Adding the best blush sticks to your makeup routine is an easy, travel-friendly way to add a rosy glow to your complexion. Liquid blush can be difficult to apply, and powder brush doesn’t last very long, which is why a long-lasting cream blush is the way to go. These versatile makeup sticks have completely redefined the way I pull off a natural glow. Not only are they incredibly easy to apply, they can double as highlighter, eye shadow, or lip balm. We spoke with makeup experts to find the very best blush sticks to achieve radiant cheeks.
Our top blush stick picks
- Best Overall: Nars The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick, $39
- Most Pigmented Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand, $42
- Best Multicolor Blush: Nyx Wonder Stick Blush, $8
- Best Blush With SPF: Naked Sundays SPF50 Sheer Glow Balm, $25
How to apply blush stick
One of the most appealing aspects of blush sticks is their ability to allow your natural skin to shine through in a spectrum of buildable pigments. With just a few swipes and a gentle blend on the apples of your cheeks, these formulas can create the perfect, effervescent flush. “The buttery consistency melts into skin to add the right amount of lived-in color to the face,” Chelsea Gehr, a NYC-based celebrity makeup artist, tells Glamour. Her go-to is the Westman Atelier blush stick, which she uses on celebrities like Joe Jonas.
According to Joseph Carrillo, a celebrity makeup artist in NYC, blush sticks can work for all skin types and skin tones but are particularly great for dry or mature, aging skin. “The creamy texture hydrates skin and delivers a supple look, without adding a powdery or flaky layer that settles into fine lines. I love that they add a nice sheen and healthy glow,” he says. To ensure that your blush stick is moisturizing, Carrillo recommends looking for balms rich in oil ingredients that will keep the skin dewy.
The best blush sticks
From lightweight formulas to powerhouse pigments, we’ve narrowed down top-rated, multiuse blush beauty sticks. These picks are recommended by renowned makeup artists, beauty experts, and in-the-know editors. Whether you’re embracing full glam or Hailey Bieber’s sun-kissed look, these are worth adding to your beauty cabinet.
Nars The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip & Eye Stick
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NARS The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip, & Eye Stick in Maui
This Nars blush stick is Carillo’s all-time favorite; he likes to use the Maui and Orgasm shades for a natural, supple look that has some color. Whether you use this product on your eyes, cheeks, lips, or body, the versatile cream-to-powder formula works as a blush, highlighter, or contour. It also contains vitamin E and acai oil, two powerful antioxidants that work in tandem to protect skin.
What our expert says: I use them in the fall or winter to recreate a natural flush, or as a base to make my powder blush last longer. —Joseph Carrillo, NYC-based celebrity makeup artist
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Color-Adaptive Cheek + Lip Stick in Strawberry Pop
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Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Color-Adaptive Cheek + Lip Stick in Strawberry Pop
Using color-shift technology, this unique gel stick adapts to your skin’s pH levels to create a custom pink shade that flatters your specific skin tone. The cult-favorite stick is packed with vitamin E to condition skin and provide a nonsticky finish.
What our expert says: I’m obsessed with this Strawberry Pop hue because it delivers the most universally flattering rosy shade for every person. It’s like a fully customized blush, just for you. Plus, it leaves a nice soft dewy finish that feels nourishing and moisturizing so you can use it alone or layer it over makeup effortlessly too. —Priscilla Ono, Fenty Beauty global makeup artist
