There was a time when the vast majority of blush on the market was in pressed powder form. Those were simpler days: Pick a pink, swirl on your cheeks with the little brush that came inside the compact, call it a day. Now, however, there are not only more traditional blushes than ever before, but also a downright superabundance of other types of cheek pigments: creams, gels, stains, and even charmingly strange hybrids that bounce back when you touch them. What a time to be alive and have a face, am I right?

While it's great to have options, it can also leave you wondering which ones actually belong in your makeup bag and how to use each kind correctly. There's no universally "best" blush formula or format. It’s all about figuring out which one suits the look you're after and learning how to apply it.

Some blush types are practically foolproof, while others require a little finesse and even haste. Some excel at creating a barely there flush, while others are ideal for willfully piling on the pigment. To help you figure out which is which, we asked makeup artists to break down every major type of blush and give guidance on making the most of them.

Meet the experts:

• Allan Avendaño is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
• Melissa Hurkman is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
• Diana Koshurba is a makeup artist in southwest Florida and Portland, Oregon.
• Patricia Longo is a makeup artist based in Miami.

Pressed powder blush

What it is

Pressed powder blush is the gold standard for versatility. Made in matte, satin, luminous, and shimmer finishes, it's one of the easiest formulas to control, whether you want the faintest hint of color or a bold, editorial flush.

“It works on bare skin, over powder, and over foundation as long as it isn’t really wet and has dried down and set a bit,” says Allan Avendaño, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist. “They come in different opacities but are always buildable and can also be applied sparingly.”

Makeup artist Diana Koshurba, who loves the skin-like finish of Haus Labs Color Fuse Talc-Free Blush, says pressed powder blush is one of the most beginner-friendly formulas. "It offers excellent wear time—typically 8 to 12 hours—and is ideal for setting cream or liquid blush underneath for even longer-lasting color.”

Pro tips

“Always start with less product than you think you need and build gradually,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Melissa Hurkman, whose clients include Khloe Kardashian and Shay Mitchell.

Every makeup artist we spoke to recommended using a fluffy brush, like the Sephora Collection Pro Blush Brush #96 or the Real Techniques Precision Blush Brush, for pressed powder blush. “Smile gently and sweep the color onto the apples of the cheeks, blending upward toward the temples for a lifted effect,” says Miami-based makeup artist Patricia Longo. Koshurba and Hurkman both like dusting a touch across the bridge of the nose as well.

Pressed powder blush also plays well with others. ”I like to use powder blush on top of cream or liquid blush after they dry down a bit to help it set and be more opaque,” says Avendaño.

Cream blush

What it is

Cream blush has become a modern favorite, thanks to its knack for melting into the skin with novice-friendly blendability. Available in compacts and sticks, cream blush delivers a variety of finishes, from fresh and hydrated to powder-like. “Depending on the formula, it can be sheer and dewy or more pigmented with a satin finish,” Hurkman says.

"I'm a huge fan of cream blushes," says Longo, noting that many formulas boast skin care-focused ingredients like squalane and peptides, like her personal favorite, Yensa Super Serum Silk Buildable Cream Blush. “They’re especially flattering on mature skin because they don't emphasize texture the way matte powders can.”

Avendaño has used it for red carpet looks as often as casual looks—it’s just that versatile. But be prepared to reapply if you don’t top it off with powder blush. “It can be buildable, but like all creamy and emollient products, your face will eat it up faster,” he says.

Pro tips

Cream blush is one of the most flexible formulas when it comes to application. You can use your fingers, a damp sponge, a dense brush, or apply straight from the stick before going in with your tool of choice. “I actually prefer using my fingertips because they give you the most control and the warmth of your hands helps the product melt into the skin,” Longo says.

Even though gliding a stick directly on your cheeks is a completely valid choice, you may want to save that move for bare skin. “Rather than applying directly from the stick, I usually pick up product with a brush first,” Hurkman says. “It gives me much more control and helps preserve the foundation underneath.”

For an especially natural effect, Avendaño suggests trying underpainting—applying cream blush before foundation so the color peeks through subtly.

Liquid blush

What it is

Liquid blush delivers many of the same benefits as cream formulas, like being buildable and luminous, but often with even lighter textures and more concentrated color. "One or two dots are often enough," says Koshurba, who notes that liquid blushes are surprisingly pigmented despite their weightless feel, so don’t go swiping a big ol’ stripe across your cheek.

Many users find that liquid blushes are not as foolproof as cream blushes. “They require a careful hand,” Longo says. “They can become streaky or blotchy if they're not blended quickly.”

If you’re feeling confident with the format, though, “Liquid blush creates fresh, glowing, healthy-looking skin and works beautifully for both natural everyday makeup and radiant bridal looks,” Koshurba says.

Pro tips

If the pros were to give only one tip, it would be to blend immediately. Don’t even think of dotting the other cheek before you’ve blended the first, whether it’s with your fingers, a sponge, or a brush.

“Well-moisturized skin helps liquid blush blend much more evenly,” Longo says, and that’s true whether you’re going right in on bare skin with your color or applying atop liquid foundation.

Every makeup artist we spoke to recoiled when asked about applying liquid blush over powder, but if you absolutely must, “use a tapping motion with a sponge or brush to avoid disturbing the makeup underneath,” Hurkman says.

If you're unsure about the pigmentation and want to beat the going-overboard allegations, Koshurba recommends placing the product on the back of your hand before putting it on your face to get a sense of how much you’ll need.

Cheek tint and stain

What it is

“Cheek tints and stains deliver sheer, long-lasting color that sinks into the skin rather than sitting on top of it,” Longo says. “They create that 'just-pinched' flush.” These are especially long-wearing formulas that let natural skin texture and freckles show through, which is why Avendaño recommends using them only on bare skin.

The good news: “Once they set, they stay put,” Hurkman says. “They’re lightweight, transfer-resistant, and perfect for all-day wear,” even on the hottest of days. The bad news: Once they set, they stay put. If you don’t blend them quickly, you risk staining your skin in a hard-to-undo, blotchy way.

Pro tips

Speed matters. Because stains set like they’re trying to win a race, work with a dot, one cheek at a time, blending immediately with fingertips or a dense brush.

Not satisfied with the intensity? “Apply again for a bolder wash of color,” Avendaño says. It’s much easier to add cheek stain than to subtract it.

Gel and jelly blush

What it is

Gel and jelly blushes occupy a translucent, candy-esque middle ground between cream blush and cheek tint. Their lightweight, cooling textures feel refreshing upon application. The finishes can range from dewy to stain-like, depending on the formula.

Packaged as sticks or as balms in compacts, gel and jelly blushes have become synonymous with summer makeup, which makes sense considering they look gorgeous on bare skin. Avendaño especially loves Milk Cooling Water Jelly Tint. “Its working time is fast, but it leaves a good pop of color that’s long-lasting,” he says. "It’s much like a stain, so it really does stay put on bare skin very well.”

Gel and jelly blushes are also friendly to liquid and cream foundations, but as with other non-powder blush formulas, you may want to avoid applying them on top of powder.

Pro tips

There’s really no wrong tool for applying a gel or jelly blush. Avendaño likes to use a dense, domed brush or a sponge to stipple it onto the cheeks, while Hurkman prefers to use fingertips to gently press the product into the skin.

“You can apply a stick directly to the cheeks using small, circular motions, then blend with your fingertips,” Longo says. But while some gels behave like a stain, others…not so much. “Since these formulas stay closer to the surface of the skin, you may need to reapply throughout the day.”

Bouncy blush

What it is

We can’t talk about bouncy blush without saluting the discontinued diva that put it on the map: Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush. She bounced so others could run.

A bit of a tactile mystery to anyone who isn’t a cosmetic chemist, bouncy blushes combine the airy feel of mousse with a cream-to-powder finish. They're cushiony to the touch, lightweight on the skin, and usually dry down to a soft satin or velvety finish.

"When I think of bouncy blush, I often think of K-beauty trends," says Avendaño, who loves the soft-focus effect these formulas create when draped across the cheeks and around the eyes. Longo agrees, saying they're ideal for a glowing, everyday makeup look.

Bouncy blush works well on bare skin, liquid foundation, and even lightly powdered complexions, thanks to its hybrid texture.

Pro tips

Fingertips are the top tool recommendation from the makeup artists we spoke to because they preserve the cloud-like texture while helping press pigment naturally into the skin. “I think using your fingers is possibly the easiest and most convenient way to apply the blush, but you can stipple it out with a dense brush,” says Avendaño, who recommends Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush for its blurred, matte finish.

Hurkman also likes a dense brush for blending bouncy blush, specifically with synthetic bristles. “Press the product into the skin rather than sweeping it across the cheeks,” she says. “It creates a more seamless, skin-like finish.”

Loose powder blush

What it is

Loose powder blush is traditional pressed powder blush’s more ethereal cousin, and far less common—only a handful of loose powder blushes are on the market. Its finely milled texture creates a diffused, almost airbrushed effect that feels lighter on the skin.

Don’t be deceived by that lightness, however. “Because the pigment isn’t pressed, a little product goes a long way,” Hurkman says. Koshurba agrees, adding that using a light hand is key with loose powder blushes. Both she and Avendaño love Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Blush for its blurred finish.

Avendaño says loose powder blush works on both bare and made-up skin, but it's not as easy to control. “Similar to pressed powder blushes, apply it on top of foundation that has been set or dried down a bit to avoid patchy application,” he adds.

Pro tips

It’s unanimous: Always tap excess loose powder blush off of your brush before applying. This is nonnegotiable. “I like to apply it in a swirling motion on the apples of the cheeks and into the temples,” Avendaño says. Koshurba recommends buffing in gentle, circular motions for the smoothest finish.

Loose powder blush can even be used to help improve the finish of pressed powder blush. “If you find your blush looking not so diffused and a little blotchy or uneven, add loose powder blush to smooth it out on top or right before you add your pressed blush for a smooth application,” Koshurba says.

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