It is no secret that your makeup looks incomplete without a kiss of colour on your cheeks. Just one stroke of blush can give your dull complexion that oomph you’ve been missing. While powder blush-on certainly has its place, there’s something extra special about the radiant sheen that cream formulas offer. Besides, cream blushes contain hydrating, soothing and smoothing ingredients that keep the colour looking flawless along with nourishing the skin as well. Unlike powder blush, which can look streaky or powdery if you overdo it, cream blush is so easy to apply— just tap on and blend out with fingers for a particularly subtle effect or buff into skin with a stippling brush or sponge for extra precision.

If you’re looking for some creamy formulas that will blend seamlessly into your skin, giving you that lit-from-within glow, here a few options to choose from…

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush

This hydrating, non-greasy cream blush is light-as-air and blends like silk. It contains candelilla wax, a lighter beeswax alternative, so it melts into the skin, providing an effortless wash of colour that’ll glide on smoothly. The long-lasting formula is water-resistant and sweat-resistant so you can wear it on a hot and humid day without it melting off your face. It comes in 10 stunning shades - from purples and oranges to pinks, peaches, and bronzy browns - there’s something for every skin tone.

E.l.f. Cosmetics Cream Blush Palette

Filled with four gorgeous shades, this cream blush palette is a dream. Available in soft and bold palettes, it is not only richly pigmented but is formulated to last all day. These blushes are buildable and give you gorgeous, customizable colour with every use. The Cream Blush Palette in soft has a mix of peach, pink, and neutral colours, while the bold palette, offering coral and plum hues, is everything you could ever need to brighten up your face.

Stila Convertible Colour

This castor seed oil-enhanced cream blush is perfect for anyone who loves a sheer effect. Creamy but not particularly opaque, this two-in-one product works as a cream blush and lip colour. This blush glides on smooth, and its colour deepens with each application. Available in a few shades including a brownish rose, a nude mauve, and a peachy brown, Stila Convertible Colour is quite easy to use. All you need to do is swirl your finger or brush into the disc of creamy pigment, tap it lightly onto your cheeks and/or lips, and you’re good to go. It feels weightless on the skin, and just a bit of it goes a long way.

NARS The Multiple

The brand, well-known for its iconic powder blush shade, Orgasm, also offers a unique creamy formula that blends effortlessly to create shimmering accents; contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones. The Multiple comes in a handy little stick and is available in six colours (including the shimmery golden-peach Orgasm shade). It’s easy to apply, and leaves your cheekbones with a velvety smooth glow. Sweep it across your cheekbones, brow line or lips; it works everywhere.

Milk Makeup Glow Oil Lip + Cheek

This cream blush is infused with ultra-moisturizing plant oils to give your skin a juicy berry tint and a super-dewy glow. The antioxidant-rich formula provides hydration for an instant, natural glow. You can wear it on your cheeks as a glowy blush or apply it on lips as a popsicle stain. It easily glides over cheekbones so you can build up the colour and dew level without the formula getting thick or greasy.

Glossier Cloud Paint

Glossier Cloud Paint blends into the skin seamlessly and the blurring pigments give a soft-focus effect that doesn’t accentuate texture or pores. The blush is sheer enough to let your natural skin breathe, while still improving your overall complexion, giving that gorgeous flush. It comes in eight stunning shades and what’s great about this product is that you only need a tiny dot to brighten up your entire face.