The Best Blushes for Your Skin Tone

Baby Pink

Makeup artist Daphne Chantell del Rosario loves using Hourglass's Ambient Lighting Blush in Sublime Flush for a dose of healthy, poppy pink. It's even infused with lilac accents for a multidimensional tone that catches the light just right. It's pretty much a hybrid blush-and-highlighter duo, which saves time.

Peach

The most universally flattering, can't-go-wrong blush shade? Peach. "Anybody can put on peach blush and look fantastic," says Ciucci (which is why you'll see this shade as a pick for multiple skin tones). On fair skin, peach is especially flattering if your complexion has yellow undertones. "It has orange and yellow tones, so it enhances the natural flush," explains Murphy. And this is a case where it's all about texture: A formula that's sheer and blendable is going to look the most natural. 

When in doubt, "look for descriptive words like 'satin' or 'sheer' on the packaging," says Ciucci. Or opt for a blush with subtle shimmer, like the iconic Nars Blush in Orgasm. "Shimmery formulas are going to be easier to sheer out on fair skin so it's not overwhelming."

Peach

"Mineral blushes are great for anyone who is fair to light, as they tend to pack a little less pigment, and the payoff isn't overwhelming," Merino says. He gravitates toward MAC's Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul because "it's a great neutral tone that adds a soft touch of color and luminosity to the skin." Plus, if it's good enough for the red carpet, it'll definitely jazz up your everyday look.

Peach

Allure senior commerce writer Sarah Han vouches for Em Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush in Peachy Peach, which imparts a dewy, warm glow on her cheekbones. Its lightweight liquid formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, squalene, and antioxidants (including vitamin E), making it a unique hybrid of makeup and skin care that looks like natural flush. The formula is super easy to sheer out, but the peach color is also the right amount of noticeable on light skin tones.

Plum

Ciucci recommends this color for a more dramatic evening look. "Plum cheeks give a little bit more drama," she says. "With fair skin, it's important to look for a translucent stain or cream in a plum shade that's a step or two darker than your lips, with purple or blue undertones." This hue is also a bit of an overachiever, doubling as a contouring shade for fair skin. "Dab a little bit of plum blush in the hollows of cheeks for extra definition and a nice shadow, rather than a harsh, obvious line," says Ciucci. 

If you're stumped for choices, start off with a classic like the Best of Beauty-winning Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in Plumped Up Peony for a sheer plum shade that's nearly impossible to mess up. Just dot on and blend out.

Plum

Flower Beauty's Blush Bomb Color Drops in Bitten has the perfect berry-plum hue that's pigmented yet sheer-able, so you can build it up or blend it out to your desired intensity level. The silky, cream formula also means it's easy to apply in a pinch with just your fingers — no brushes necessary. 

Apricot

Martin opts for Nars Blush in Liberté in order to add warmth to the skin sans shimmer. He loves using the matte apricot shade on medium skin tones to "sculpt the face and apply on the apples of the cheek to give a subtle dose of blush," and notes that it'll also brighten up any leftover summer tan.

Ciucci agrees with apricot on medium skin and recommends another Nars blush shade, Luster (which is a softer apricot). "It's soft, flirty and fresh, and allows you to go bolder with the rest of the makeup," she says. 

Peach

If you're looking for a non-intimidating shade for a low-key blush moment, Merino recommends Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush in She's Sincere. "The formula is buildable in pigment and blends like a dream," making it a fabulous option for blush beginners because you have control over the intensity. Merino recommends using a denser brush if you want to pack on the color, but if you're going for a softer look, go for a fluffier, dome-shaped, tapered brush. 

Peach

Want a little more oomph? Makeup artist Delina Medhin uses Mented Cosmetics' Blush in Peach For the Stars on all skin tones (we love a versatile shade) but says that it looks particularly amazing on medium to deep skin tones, thanks to its rich color payoff. Enhanced with subtle gold shimmer, it's perfect for sculpting cheekbones or sitting on top of your apples for a peachy flush.

Berry

It's common sense: If pale pink is flattering on pale skin, then medium pink is flattering on medium skin. "You want something that's in the midrange, not something with too much white in it. Pinky berry is soft, delicate, and pretty," says Murphy. 

"This is how you can go bright on medium skin," adds Ciucci. "Look for a light raspberry for a flush that looks like you've been in the snow. It's vibrant but natural." 

Give Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Quickie a whirl. It's OK if it doesn't look perfect upon first swipe — this cream blush fortified with hydrating ingredients like mango butter, avocado oil, and apricot oil to help it blend in beautifully with skin.

Berry

A little goes a long way with Milani's Cheek Kiss Liquid Blush in Berry Smooch, which adds a kiss of color anywhere you want it. If you want a more dramatic look, we think this shade would look amazing using the draping method. The creamy formula is infused with skin-friendly ingredients like pomegranate, rose extract, and watermelon and can be applied on lips as well.

Warm Peach

Finding a blush for olive skin can be tricky because of its green undertones. Scope out warm tones, like Too Faced Papa Don't Peach. "Some cooler blushes can tend to look ruddy on it, but using a warm peach shade will make olive skin glow," says Ciucci.

Rose

Rose is the just-right, Goldilocks shade of pink for olive complexions. "Rose falls in the middle range: It's not bright, but it's not shadowy, either. It's just a very delicate, natural flush. Rose is the middle-of-the-road, everyday neutral for olive skin," says Ciucci. We like Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain, a classic, sheer tint that'll instantly brighten up your complexion but never feel like too much. Plus, it doubles as a gorgeous lip tint.

Rose

Rose, like peach, can also help to balance out olive tones. "This skin tone can get a bit sallow, especially in the winter, but rose can lend warmth so your complexion doesn't look drab," says Murphy. Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in Night Fever & Hot Stuff gives you an instant veil of rosy glowiness, thanks to innovative Japanese air powder. The two shades work together to create a multidimensional look; the lighter shade acts as a highlighter, while the deeper shade contours.

Rose

Finely milled powder blushes like Becca's Mineral Blush in Hyacinth impart a soft, matte finish that doesn't look cakey or overdone. In fact, it's infused with vitamins A, C, and E to facilitate smooth application while brightening and evening out skin tone. Sweep onto the apples of your cheeks and then blend outwards toward your temples until you get the finish you want.

Bronze

This shade, as seen in Chanel's Joues Contraste Blush in Evening Beige, is a triple threat for olive skin tones: It adds warmth, brightens, and can even create soft contours if applied strategically. "Using a bronzer or a bronze-tinged blush is going to really boost olive skin," says Ciucci. 

"Because people with this skin tone tend to tan beautifully, this looks natural on them and really helps pick up their skin tone," adds Murphy. 

Copper

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush Pillow Talk Intense amps up the original, celebrity-beloved Pillow Talk shade for a rosy-tinted hue that looks stunning on olive skin tones. To contour, use a fan brush or angled powder brush to sweep the bronzer onto the hollows of the cheeks. "If you need help, make fish lips," says Ciucci.

The key here is a buildable formula and using a light hand, which minimizes the risk of applying too much product at once. "On fair olive skin, you can stop with one stroke, but on medium or deep olive skin, you can layer a few more swipes," she says. "Then smile and apply the bronzer to the apples of the cheeks for a brightening effect."

Brick Red

Deep terra-cotta looks gorgeous on dark skin, as is evident in BlackUp's Blush in NBL07 Mandarin. "It's important to stay warm when you're working with dark skin because if you go too cool, it's going to look ashy," says Ciucci. "So brick is like a redder version of a raisin. It tends to pack a little bit more punch." 

Brick is also a great option for contouring. Use the same "fish-face" method to find the hollows of your cheeks, and dab a cream formula below cheekbones, blending carefully.

Brick Red

Though it leans on the brighter, coral-y side, the warmer tones found in Fenty Beauty's Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Daiquiri Drip shine when applied on dark skin tones. The weightless formula melts into your skin, leaving a dewy finish that practically looks likes a post-vacation glow (even if you haven't stepped outside the house). Rihanna would be proud.

Berry

Daphne Chantell del Rosario calls out Sunnies Face Airblush as one of her favorite cream blushes of all time, and the Razz shade specifically for medium and dark skin tones. It looks very bright in the pan, but she's drawn to this formula for its sheer finish that can be easily layered for more intense pigment — making it a great day-to-night option.

Plum

Dior Rouge Blush in Poison Matte is one of Martin's go-to shades for darker skin tones, and it even comes with a handy brush to use in a pinch. "The matte plum color gives dark skin a poppy wash of sheer color without shimmer," he says. "It's perfect for day to night, and you can dial up the color by wetting your brush before applying."

Plum

Live Tinted Huestick snapped up a 2020 Best of Beauty Award since it can be rubbed into cheeks, lids, and lips and be used as a color corrector — making it one smoothly-formulated multitasker. Allure editorial assistant Gabi Thorne says that the plum Free shade has no issue showing up on her brown skin, whereas other blushes are too sheer to even be noticeable.

Tangerine

Take a page from the Japanese beauty scene and give your cheeks a purposeful dose of orange. Sure, Becca's fiery orange Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Tigerlily looks intense in the pan, but on dark skin, it's the best way to get a true flush. "On dark skin, bright orange looks subtle and pretty, and surprisingly neutral," says Ciucci.

Tangerine

Described as a "burnished orange with golden shimmer," Nars Blush in Taj Mahal is Merino's pick for those days you want to wear a statement on your cheeks. "It's such a great color to add life to your look with minimal effort," he says. So, if you're not feeling a whole face of makeup, you can let the blush speak for itself, and you'll still look refreshed for the whole day.

Tangerine

If you're looking for more of a coral tone, you can't go wrong with Glossier Cloud Paint in Dawn. Its buildable cream formula gives off the most gorgeous sunset-like orange flush that pops on darker skin tones.