What to consider
We put dozens of blushes to the test—I can personally vouch for many—but I also wanted to provide you with some expert-based pointers when you’re shopping for blush and don’t have this sage guide at your fingertips. Look for:
Formula
Blush comes in many different forms, but powder, cream, liquid, gel, as well as tints and stains are among the more popular options. The experts I spoke with are in agreement that cream reigns supreme for mature skin. “Cream blush is often regarded as the best option for mature skin, because it blends effortlessly for a natural finish,” says Marylisa Diaz, a celebrity makeup artist and artistic director of makeup for Julien Farel Salon in New York. “It provides a natural, dewy finish and won’t settle in the fine lines.” Liquid blush is also a great option due to its hydrating properties and ability to melt into the skin, she says.
And for all those powder stans out there, I get it: The color payoff is great and can really last. So, let’ me reassure you that these products aren’t off the table if you use some real care when shopping. Make sure to look for a finely-milled powder blush, since they’re more lightweight and buildable, says Dr. Libby.
Ingredients
Mature skin benefits from blushes enriched with hydrating and soothing ingredients. “Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and vitamins such as vitamin E, which help plump the skin and enhance radiance,” says Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin. “Additionally, products with natural extracts that boost glow and even out skin tone can be a real shot in the arm for mature skin.” Some to look for include vitamin C and niacinamide.
Another good pointer is to look for products that are fragrance-free or labeled as hypoallergenic. Mature skin tends to be more sensitive to certain irritants, which, in turn, can cause redness, irritation, dryness, and an exacerbation in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Color
Color selection is, of course, based on personal preference, but Diaz says soft, warm tones like peaches, corals, soft pinks, and muted brown tend to look best on those with more mature skin. “They create a natural, youthful glow without emphasizing wrinkles.”
How we chose
For this story, myself and the entire Women’s Health editorial team went straight to the experts—makeup artists and dermatologists—to get their picks for the best blushes for mature skin. But, we didn’t stop there: Using their list as a starting point—it was a long one, ya’ll—we swiped, brushed, dabbed and tapped our way through dozens upon dozens of picks to find the ones that would perform in real life. The ones that a.) didn’t settle into fine lines, b.) imparted a natural flush and dewiness to skin, and c.) could stand up to our active lifestyles. (It’s great if it looked good five minutes after putting it on, but could the blush shine after a day of work, a trip to the gym, or a hectic commute home?) After all that, we can safely say that these are, by far, the best blushes for mature skin.
So, without further ado, here’s our list. Now, let’s get glowing.
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Best Overall
Merit Flush Balm
Pros
- Easy to apply with just your fingertips
- Packed with hydrating ingredients like vitamin E
Cons
- Some testers wish it had more staying power
Two different makeup artists touted this formula from Merit as—hands down—the best blush for mature skin. They were not wrong. “This cream is incredibly user-friendly with a gorgeous natural finish,” says professional makeup artist Samreen Arshad. It offers more than a pretty pop of color, though. The cream formula is “packed with vitamin E and nourishing oils that make skin look healthy and radiant,” she says. We appreciate that it’s also fragrance-free and vegan, which is more appropriate for sensitive skin types.
“Some shades are more pigmented than others, but they all give you a natural smooth finish,” says WH commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, who tried three of the eight shades for us. “It blurs the appearances of pores because it gives skin a slight glow, unlike more powdery blushes that feel drier against the skin.”
The packaging is clever, too. Though it’s technically a stick, the round shape makes application easier—you can literally just pat it on with your fingertips, no fancy brush necessary. “Just make sure you close the lids well, so you don’t get blush all the inside of your bag. “That actually happened to me,” Gomez warns.
I personally own this pick as well, and I love how it contours to my cheeks. Simply swipe it on and dab upwards to blend for the perfect flush. I have very dry skin, and this one gloriously melts right in.
Read more: The Best Concealers For Mature Skin
| Formula | Stick |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Vitamin E |
| Colors | 8 |
Best Budget Pick
Almay Healthy Hue Blush
Now 54% Off
Pros
- Lightweight and buildable
- Removes easily with no tugging or pulling
Cons
- Limited shade options—just four.
Almay’s Healthy Hue Blush is lightweight, buildable, and hypoallergenic—in essence, it’s ideal for mature skin. “These feel super light, and are easy to remove at the end of the day,” Gomez says of the four shades. That’s no small detail: Vigorously rubbing your face to remove makeup can make fine lines, especially around the eyes, appear more pronounced. “I prefer applying them with a full face of makeup since they glide easier on prepped skin. You could also just pair with primer—the blushes have a great natural finish that way, which I liked.”
Despite its extremely friendly price point, it does the hard work, delivering a smooth flush of color without settling into fine lines, even as a pressed powder. The secret is the finely-milled powder, which offers more control over application, allowing you to layer the color to your desired intensity without overwhelming the skin, says Dr. Libby, who says she finds this blush to be very smooth and buildable. “It delivers a soft, natural flush that enhances radiance without emphasizing texture or dryness,” she says.
We also like that this blush is formulated without parabens and phthalates, common skin irritants. It also comes in a compact made from sustainably sourced paper, reflecting both skin and environmental consciousness.
| Formula | Powder |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Squalane |
| Colors | 4 |
Best Stick
Westman Atelier Petite Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Pros
- Multi-use product can also be swiped over lips
- Packed with hydrating ingredients and comes in luxe packaging
Cons
- Some wearers say the finish is too matte
Just a single swipe will give you a healthy flush of color, says Diaz. It’s all thanks to a very creamy formula that basically melts onto skin so you can blend away, creating a more natural-looking finish on mature skin. You can also use it on lips to get more bang for your buck. And the stick packaging is a huge plus in terms of ease: You can dot it directly onto your skin and then blend with your fingers or a blush.
This pick is great for those with dry skin, too, since it’s packed with more moisturizing ingredients than your average blush: organic jojoba seed oil, raspberry leaf stem cell extract, and vitamins C and E. The ingredient list also boasts kaolin clay, which helps give the blush its staying power.
“This is, hands down, the best blush I’ve ever used,” says WH executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos. “The texture is buttery soft and blends out so easily with either your fingers or a brush. I am also a sucker for good packaging, and I love the magnetic cap and sleek tube design.”
| Formula | Stick |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Organic jojoba seed oil, raspberry leaf stem cell extract, vitamins C and E, kaolin clay |
| Colors | 8 |
Best Liquid
Surratt Artistique Liquid Blush
Pros
- Long-lasting, even through a workout
- Sponge applicator makes this one particularly easy to blend
Cons
- Colors may be too sheer for some
Liquids can be unwieldy and hard to work with, not to mention some are highly pigmented and absorb so readily that you might not have a chance to properly blend—not this one by Surratt Beauty. Diaz’s recommendation features a bouncy sponge applicator that dispenses just the right amount of product and lets you blend upon application.
The colors are on the more subtle side, so keep that in mind if you like more pigment on your cheeks. But generally, I found the formula to be particularly long-lasting, which is fantastic since I’m not a big reapply person. I went for a three-mile run shortly after application and most of the product remained on my skin.
| Formula | Liquid |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dimethicone, glycerin |
| Colors | 4 |
Best For Sensitive Skin
ILIA Multi-Stick
Pros
- Clean formula free of common skin irritations
- Great for on-the-go: Compact size and suitable for cheeks and lips
Cons
- Some users wish it had a slightly more radiant finish
Get ready to streamline your makeup bag, because this buttery stick is suitable for both cheeks and lips, delivering a dewy and luminous finish wherever you need it. It’s easy to apply and blends like a dream—simply swipe and blend upwards.
Also important to note is that the product, which comes from one of our favorite clean makeup brands, is also free from potentially irritating ingredients like fragrances and silicone. Again, this can be important if you have highly reactive skin—any little irritation can dry it out and make it appear older. It’s also certified gluten-free.
In erms of how this one performs and fits into your life: “This is the perfect single item to throw in your purse for touch-ups,” Andriakos says. “As a blush, I find it a little bit less creamy than other sticks, and more matte—almost more like a lipstick. That’s why I also use this as a lip and cheek color—multi-stick is the best descriptor, for sure.”
It’s also packed with hydrating ingredients that make it so easy to glide across the skin. Think nourishing shea butter, antioxidant-rich avocado oil, and smoothing orange peel wax. We also love that it comes in more shades than most others on our list, too.
| Formula | Stick |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Shea butter, avocado oil, orange peel wax |
| Colors | 10 |
Best For A Natural Look
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush
Pros
- Sheer wash of color is great for those who don’t want to look like they’re wearing makeup
- Vegan formula that’s also water resistant
Cons
- May be too sheer for some
We’re big fans of Selena Gomez’s beauty brand, and happy to report that this cream blush does not disappoint. “My biggest complaint with liquid blushes is that the liquid ends up leaking when you screw the top back on, staining my makeup bag and making a mess,” Andriakos says. “This compact-style blush is mess-free, but still has that dewy, smooth look of a liquid blush, and I actually like the cream consistency even better.”
Lifestyle director Lindsay Geller agrees. “I like how only a small amount transfers on to my fingers, so it’s really easy to control how much I add,” she says. “It also blends in really nicely using just my fingers—something I was very nervous about!”
Makeup artists love it, too. It’s a sheer pick that’s perfect for a subtle flush of color, says Nydia Figueroa, a celebrity makeup artist in New York. Read: It’s ideal for a more ‘au-naturale’ look.
It’s key ingredients include sunflower seed oil that helps it blend so seamlessly and fruit extracts that lend antioxidant properties to nourish skin. We love that this vegan blush is also water-resistant for maximum staying power.
| Formula | Cream |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Sunflower seed oil, fruit extract |
| Colors | 5 |
Best Blurring Formula
Caliray Blurry Blush
Pros
- Minimizes the appearance of fine lines instantly
- Easy to apply and blend and completely transfer-proof
Cons
- Very pigmented, so it can be easy to apply too much at once
Sure, a blush that doesn’t settle into fine lines is great. But one that actually blurs their appearance—ding, ding, ding…jackpot! The star ingredient here—the one that makes all the magic happen—is kaolin clay. It’s paired with other skincare all-stars like niacinamide and copper peptides to absorb excess oil, limit shine, and reduce the appearance of pores.
The formula itself is also light and buildable—meaning you can control the amount of blush you put on, depending on how much of a flush you want—but Geller and other reviewers note that it’s very pigmented, so a little goes a long way.
“I’m a proud powder girl, so I was a little scared to try out a cream blush,” says Geller. “I started out with two dots—one on the apple of my cheek and one slightly above—and that turned out to be just enough.” She also notes that the product was “really easy to blend into my skin” with a sponge, and she still looked natural after applying.
| Formula | Cream |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Niacinamide, kaolin clay, copper peptides |
| Colors | 5 |
Where on the face is the best place to apply blush, especially when the skin is maturing?
Avoid concentrating blush solely on the apples of the cheeks, which can pull the face down. “Instead, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it upward toward the temples for the most flattering lifted look,” says Diaz. Soft highlighting and contouring can also contribute to a more youthful appearance by subtly enhancing facial features, she says.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.
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