Most of the blush I wear on fair skin ends up looking like I'm unintentionally cosplaying Trixie Mattel. While I'm a firm believer that there's a time and place for drag-queen blush, I don't experience those times and places very often—mostly, I want my blush to mimic my recent endorphin rush. [Insert post-coital cliche here. ] The best drugstore blushes for fair skin give us pale folks a natural-looking flush without being gaudy, rosy, or cloudy—common blush complaints among people with lighter skin—and they have the same features as their better-known counterparts Comparable all blendability and color payoff.
Generally speaking, fair skin looks best with soft pinks and peach tones. As another rule of thumb, people with cooler skin tones may choose the former, while people with warmer skin tones may choose the latter. That said, all of the shades listed previously are suitable for all types of fair skin, undertones be damned, so go ahead and choose your favorite color, finish, formula, and desired aesthetic. On top of that, all of the blushes listed earlier are under $10, so the risk level here is very low.
From ballet pink to sunny peach to sneaky contour shades, scroll through to find seven of the best drugstore blushes for a natural-looking blush. (Or not - if you're feeling dramatic today, you can build them all up.)
1.The best pink
As they say, you never forget your firsts, and for makeup lovers/hoarders, this adage often extends to our first-ever beauty products. For me, it’s L’Oreal True Match Baby Blossom. The cool-toned pale pink looks very "baby's first blush," because it is, but 15 years and a growing makeup line later, I still get turned on by this whenever I look a little under the weather and tired. Attracted by an unabashedly pretty shade, or usually deflated. The effect of color is subtle—think a gentle pinch, not a slap—but it's enough to trick out some natural joie de vivre . It also contains no shimmer, which is hard to find in drugstore blushes.
2. Neutrality at its best
One of the hardest things I've ever done in the low-stakes game of makeup shopping is finding shades of blush gold: not too orange, not too pink, not too brown, and not have any shimmer. According to people with fair skin, this nude Maybelline blush is just right. It reads pinker than the one online. Anyway, if you know what I mean, it conveys the idea of a color rather than a discernible hue - which is exactly what we want in a neutral color. This would be a nice and lively (but not too lively) shade that would go well with go-go bold brows and very dark lips.
3. The best peaches
If makeup were emotions, then peachy blush would be the feeling you get when your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant arrives on the arm of your favorite waiter. Obviously, we're talking about an outdoor restaurant on a 75-degree sunny day. This peachy blush from Physicians Formula can help you look happy with your current life choices, calmly optimistic about your future, and just a little sun-kissed. It's a balanced patchwork of pinks, nudes and bronzes, all swirled together to create a natural, inside-out glow. The pink tiles also have a hint of shimmer, giving them the subtlest sparkle.
4. Best Blush for Contouring
Cool-toned, matte, and super blendable: This NYX blush, while technically a blush, has all the makings of an ideal contouring shade for fair skin—and that's what many of the pale-skinned folks on the internet are looking for. A not-so-secret that has been discovered. Amazon reviewers rave about its impressive staying power, comfortable, slightly creamy formula, and refined buildability. As far as shade goes, I think it's a good alternative to Fenty's popular Amber Contour Stick; it's less than $8 on Amazon and about three times the price.
5. The best glitter
Speaking of cheap alternatives to universal favorites, this Milani Blush in Dolce Pink is a great alternative to NARS's signature Orgasm Blush because it has a pink coral hue and subtle gold shimmer. The glitter here is finely milled and perfectly blended, so it looks much more expensive than some other glittery drugstore blushes (Orgasm Expensive, for example). Apart from Dolce Pink, many of the shades in this range will look gorgeous on pale skin, and they can basically double as highlighters.
6.The best natural formula
Burt's Bees is the reigning champ of "natural" drugstore brands, and lucky for us, their blushes work great. The formula contains some things you may not recognize (and some you do, like jojoba oil and honey), but all ingredients are 100% plant-derived. As a mineral blush, it's a safe option for those with acne-prone or irritated skin; it's also free of potentially irritating additives like parabens, phthalates, and spices. In particular, the nude peach shade (shown here) and shy pink both look beautiful on fair skin.
7.The best liquid
Liquid blush is a unicorn as far as drugstore brands go, so I was so happy to find this one from Maybelline. It's sold as a gel-cream hybrid, but since it's water-based and oil-free, it acts more like a tint—a bit like Benefit Benetint, but less runny (which means it's easier to apply ! ). You only need to dab on a tiny bit to get a radiant flush, though if you prefer a more intense color, you can build it up a bit or mix it with moisturizer to tone it down a bit. All six shades are suitable for fair skin, although Rose Red is a foolproof pink.
