The 5 Best Powder Blushes For a Gorgeous, Long-Lasting Flush
A light dusting with a powerful payoff.
While cream blushes melt into the skin like a dream and liquid blushes pack insane pigment (see Rare Beauty for proof), there’s just nothing like the best powder blushes. They’re easy to swipe on with a makeup brush and blend seamlessly for color that lasts for hours. Whether matte or shimmery, powder blush is my all-time favorite step in my makeup routine, as evidenced by my vanity, which is absolutely filled with them.
“Powder blush is a go-to for a reason,” concurs celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay Braha. “It’s long-lasting, easy to apply, and gives the skin a soft, velvety finish. I love using it year-round to add a pop of color to the apples of my cheeks or along the tops of my cheekbones.” It's a fool-proof recipe to looking like you got a little sun on a tropical island. That being said, it's no surprise that brands are breathing new life into the category. Saie, Kosas, Westman Atelier, and YSL have all developed upgraded formulas that promise to look silky (not cakey) on the skin.
With so many options on the table, I’ve been busy testing. Here, you'll find my all-time favorites, along with expert application tips from Braha and makeup artist Elaina Badro. Read below for the five best powder blushes on the market right now.
The Best Powder Blushes
- The Best Powder Blush Overall: Kosas Blush Is Life
- The Best Highly-Pigmented Powder Blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder
- The Best Luxury Powder Blush: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo
- The Best Velvet Finish Powder Blush: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush
- The Best Shimmery Powder Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
This blush has everything you could ever ask for, and then some. It's a talc-free powder blush that's baked and swirled with two different tones to create eight buildable and radiant shades. The silky smooth texture melts into the skin and blends out seamlessly with no harsh streaks or annoying glitter flecks. Not only are the stunning colors long-wearing, but they're formulated with squalene and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated and healthy all day long.
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Buildable
Shades: 8
What I Love: Melts into skin; Skin-loving ingredients; Slight radiance; Long-lasting
What I Don't: Some reviewers say the product shatters easily.
Review for MC: "The Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Blush has become my absolute favorite powder blush in my collection—specifically in shade Euphoria. The very buildable coverage and blendable texture make application so quick and easy. It also has just enough shimmer so that I don't feel the need to swipe on a highlighter, but not too much to where I'm finding annoying flakes of glitter around my face. Consider it Goldilocks. Plus, with squalene and hyaluronic acid, I feel great about packing the pigment onto the apples of my cheeks for a flush that lasts." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer.
Emma Aerin Becker before and after using Kosas Blush Is Life.
"If you're looking for something a little bit more pigmented, I really do love the Haus Labs blushes," says Braha. "They have a lot of pigment, they are super finely milled, and they blend really easily on the skin." The six shades (including a red!) are made with fermented arnica to help reduce redness and squalene for hydration.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: High
Shades: 6
What I Love: Super pigmented; Pro-approved; Skincare ingredients; Blurring effect
What I Don't: Brighter shades can be too pigmented for some, so be sure to use a light hand
Review for MC: "The Haus Labs blush in shade Dragon Fruit Daze had a chokehold on me and my makeup routine. With its super high pigment, the neon cool pink shade gives me a gorgeous pop of color with one to two quick swipes. The finely milled matte formula provides an amazing blurring and smoothing effect on my skin that blends out so easily. I also obviously love the skin-loving ingredients packed inside, like arnica, squalene, and vitamins C and E." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker before and after using Haus Labs Color Fuse Blush Powder.
When Westman Atelier launched its Baby Cheeks Powder Duos, I was immediately hooked. While it's a very pricey powder blush option, each product comes with two shades—either two blushes or a blush and contour. The soft matte formula is quite sheer yet super buildable, making it suitable for every level of intensity. All six shades feel super lightweight on the skin and never look streaky.
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Sheer
Shades: 6
What I Love: 2-for-1 product; Buildable formula; Soft matte finish
What I Don't: Pricier than other products on this list.
Review for MC: "I was so excited to try out these powder duos, and the blush shades most certainly did not disappoint. The pigment was definitely more sheer than I anticipated; however, it gives off a gorgeous light flush that blends out beautifully. I also found that the soft matte formula is super easy to build up for a brighter pop that stays streak-free. I swiped shade Petal across the apples of my cheeks and blended it up to my temples for a light mauve blush, and further sculpted my face with its complementary shade, Cool Beige Coffee. I seriously looked fresh off the beach with my make-shift tan and sun-kissed cheeks." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker before and after using Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo.
Pat McGrath consistently delivers stunning makeup products, and its Skin Fetish Divine Blush is no exception. With a satin finish, the product can look radiant when unset and matte when used underneath a setting powder. The lightweight formula glides onto the skin and boasts a medium coverage that's both buildable and colorful in its own right.
Finish: Satin
Coverage: Medium
Shades: 8
What I Love: Medium coverage; Velvety satin finish; Lightweight
What I Don't: Some reviewers find the product patchy.
Review for MC: "I don't know how many times I have repurchased the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Blush in the shade Divine Rose, and I don't want to know. I'm obsessed with the velvety satin finish that's somehow radiant without any shimmer, and yet still blurs on the skin. The medium coverage formula makes it easy to apply without going overboard and even easier to build up and blend out." — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker before and after using Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush.
Braha says Hourglass makes her favorite shimmery powder blushes. "They are marbleized and have very slight, almost like a highlight effect on the skin," she explains, "which is great for summer if you're looking for something that just looks like a flush from within." The handmade powders come in seven, dimensional shades that deliver a natural, radiant finish.
Finish: Shimmer
Coverage: Medium
Shades: 7
What I Love: Stunning shimmers; Pro-approved; Lit-from-within look
What I Don't: Not super long-lasting
Review for MC: "If I'm ever looking for a quick glow with a hint of color, this is the product I'm reaching for. It's like a gorgeous highlighter and blush hybrid that's so easy to swipe on and walk out the door. The shimmer isn't overpowering, and the subtle blush shade is stunning. It's super natural, but still very noticeable—great for no-makeup makeup looks. This is definitely a cult-favorite product for a reason!" — Emma Aerin Becker, Freelance Beauty Writer
Emma Aerin Becker before and after using Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush.
How Do I Apply a Powder Blush?
Unlike creams or liquids, powder blush doesn’t melt into the skin as easily, so application technique is key. Braha and Badro explain that to get a soft, diffused flush, use a fluffy, tapered brush to swirl into the blush. And don't forget to tap off any excess powder before applying.
Then, brush on the product at the apples of your cheeks and blend upward toward your temples for a lifted effect. To find where to start, Badro recommends smiling in the mirror to catch where your cheeks become fuller. "You can also layer blushes to add dimension or build up the color gradually for your perfect look," adds Braha.
What Should I Look For in a Powder Blush?
"The key to a flattering finish is choosing a finely milled formula that blends smoothly without looking patchy or sitting on top of the skin," Braha says. Badro concurs, noting that "powder blushes should always apply smoothly."
Badro also shares that skin texture plays a huge role in deciding which blush is best for you. "If you have texture on your skin, I’d advise away from shimmer powder blushes and stick to mattes."
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How We Tested
For this story, we sourced editor and makeup artist-beloved drugstore blushes and tested dozens of the top-selling formulas. We evaluated each blush based on finish, pigment, staying power, price, and results.
Meet The Experts
With more than 15 years of working as a professional makeup artist with M-A-C and Gucci, Elaina Badro has extensive experience working with all skin tones and skin types. She has gained international recognition through her work as a celebrity and high-fashion makeup artist, with hundreds of A-list clients including like Carrie Underwood, Olivia Wilde, Kris Jenner, Snoop Dogg, French Montana, Debby Ryan, and Big Sean. Beyond her work with celebrities, Elaina has built an eponymous luxury beauty brand.
Judi Gabbay Braha is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York. Her work has been featured in Seventeen Magazine, Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, Nylon and more. She has learned tricks of the Hollywood trade from top artists such as Mario Dedivanovic, Scott Barnes, Samuel Rauda and Patrick Ta. And, she's worked with networks such as Bravo, TLC, ABC and more.
