I Exclusively Wear Liquid Blush—Here are the 12 Best for Just-Pinched Cheeks in Seconds

When I'm scanning the shelves of my neighborhood beauty supplier or my online bookmarked products to return to, vibrancy and pigment are at the top of my list. Since I have a deep skin tone, I'm drawn to products that not only stand out against my complexion, but also stay on all day without any touch-ups. Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush is one of go-to's because it accomplishes both in six eye-catching shades.

Size: 0.4-ounce tube with doe-foot applicator

Finish: natural

Shades: six (Vivid Coral, Rosy Peach, Intense Berry, Bold Pink, and more)

Customer Review: "Absolutely worth the hype! Colors are nice, the texture is comfortable, blush is very blendable. Can’t wait to purchase another color to try."

For as long as I can remember, I've been a fan of simple makeup looks that can effortlessly create a glow-from-within finish. This luminous liquid blush by Nars has been behind so many of the beauty inspiration pics I've pinned to my Pinterest board (and for good reason). It's lightweight, buildable, and provides long-lasting radiance with up to 8 hours of wear. In other words, it's the easiest way to achieve flawless makeup in seconds.

Size: 0.2-ounce tube with doe-foot applicator

Finish: natural

Shades: nine (Behave, Dolce Vita, Wanderlust, Brazen, and more)

If you're wondering how Who What Wear beauty editors achieve an instant glow for all our testing shots, we're probably wearing a liquid blush. When I want to create an, "I woke up like this" look, I reach for Radial's Blush Drops. In addition to enhancing your skin's natural luminosity, they provide a flush of buildable, blendable color to the cheeks. They also have an eye-catching, soft-focus pearlescent finish.

Size: 1.0-ounce bottle with dropper

Finish: natural

Shades: three (Sunset Kiss, Apricot, Frosted Pink)

Have you every tried a tinted moisturizer blush? This one, by Laura Mercier, stands out to me because it's formulated with a nourishing ingredients for hydration like raspberry seed and prickly pear. It also comes in fourteen versatile shades and two finishes offering a just-pinched glow for all skin tones. My favorite shades are Sun Drenched and Provence.

Size: 0.5-ounce tube

Finish: shimmer and crème

Shades: fourteen (Sun Drenched, Provence, Coastline, Parasol, and more)

This aptly named liquid blush is a must for anyone looking for a blush that provides skincare benefits while also reviving the complexion with a bright and lively flush of color. Hourglass' Unreal Liquid Blush delivers unreal color with 12 hours of wear time. It also works overtime to plump and hydrate the skin with a serum-like formula powered by their Unreal Lifting Complex, White Lupin Seed Extract, and hyaluronic acid.

Size: 0.3-ounce tube

Finish: natural

Shades: seven (Imagine, Vision, Craft, Future, and more)

I'm not picky with my blush shades, but e.l.f Cosmetic's Camo Liquid Blush in Bold-Faced Lilac is one of my favorite options for adding a hint of purple to makeup. Its pigment-packed formula is lightweight, creates a stunning soft, dewy finish, and works for all skin types. I'm also obsessed with the grooved, doe-foot applicator it comes with since for flawless application.

Size: 0.13 tube with grooved, doe-foot applicator

Finish: natural

Shades: 11 (Bold-Faced Lilac, Cheeky Lychee, Berry Well, Coral Crush, and more)

Of all the liquid blushes I've tested to create the 'just pinched' cheek look of my dreams, Trish McEvoy's Liquid Face Color takes the cake. Its formulated to be a universal gel face color that glides onto the cheeks for smooth, even coverage and a lit-from-within glow. I've enjoyed wearing this one alone to give my complexion a quick pick-me-up, or for a brighter, bolder look when I want some added drama.

Size: 0.1-ounce twist-up tube with brush applicator

Finish: radiant

Shades: one (Coral Pink)

There's nothing better than an easy-to-use blush that can be tucked away in your bag for quick makeup looks. Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Beauty Blush Wand has been a necessity in my makeup bag since my teen years thanks to its quick-drying formula and long-wear matte finish. Perfect for a someone constantly on-the-go like me, this is one liquid blush you won't want to miss.

Size: 0.4-ounce tube

Finish: matte

Shades: four (Dream Pop, Peach Pop, Pink Pop, Pillow Talk)

If you've been hunting for the perfect liquid blush to pull off the TikTok viral 'clean girl' or 'no makeup' makeup look, look no further than the Perricone MD No Makeup Blush. It has a unique, gel-cream formula that adds a burst of natural rosiness to your complexion while working to improve dullness and discoloration overtime. Simple shake, apply one-to-three dots to the skin, and blend to your hearts content.

Size: 0.3-ounce bottle with doe-foot applicator

Finish: natural

Shades: one

Another serum-based liquid blush that has caught my eye in my makeup bag time and time again is Anastasia Beverly Hills' Blurring Serum Liquid Blush. It delivers a burst of hydration to the skin using a formula powered by skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and pomegranate peels extract for buildable, vibrant color. While its described by the brand and delivering a a soft-matte, I would argue that it looks more natural on my skin.

Size: 0.3-ounce tube with applicator

Finish: matte

Shades: five (Baby Pink, Hibiscus, Plum, Guava, Peach)

Okay, I'll admit it—This one is more of a tinted serum than a blush, but I'm here to argue the case that it should also be considered as the latter. The omega-rich serum adds an all-over rosy flush to the face while supporting healthy barrier function. Its formula also has vitamin F to visibly improve texture and suppleness and virgin Marula oil to create a healthy-looking glowing by moisturizing and nourishing the skin. I especially like how it can be mixed with other Drunk Elephant products for even more nourishment.

Size: 1.0-ounce bottle

Finish: natural

Shades: one

One of the first liquid blushes I fell in love with, the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush delivers high-impact color with lightweight wear and a long-lasting finish (up to 12 hours of wear). Not only can this one be blended and build to perfection, but it comes in thirteen pretty shades, two finishes, and two sizes. So, trust me when I say that if you don't have this blush in your makeup routine, you're majorly missing out.

Size: 0.3-ounce tube with doe-foot applicator

Finish: radiant and matte

Shades: thirteen (Believe, Hope, Love, Joy, Virtue, and more)