Some of the best forms of makeup are the ones that you don’t always know are being worn; they suit the face so much it’s like they’re a part of you. The best blusher can have this effect.
Sometimes falling behind in importance compared to highlighters and bronzers, blusher (or blush) can make or break a look. Too much can have you looking a bit flushed or clown-like, and too little can lead to uncomfortable conversations with friends worrying about your health.
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So fear not, we’ve put together a list of some of the most effective and affordable blushers on the market right now. From creams to gels to the good old fashioned powder, blush is here to help banish the pasty face and add to your natural glow.
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£21 | Buy now from Bobbi Brown
Why we love it: As a reliable makeup staple, this product is well worth its price. Its silky formula means it effortlessly glides onto the cheeks and offers a matte finish to keep any unwanted shine at bay.
Each shade was designed to effectively resemble the colour cheeks turn when naturally flushed, allowing you to still achieve the much wanted makeup-no-makeup look. Simply sweep your blush brush over the apples of your cheeks and build up for a more solid look.
Bobbi Brown consistently appears in our lists of Best Buys and if you’re yet to try her products, we can also highly recommend her BB cream.
Buy now from Bobbi Brown
£6 | Buy now from NYX
Why we love it: This blush is a prime example of why you don’t need to spend millions to get the best products.
NYX’s High Definition blush is a very simple, yet incredibly effective product. It’s easily applied with a brush, long-lasting and has good coverage; a trio of excellence. You can even use it on your eyelids to give your eyes a spring pink look.
If you’re looking to give your skin some life but don’t want to spend a whole heap, look no further.
We love NYX at mamabella because it’s one of the best cheap makeup brands around.
Buy now from NYX
Why we love it: Charlotte Tilbury rarely takes a misstep and this blusher is yet another example of the brand’s excellence. It comes as a liquid with a built-in cushiony applicator that allows the product to easily blend onto your cheekbones. It has both a velvety feel while managing to effectively leave your skin looking and feeling dewy but without the worry of it rubbing or sweating away.
This blush comes in a range of six shades and each option works beautifully with the others so you can start yourself a collection to really give you some shimmer and colour. Our go-to daytime blush is the Rose Gold wand as it looks subtle and amazing.
Buy now from Charlotte Tilbury
£24 | Buy now from Cult Beauty
Why we love it: Not only is the packaging of this product absolutely adorable, (it comes in the shape of a love heart) but the actual blush is just as striking.
Its baked formula leaves a shimmering finish, and the choice of three different colours in one means you can change how you use it over and over.
There are two colour options for the product, Peach Beach for slightly darker more subtle tones, and Sparkling Bellini if you’re after a more pink and gold look. Either product will leave your cheeks looking irresistible.
Buy now from Cult Beauty
£15 | Buy now from Glossier
Why we love it: This gel-like blush is a certified must-have. Glossier has brought the product out in six shades, ranging from a more peachy tone to a fuller red, inspired by New York City sunsets.
And one of the best features of this blush; you don’t even need a brush, your finger does all the work. It’s simply a case of squeezing out a little bit onto the desired area and rubbing it in for the finish you’re after. It can be built up and layered because of its lightweight formula, as well as it being paraben-free, cruelty-free and totally hypoallergenic. It might be just a little bottle, but it sure is mighty.
Buy now from Glossier
£19.50 | Buy now from MAC
Why we love it: Similarly to the NYX blush, MAC’s version is a classic.
There’s a reason this is one of MAC’s most sought after products, coming in an impressive 29 different shades, and being reliably natural-looking as well as lasting the whole day on the face.
It initially leaves you with quite a light finish but can be built up depending on the situation, but will never leave you feeling or looking too much or too covered.
Buy now from MAC
Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End
