violet into a shade that suits your complexion. For me, that’s a soft petal pink with the most beautiful sheen—that generally looks like my cheeks have just naturally flushed. It does have a dewiness to it, which means I wasn’t expecting it to last all that well on me, but it does have a decent amount of staying power. And if you do want to touch it up, you’ll be more than happy to pull out the playfully chic tube to do so.