Blush is one of those make-up OGs that’s been with us, in one form or another, since ancient times. And yet finding the best blush palette for you can be tricky.
Do you want a big color selection, or just a few choice shades? Shimmery or matte? And what kind of packaging can withstand your lifestyle?
Maybe you’re a make-up master in need of a change after using the same blusher set for years. And let’s be honest, old habits die hard. Or maybe you’re a newbie ready to dip your toes in the blusher waters for the first time. Either way, we’re here to help.
We’ve selected our top ten blusher kits with all types of consumers in mind. Whether you want to avoid breaking the bank or lux it up, this list will help broaden your horizons. So let’s get to it!
The 10 Best Blush Palettes:
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio
When you know what shades suit you, two or three colors are all you need. And this three-tone blusher set comes in 5 variations, so no matter your skin tone, there’ll be something for you.
In addition, ABH lives up as always to its reputation here with highly pigmented formulas. Surprised? Neither are we.
Each set has a bold, vibrant shade and two complementary colors, all of them distinct and finely milled too. The formula and color combos make this a great palette for experimentation as it’s so easy to customize your own shades.
You probably won’t need to top up throughout the day, but if you do want to travel with this trio, the packaging is perfect. The square shape is easy to slip into a jacket pocket, a handbag, or a suitcase. So if you’re looking for a no-nonsense, neat little daily driver, this might just be the one.
2. Benefit Blush Bar Cheek Palette Set
Of all the cheek palettes out there, this one is something special. Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of eye-catching packaging that makes you smile.
Not only does this blusher kit contain a mirror(which could be bigger, but we’ll forgive them for that)and pretty designs printed into the blushers themselves, but it also comes with a brush! It’s just a small brush, mind you, though very handy. Overall, Benefit have really thought out the user experience of this product, and we’re big fans.
But what about the formulas themselves? Its five shades are made to work on a variety of skin tones and give you the choice between matte and shimmer. The metallic pink ‘Gold Rush’ is particularly eye-catching, and will make you feel next-level glamorous on a night out.
If you like how this palette is structured but want more brown tones to choose from, Benefit’s Cheek Stars blush palette might be the one for you. However, to us, Blush Bar is simply too tantalizing!
3. Tarte Tarteist Pro Glow & Blush
If you’re trying to cut down on the number of palettes in your arsenal, this six shade palette does three jobs for the price of one!
Four blushes, a highlighter, and a bronzer come together here to make what we think is maybe the best blush palette for a quick and easy nighttime look. We think you could also contour with this if you really want to!
These luminous shades will add some subtle shine to your look without being too garish and will last all night. If you do fancy topping up in the taxi, the easy to fold out box comes with two mirrors on either side. And we love a free mirror.
The formula for this classy palette contains Amazonian clay, a signature ingredient of the brand. In their ingredient breakdown, they describe this as ‘nature’s most perfect ingredient’.
The benefit of this clay is ‘better, longer, truer wear’. Which must be true, as it’s in so many of their best products!
If you’re interested in incorporating more of Tarte’s Amazonian clay into your routine, check out their waterproof concealer, which we talked about in our article on the best waterproof concealers.
4. Too Faced Natural Face Palette
Yet another palette that’ll highlight, blush and bronze at the same time, this cruelty-free and unabashedly feminine Too Faced set is really well thought out as well as good quality.
Firstly, we have to applaud Too Faced for including a full-sized mirror here. So many cheek palettes fail to do this, but it adds a good deal of value and usability. All the frills and decorations are saved for the front of the box, which is designed to look like an ornate purse, with lace details and gold lettering.
Inside, you’ll find 6 generously-sized shades, ranging from the bold to the demure, including one matte and one satin blush. These are formulated with coconut butter for some natural hydration, which is always nice to see. The coconut butter also helps give the powder a soft, velvety texture, which will feel lovely gliding onto the skin.
You’ll feel the quality of the formula when applying these shades, and the overall scent just adds that extra touch of luxury to this beautiful little palette. Just keep in mind that the pigments are on the frosted side, so use it if you want to really glow.
5. Smashbox L.A. Lights Blush and Highlight Palette
This travel-friendly and cruelty-free palette from Smashbox brings things back to the basics with three shades and a good-sized mirror. Even if the case isn’t the most exciting looking one on the market, you can rest assured that it won’t randomly open in your handbag!
Formula-wise, there’s nothing totally innovative here. However, these shades have very reliable staying power and won’t flake. And the highlighter shade is nicely matched too.
Looking to cut nasties out of your beauty routine? This palette is free of parabens, phthalates, oil, and fragrance! Not to mention sodium lauryl sulfate, which many modern consumers are now steering clear of.
While some people like fragrance, it isn’t really necessary in a blush as you’ll only be dusting it on your cheeks. And leaving out fragrance is a smart move from an accessibility standpoint too. No fragrance means that even those with sensitive skin can enjoy this product.
There aren’t any frills here, but not everyone wants frills. Sometimes all you need is a lot of product in the pan at an affordable price.
6. Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Contour Palette – Sugar & Spice
You won’t need to worry about layering or re-application with this wonderfully pigmented palette from Makeup Revolution. It’s eight shade selection offers six matte options plus two shimmery treats for when you’re feelin’ fancy.
While it doesn’t come with a mirror (boo!), it makes up for this in versatility and a good formula. The shades are easy to blend together and offer something for every occasion.
This is one of the best blush palette options for daytime looks. However, we just love the shimmery hot pink and dusty pink shades. Rather than simply looking “shiny” on the skin, the colors really pop and don’t require layering in order to stand out.
If you’re looking for a super creamy formula, this might not be the one for you. That being said, for being a more powdery product, there’s no flaking or caking in sight. So if you like the colors, just go for it.
As wallet-friendly drugstore options go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
7. Juvia’s Place The Saharan Blush Palette Vol II
The eye-catching, warm shades in this six pan palette are too tantalizing to resist. But how does it hold up in practice? The packaging isn’t super durable, yes, but the pressed powder formulas themselves are nice and silky.
In addition, these shades are made to suit a wide range of skin tones, which takes some of the stress out of buying “blind” online.
This is yet another daytime friendly palette with two shimmery options, making it very situation-versatile. We think some of these shades would even make lovely eyeshadows! And the size of the pans themselves means you’ve got plenty of product to experiment with.
If you’re looking for pigment, pretty colors, and nice texture – and don’t mind forgoing a mirror – this is one of the best cheek palettes that offers a lot of choice at an affordable price.
8. Coastal Scents 10 Color Blush Palette
Six shades not enough for you, but you still don’t want to break the bank? Look no further than this ten color blusher kit from Coastal Scents.
While many larger palettes tend to focus on matte shades, offering just one or two shimmers, this palette is simply radiant. With six shimmer shades in total, you’ll feel practically fabulous. And you won’t have to worry about looking opaque or cakey.
Giving ten shades to choose from, this palette has a lot of versatility expectations to live up to – and it certainly delivers. Pink, red, orange, and tan, all included here, giving you a plethora of choice across warm and cool parts of the spectrum.
Even if some of the shades aren’t to your liking, there’s so many to use that it’ll feel like money well spent regardless!
There’s no mirror here, but the case is sturdy enough. It’s made from plastic, rather than the cardboard housing of some of its mirror less competitors, so it’ll withstand a journey in your bag or being chucked in the back of the car.
But what about the formula? It’s got good staying power for the price, and we love how the shimmers really shine without the use of chunky glitter.
9. COVERGIRL Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush Peach Perfection
COVERGIRL has been around for over half a century, and for good reason: they know what they’re doing. So with this three shade shimmer-tastic blusher set that takes things back to basics, you know you’re in good hands.
First things first, we love the compact size of this packaging. Not to mention that it comes with a chunky little brush for ease of application. There’s just something nice about a free brush isn’t there?
When it comes to the blushers themselves, these shades are very pretty. And while there’s only three to choose from, dark and light it is really all you need. If you do want to experiment and mix the colors together, the creamy formula makes this pretty easy.
The ingredient list does contain some fragrance in the form of eucalyptus oil, which in high concentrations could cause sensitivity issues. However, the vast majority of people won’t have any issues with this.
Overall, along with the ABH trio we mentioned earlier, this is maybe the best blush palette offering three lovely shades in portable packaging.
10. Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Blush Color & Highlight Kit
Housed in a handbag-friendly but a sizable box, this four-shade blusher kit from Maybelline New York is a great middle-ground between choice and practicality.
While this may not come with a brush or a mirror, this set offers one of the nicest formulas on the market. And why is that? Well, the formula is gel-based, meaning it’s light on the skin and certainly won’t flake.
True to Maybelline’s usual standards, these blushes are strongly pigmented too. Not a single stipple of your brush will go to waste, and you’ll have this in your make-up drawer for a good long time.
Did we mention that the pans here are huge? No puny circles of the product here – just a good helping of blusher in four rectangles that fill the entire inside of the box.
There’s quite a contrast between the lightest and the darkest shade in this palette, and the highlight is rather understated. This means you might have to do some mixing and combining to get the most out of each shade. But make-up is for experimenting with, right?
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!