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When I’m out exploring a new city, some blush and mascara are my go-to makeup bag essentials that make me feel a million dollars! Check out our picks for the top blushes that last for the rigors of travel, or more!
Best Blush Color Palettes and Brands
Table Of Contents
A sweep of blush across my face makes me feel like I’ve made an effort and am ready for anything. I love the feeling of the pinched cheek glow that a classic brown and red blush gives me.
When I’m traveling, I like to keep my makeup bag as slim as possible, with my essentials being mascara, eyeliner, a small eyeshadow palette, lip gloss, and natural blush. Since I like to spend my day sightseeing and am often in warm and humid countries I look for blush-on shades that are long-lasting for all-day wear. I also like a powder blush in a hotter climate as I find it keeps my face cooler and less prone to breakouts than if I use a cream blush.
Check out some TFG top picks for makeup blusher powders that will give you that whole day glow!
Best Long Lasting Blush Powders
NARS Blush
The NARS blushes are soft pressed powders that users rave about. The high-quality pigmentation means you only need a tiny bit, so one blush lasts you a long time! It comes in a ton of pretty (and risque named) shades, with shimmer and matte finishes in a cute mirrored compact.
One wearer raves (about color ‘Orgasm’), “My favorite blush ever. It’s so pretty and the little glitter in it tops it off. I am medium skin toned and it looks so awesome on me! I think it would fit any skin tone!” Another agrees, “This is the best selling blush in the US, and for a good reason. I’ve bought it a couple of times, it is a great color and lasts for over a year!”
MAC Powder Blush
A favorite of makeup fans, this MAC blush is loved for its shimmer and blendable qualities (by its almost 100% 5-star ratings).
Reviews love the shades, and the long-lasting, buildable color. One shares, “Best blush I have ever worn. Will continue to buy this forever. Looks way better than other brands.” Another agrees and says, “Love this blush. A little goes a long way.“
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush
The Tarte blush comes in a round mirrored compact that contains the pressed powder in a ton of shades. The soft powder allows for a built-up of blendable color for a natural look all day long. Plus they have the color “rosy nude” in a mini size that’s great for travel.
Users adore this product, one describes her shade, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Paaarty, as a “Classic rose blusher shade. I’ve bought this shade for several years because it stays on for a long period of time. It’s a smooth texture and goes nicely on full makeup or just naked skin.”
Read this post to find out our tips for packing travel makeup!
Shop: Sephora | Clinique | ULTA
Clinique Blush
This Clinique blush pop is a cute daisy embossed pressed powder that comes in a wide range of shades. The compact is quite small, but that makes it perfect for travel. And a little goes a long way!
One user shares, “I love the cheek pop formula, this is my second color. Great formula, lasts all day long, no streaking at all. Would love to buy more colors,” and another adds, “It honestly has been my go-to for the last three years. Very long-lasting, natural yet buildable shades. Most definitely recommended as a staple.”
Shop: Amazon
Too Faced Papa Don’t Peach Blush
This Too Faced blush is a brightening peachy-bronze that gives a fresh and dewy look. Plus, like other Too Faced products, it smells delicious too!
Reviews of these Too Faced blushes share, “Love the smell, applies well and pigment lasts for hours.” And another explains, “Just wow—this blush is special. It’s like blush and highlighter combined so it does give a starburst effect to the cheekbones. It’s very pigmented and needs a lighter hand unless you are going for the golden, goddess look.”
Bare Minerals Blushes
bareMinerals makes “good-for-skin” products that are cruelty-free and free of harsh chemicals and unnecessary additives, and this soft and natural blush is blendable and highlights your cheeks for an effortless look.
One TFG reader recommends this and shares, “bareMinerals has a powder blush. You can put some of the powder in a contact lens case. Just dip your finger in (skip the brush!) and apply.” Another shares, “This Bare Minerals blush is so pigmented, a little truly goes a long way! It’s easily blendable and sits beautifully on the skin.”
Benefit Cosmetics WANDERful World Blush Mini
Benefit make great products, but are also an awesome brand that is aware of the need for travel-sized performance products. This mini Benefit blush contains four shades in one, for a combinable color, complete in a boxed compact with a small blending brush.
A wearer gushes, “The VERY best shimmering blush for summer! So gorgeous! The mini is a perfect size!”, while another explains, “It’s the first one that isn’t super pigmented that brings life to my face. I feel bronzed and summery yet elegant and not childish. It’s a nice blend.”
Milani Baked Blush
Miliani blush is a drugstore priced brand that’s loved by users. Despite its low price point, reviews share that it lasts all day and gives a rich and pigmented color.
One of the Milani baked blush reviews shares, “I love this color and I love this blush! Very pigmented. This product stays on! Also worth noting is that this is not a huge amount of product, but I like that it’s a smaller size because it doesn’t add yet another gigantic item into my make-up kit.” (making it great for travel!)
Here are the best stick foundation recommendations that our readers swear by!
Revlon Powder Blush
Revlon is a good drugstore blush that’s been around for generations, so you know that it will be a solid pick for the price. The super-smooth texture of this blush brushes on for a light flushed highlight that doesn’t look heavy or feel chalky.
One user explains, “This Revlon blush is perfect for summer! It gives you a nice glow without going over the top—especially great for finishing up your contouring and bringing everything together to look natural.”
Maybelline Blush – Fit Me
Maybelline Fit Me is one of the best drugstore blushes and users like it for a budget option. It does take a bit more layering to build up to the color you want but has a shimmer that gives a natural glow.
One user shares, “It blends out really nicely on the cheeks, not too pigmented but you can build it up!”
theBalm INSTAIN Cheek Blush
Besides the cute fashion magazine styling of this the Balm blusher, users love it for its staying power. A little goes a long way and users rate the blend-ability too.
One explains, “The Balm Blush is very nice because it stays true to color and doesn’t disappear over the course of the day. It looks natural on the skin and you can apply as little (for just a hint of color) or as much (for more intense color) as you want. If you’re looking for a blush with staying power, with no need for touch-ups, I highly recommend this one!”
Here are our picks for the best long-lasting concealer for travel!
Chanel Powder Blush
For a brand that oozes class and luxury, try this Chanel blush. It comes in a classically styled mirror compact, complete with a mini-application brush for on-the-go touch-ups. The silky shades apply easily and blend to accentuate the cheekbones and rejuvenate the skin.
A user raves, “This blush is amazing! It’s long-lasting and little goes a long way. I’ve been using it for years and it’s very consistent. I would definitely recommend this blush.”
Best Blush Palette
Shop: NARS
NARS Four Play Blush Palettes
Okay, so this isn’t the blush you would take with you on your vacay, but we could not include the NARS blush palette, as users simply adore it. It has four great shades to switch up your look from day to night. However, you could try to decant some of the colors into smaller containers to take along with you!
One user describes how she is ‘obsessed’ with these gorgeous NARS blush swatches, while another explains how it is “super pigmented and the variety of colors are so good, amazing for every type of look you’re going for!”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Kit
This Anastasia blush trio has highly pigmented blushes for buildable intensity. Wear the shades alone, or build them for a flushed, multi-dimensional look.
Users love this Anastasia blush palette, with one raving, “Wow! Never had there been a blush this good. The colors are so pigmented and lovely. So natural and yet so dramatic!”
Shop: Amazon
NYX Powder Blushes Sweet Cheeks Palette
This NYX Sweet Cheeks blush palette can achieve master looks with an ombre blush or shimmery highlighting that features eight shades of matte and metallic blushes.
One wearer of this NYX powder blush shares, “This is a great blush palette! It has versatility, with matte and shimmer blushes in all the shades you need. The blushes are vibrant and easy to build up.” While another shares this top tip, “Beautiful different colored blushes. I have found that you can also use them as eyeshadows and they look wonderful.”
Shop: Amazon | Hourglass | Sephora
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette
This Hourglass blush highlighter palette is a more premium brand, which is cruelty-free and vegan, but users adore the quality and how it makes their face glow.
One user shares, “The three colors are strikingly different. I thought they’d be too similar but they work beautifully in different ways. And they do exactly as they are touted to do—highlight without looking TOO overdone. It will take a while to run out. It doesn’t take much to glow! If you are on the line about paying this much money, I can tell you that it’s one product that is worth the expense.”
e.l.f. Cosmetics Powder Blush Color Palette
For a 4-in-1 option, look at this elf blush palette. It’s a drugstore blush that still has an easy to apply powder with good pigmentation.
One user shares, “I love this blush palette, it isn’t too pigmented nor too sheer. it’s perfect for every look!” While another explains, “For being inexpensive, it’s nice quality! Also, love the big mirror and packaging.”
Pack light with the best makeup palettes for travel!
Blush Makeup Product Comparison Chart
Where to Put Blush?
So we all know that blush is for cheeks, but where to put it and how to make it look natural and not clown-like depends on your face shape.
The main tips to remember are to apply it to the apples of your cheeks and have a good brush to blend it fully with your base layer, for a natural glow. Remember, build up in soft layers, you can always add more, but taking it off means starting over!
What Color Blush Should I Wear?
When it comes to which blush colors to use, it depends on what look you want to achieve and your skin tone.
For travel, a small sized palette is best because you can use a subtle shade for a daytime look, or layer your regular color to create something more dramatic or use a darker shade in the palette for a night on the town which would look gorgeous with a smokey eye.
What is the best color blush that you use for travel? Share your picks in the comments below!
For more travel makeup, please read:
- The Best Non Smudge Eye Liner for Long Flights
- What’s the Best Long Lasting Lipstick for Travel?
- The 10 Best Long-Lasting Concealers for Travel
- The Best Sweatproof Makeup for Hot and Humid Weather
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Any suggestions for a cream or stick blush?
Hi Carmen, thank you for reaching out! We have a range of suggestions for cream blush on this post: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/best-cream-blush/ Hope this helps you in your search! ?