Like any blush, liquid blushes come in a variety of finishes; you can find options that skew shimmery, matte, dewy or radiant. Choosing the right finish depends partly on the look you’re going for and partly on your skin type.

Gel blush is always a nice option for natural looks. It’s also typically really easy to apply and blend plus it wears well on drier skin as it doesn’t adhere to drier areas the way a powder would. The same holds true for those with larger, visible pores as the gel won’t accentuate those issues the way a powder would. Gels also tend to wear longer and stronger than a powder. Our one con with this one is that it's not the most long-wearing formula—it fades significantly after a few hours. However, it's an easy blush to re-apply and touch up throughout the day thanks to the workable texture that can be applied with your fingertips.Its thin, liquid-y feel is supremely easy to blend, possibly because of the addition of moisturizing monoï and tamanu oils, both of which can be found throughout the brand's entire line of liquid blush. Yet the pigments are what we love the most — they're rich, luminous, and full-bodied enough that they show up on all skin tones. Offering a diverse range that can be applied to suit your personal preference and beauty aesthetic, Milani makes it easy to carve out your beauty niche, whatever that may be. Statement lip, bold graphic liner or flawless skin? Milani cosmetics has you covered. Wear it your way with Milani makeup While drugstore blushes tend to come as powders or creams, this liquid number stands out not only for its formula, but because it’s just that good, too. “It blends down seamlessly,” says Jaikaran, who counts it among her favorites. The buildable formula can go from sheer to bold in a matter of seconds with additional layers, and even better, it features nutrient-dense ingredients, like pomegranate and watermelon, to nourish skin, too. Pink Flirt Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Isododecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice

What We Love: This blush is a nearly universal crowdpleaser, delivering a lit-from-within glow without any glitter or excess shine. Then, once you’ve added a dot to your skin, blend it out using your fingers, a fluffy brush, or a makeup sponge. Add more if you want bolder color or stop there if you prefer a more transparent look. Nude Flush Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Isododecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice I’m glad they are sheer and lightly pigmented. That’s why I love cream blush. Cream products tend to look natural and skin like and I’ve been rather disappointed with a lot of modern drugstore cream blushes. I feel trapped with high-end and I just can’t afford it. I know I’m in the minority here but it is nice to have products that work for my skintone. So many cream products are so dark now a days. I think brands got obsessed with making them work with brushes and looking good on mid tone youtubers they sorta forgot we exist. I’m not even the palest person I know but I can not even consider using most of the blushes on the market. Since their baked blushes are so pigmented I think it’s nice these are more my speed. I think if you have intense blushes in another formula that work for darker skintones but not lighter it only makes sense to make a sheer light formula. That shade looks a little dark to me so I’m hopeful the pink is more natural. I’ll be getting one in the fall now that I know they maybe my speed so thank you for the review. I understand other people will be disappointed in these but honestly I really wanna be able to wear blush and most blushes marketed as sheer are too dark for me much less those paler than me. Hopefully shades like wine glow and berry smooch look decent on med-dark skintones so we can all be happy. Sorry for the essay lol It pairs a weightless feel with buildable color, so you can wear it sheer for a natural flush or apply more for added drama. It blends beautifully, Jaikaran says, and is incredibly pigmented. Heads up, though: While that pigment is a plus, it’s "very easy to go overboard,” says Emily Gray, celebrity makeup artist and ambassador for Catrice Cosmetics, who’s a fan of the radiant finishes in particular.Liquid blushes tend to be super-concentrated, which is why you can usually find them in tiny tubes and bottles. And because a single dab will usually have a ton of pigment, a blendable formula is key. “They have to be easily buffed out with either a dense brush, beauty blender, or your fingers,” says Gray. “I also like when the first layer of blush is sheerer, so that I can build the product up. If there is too much pigment, it does not look as seamless.” For easy (and precise) application, it has a built-in cushion tip for you to dot it along your cheekbones — although keep in mind that it can be tough to clean. The only other bummer is that the three available shades are better suited for fairer skin tones. So, proceed with caution to get the most natural finish, knowing you can always add more without it ever getting cakey. More of a cheek stain than a blush, Benetint was one of the first in the category (and some millennials might recognize it from their high-school days). Designed for both lips and cheeks, it has a super-light, almost watery texture that feels like nothing on your skin. Thanks to that lightweight nature, it delivers more of a hint of color versus a colorful flush, although you can build it up for more impact. Maybe we’ll see more gel blushes and liquid blushes pop up as we head into Summer as well. We’ll see if this trend continues!

Those who feel intimidated by overly pigmented blushes or just prefer a subtle wash of color on their cheeks will appreciate how sheer this one is. If you like a buildable flush that gives a naturally rosy look, this blush is a budget-friendly and convenient drugstore option. What We Don’t Love: The formula is so sheer that you might go through a tube ASAP and the lighter hues might not show up on deeper skin tones. It also gets bonus points for versatility, since you can use it on both cheeks and lips for a monochromatic look. However, it may inadvertently lift your complexion products, such as foundation and concealer, depending on their formulation. The general rule is to pair like with like, so a liquid blush will blend best over a liquid foundation. But even if you swear by powder or cream foundations, there's not much harm in trying this one out, given its affordability, to see how it works with your overall routine. Finally, “if you’re looking for more longevity, set it with a translucent powder or a corresponding shade in powder form,” she says, adding that if you accidentally applied too much, don't sweat it — liquid blush is forgiving. “You can always blend it out with a damp sponge or your fingertips." Is liquid blush better than cream blush? Berry Smooch Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Isododecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Mica, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit JuiceEach of the four shades — rose, coral, red and plum — are vibrantly pigmented while still offering translucent finish, while the gelée-like texture is a cinch to blend in with fingers. INGREDIENTS: Triethylhexanoin, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyethylene, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090)