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Swiping on one of the best blush sticks is our favorite shortcut to glowy skin. We’re talking about the portable, twist-up, cream-based formulas that often contain skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter or squalane. If you constantly find yourself with only 10 minutes to get ready (as we so often do), blush sticks can be real lifesavers—not to mention come in handy as eye shadow and even lip tint, too. New to the most travel-friendly pop of color around, or wondering which blush sticks are truly worth buying? We chatted with Allure editors to determine the best of the best, save you some time while shopping, and help you achieve your perfect flush.
Our Top Blush Sticks
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Crayon
Why we love it: You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to maxxing out Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Crayon. With a whopping 24 shades, these sticks do far more than blush: Depending on your pick, you’ve got concealer, contour, or highlighter options, though the pink and peachy hues create a lovely flush. The creamy, lightweight, and long-lasting formula blends out in a snap on cheeks, lips, or eyes. And, the sticks’ compact shape makes it easy to grow your collection without overcrowding your makeup bag.
“As a big fan of an ultra-dewy look, I typically shy away from stick formulas of any type, since I find a lot of them to be a bit too drying. This multi-use stick (which I primarily use for blush) gives me that glowy finish I’m perpetually seeking, with a creamy formula that’s easy to blend in, but doesn’t melt away after an hour.” —Kara McGrath, content director
- Key ingredients: shea butter, squalane
- Shade options: 24
Best Multipurpose: Nars The Multiple
Why we love it: Nars’s The Multiple got a glow-up, with a new and improved formula so good that we gave it a Best of Beauty Award this year. Think: longer wear time (up to 16 hours, according to the brand) and a cream-to-powder texture that’s not too thick or sticky. Along with the brand’s iconic Orgasm shade, The Multiple comes in 11 other colors that range from peach to berry tones—ideal for mixing, matching, and layering together. Hydrating peach kernel oil helps this blush go on smoothly, but it dries down to a blurred finish that doesn’t budge (even after hours of wear, according to one Allure editor). If your makeup philosophy is “set it and forget it,” this might be for you.
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
“I’m not usually a fan of blush sticks—on me, they tend to go patchy and don’t mesh well with the rest of my base makeup. The Multiple is so different (and so much better!). It blends out in seconds (I like to apply it with a brush, but fingers work too) and has a soft finish that’s really lovely. It doesn’t look streaky or patchy, and the end result is a light flush of color that you can build up to your desired look. Plus, it lasts all day long—I don’t even need to set it with a powder blush on top. Dolce Vita is my perfect pink, but I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the shades (especially since you can use them on your eyes and lips, too). ” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
- Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, peach kernel oil
- Shade options: 12
Best Blush-Lighter: Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
Why we love it: The Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlighter Stick bridges the gap between blush and highlighter with some major skin-care benefits, thanks to hydrating jojoba seed oil and firming vitus vita grape extract. The product itself is easy to blend, with a dewy, shimmery finish that almost makes your cheeks look wet. Lit Up comes in seven shades, including Petal, pictured above, which is a rosy pink that instantly won us over.
For some extra “Yeah, I go outside, so what?” energy, apply a small amount to your forehead and nose. Want more color payoff and less shimmer? Grab the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick—it’s just as stunning, but not as shiny.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“This product is a blush/highlighter hybrid, which is perfect for me. I constantly reach for this multitasking stick to add just the right amount of rouge and brightening to my cheeks. It’s incredibly smooth and blends beautifully.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Key ingredients: capric triglyceride, grape extract
- Shade options: 7
Best for “No-Makeup Makeup:” Violette_FR Bisou Blush
Why we love it: The brainchild of Parisian makeup artist Violette, Violette_FR Bisou Blush melts into your skin for an (almost) effortless, natural-looking flush. There are six marbled shades to choose from that look as beautiful on skin as they do in the tube, including neutral beige Louise (pictured here) and Aïssa, a pink for darker skin tones. “You can tell a makeup artist made these,” says makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “The shades are thoughtfully chosen and are perfect for those who love a ‘no-makeup-makeup’ look.”
More to love: The addition of antioxidant-packed ginger root extract and candelilla wax, an emollient that helps protect your skin barrier. You’ll also dig the soft-but-sturdy, detachable brush at the bottom for easy on-the-go blending.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“When it comes to shade curation, very few brands can touch Violette_FR IMO. You’re not going to find a one-note bubblegum pink blush here—instead, you’re going to find a nuanced, perfectly dusty pink that makes you feel like the most effortless-yet-put-together version of yourself. Louise is my personal favorite of these blushes, but you truly can’t go wrong. The finish is glowy but not glossy and it builds up beautifully, so it pairs perfectly with a full face of makeup or barely-there concealer and mascara.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: ginger root extract, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax
- Shade options: 6
Best for Dry Skin: Rhode Pocket Blush
Why we love it: A proud member of the Rhode family, Hailey Bieber’s Pocket Blush became an instant Allure-editor favorite—and for good reason. The petite, pocket-size profile makes it easy to tote around and allows for targeted application, depositing silky-smooth pigment every time. Lightweight and hydrating, it comes in 11 shades you can apply directly onto your lips and cheeks, then gently blend out with a finger or brush. For added shine on your lips, top it off with the brand’s viral Peptide Lip Treatment.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“Beyond how uber cute these blushes are, they’re so buttery and easy to blend out. I actually like to use my fingers to dab the product in before using a brush to diffuse any harsh lines—but, in a pinch, just fingers also do the trick. If I want to build up the pigment (which I usually do), I’ll go in with a second layer by picking up some product directly with my brush and lightly tapping it in. Extra buildable? Heck yeah. They also come in the prettiest colors. I’d normally never reach for a bronze terracotta (I lean heavily into pinks) but Toasted Teddy just has that ‘je ne sais’ quoi factor.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: glycerin
- Shade options: 11
Best Sheer: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly
Why we love it: Milk’s Cooling Water Jelly looks good enough to eat—but please, don’t. The yummy vibes are only outdone by the sheer, long-lasting flush this stick delivers, along with an instantly cooling feel. “The cooling is from the release of water upon pressing,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. “Also, the inclusion of aloe vera with humectants like glycerin, sorbitol, and polysaccharides with polymers can enhance that effect.” Makeup artist Sara Wren suggests using a brush with this one “[because it] allows you to build up the watercolor-like pigment and gives a more precise application.” Since it’s technically a stain and sets quickly, we recommend working quickly.
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
“Call me skeptical! I don’t normally trust jelly blushes to be longlasting and opt for cream blushes instead, but this bouncy gelatinous blush (saying that as a compliment, not a criticism) gives my cheeks a sheer and dewy color that actually stays put all day (I like the shade Berry). I also had my doubts on the cooling claims on this stick’s name, and was once again proven wrong. At application, you do get a cooling and refreshing feel that I actually wish lasted longer than a few seconds.” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
- Key ingredients: vegan collagen, aloe, glycerin, niacinamide
- Shade options: 7
Best Buildable: Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Lip + Cheek Glow Blush Stick with Hyaluronic Acid
Why we love it: Feeling low-key luminosity, or would you rather turn it up a notch? Take your pick with Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Lip + Cheek Glow Blush Stick, which has a sheer finish that blends and layers seamlessly if you want more of a pop, making it the best buildable option out there. What also sets it apart is the pearlescent pigment, which gives skin a soft-focus glow—think highlighter, but rosier.
