Usually not the first product you’d think of when searching for can’t miss beauty staples, but blush has become somewhat of a saving grace in recent months, proving itself as an assured one-step way to instantly inject a healthy-looking glow, without actually having to do a full face of makeup (because, you know… lockdown).

With summer just around the corner, there’s no better product to add to your beauty arsenal than blush. Before diving headfirst into your glowiest complexion yet, like most beauty products, it’s best to discern exactly what colour is going to look best on your skin tone, so as to not under or overwhelm your features—and basically, when it comes to blush, you want the colour to look as if it naturally came from your skin.

As a rule of thumb, if you’re on the paler side you want to steer clear of baby pink shades that are going to leave you looking like your childhood doll, and enter into the peachy, softer shades. For medium and olive skin tones, while you’re going to suit most shades (lucky you!), it’s best to invest in a palette that allows you to tailor a specific colour and texture, while also allowing you to adapt to changing seasons. As for darker skin tones, look to the warmer blushers that are going to complement your skin’s natural colouring, and add a radiant finish.

Read on for our edit of the best cream, powder and palette blush shades to add to your beauty arsenal.

Rose Inc Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Colour in Azalea Berry:

A long-wearing, buildable formula from Rose Inc, this hard-working product is a pigment-rich lip and cheek colour, infused with skincare ingredients like hydrating squalene, protective vitamin E, and marine ferment extract. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s favourite shade from the range? Azalea Berry, of course.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Bichette:

A jojoba oil-powered blush, Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks has a cult reputation for a reason, being packed to the brim with pigments that allow the formula to perfectly mimic the skin’s natural texture, leaving a flush that looks effortlessly blended.

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Blush in Petal Poppin:

Fans of Fenty Beauty will know that the brand is renowned for its pigments, and this product is no exception. One dab of the Cheeks Out blush and you’ll be instantly reinvigorated with a healthy-looking glow. For added effect add a swipe of Fenty Glow, à la Rihanna.

NARS Blush in Orgasm:

As one of the most iconic blush shades globally (120 of these babies is sold every hour!) NARS' Orgasm Blush is the perfect peachy pink, with a golden shimmery finish—meaning you can skip the highlighter step altogether.

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic Blush in The Climax:

Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk range is one of the world’s most recognisable, and for good reason. This deep rosy-pink powder adds that signature Pillow Talk hue, and looks just as good as you’d expect from the brand’s signature range.

MECCA MAX Chic Cheek Blush Powder in Candy Coral:

A blendable, creamy blush that adds a sweet, natural-looking flush, MECCA MAX’s blush powder uses fade-proof, light-diffusing pigments that tune into your complexion’s natural undertones to bring out an extra shining finish. The Candy Coral is not to be missed.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio in Pool Party:

A buildable palette with a mix of three differing shades means you can use this blush trio’s colours as they stand, or blend them together to create a completely unique hue. Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Pool Party palette is a perfect blend of casual cool and statement-making shades.

Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in 004 Rose Gold:

As iconic as it gets, the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette is many makeup artists secret weapon for adding an instant radiance. The 004 Rose Gold palette mixes the best kind of pinks, from pearly and rose finishes to an intense gold and peach with luxe metallic notes.

Morphe 8C Cool Pro Blush Palette:

Those who are Morphe fans will know the brand’s penchant for big, bold and bright colours, and of course that rings true for their blush products too. With eight curated cool tones, all with a mix of matte, shimmer and satin finishes, there is a colour fit for every beauty look in this hard-working palette.

Image Credits: Rose Inc