3 Clean Cream Blush Options For Mature Skin

Have you noticed that as you have aged, your skin has felt drier and thinner? You may find that the powder makeup you once used now makes your skin look dull and settles into your fine lines. Over the past few years, I’ve been switching my powder makeup to liquids and creams, including my foundation and blushes. I recently tried these 3 popular clean cream blush options for my mature skin ,and here’s my review of them…

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Jones Road Miracle Balm

Makeup legend Bobbi Brown founded Jones Road to create simple, clean beauty products. The Miracle Balm quickly became a cult favorite, especially for makeup minimalists. It can be used as a blush, bronzer, or highlighter, depending on your skin tone and the shade that you select.

There are 9 shades that range from Au Naturel (with a pearly finish) to Sunkissed (a deep reddish brown). The colors that I bought – Magic Hour (a cool shimmery bronze) and Tawny (a sheer reddish brown) – are quite subtle. On my medium-dark, cool-toned skin, Magic Hour just adds shimmer, while Tawny gives me a deep red glow. Magic Hour was too subtle to capture in a photo, so here’s Tawny on my cheeks and lips:

Pros

• For makeup minimalists, this is the perfect touch of moisture, color, and glow.

• You can use it anywhere on your face except for your eyes and eyelids. (I couldn’t find an explanation for why it can’t be used on the eyes).

• After I ordered Miracle Balm online, I received a series of helpful emails explaining how to use the product. Important note: push your finger into the balm to break the seal – the gooey goodness is underneath the top layer.

• The price tag ($38 at the time of writing) might seem high, but you get 1.76oz of product, unlike most cream blushes which come in much smaller amounts.

Cons

• Miracle Balm has a tacky consistency so it took me a little time to learn how to apply it. My favorite method is to warm it between my palms and pat it on my cheeks.

• I wish the Miracle Balm came in a travel size so that I could keep it in my handbag. I would also love to sample the other colors.

Merit Flush Balm Clean Cream Blush

Merit Beauty is a clean, minimalist beauty brand that offers multi-use products like the Flush Balm. You can apply it directly to your cheeks (and lips) or use a brush, your fingers, or a beauty blender.

Pros

• The domed shape allows you to apply directly to cheeks or lips.

• You can apply it lightly for a subtle tint, or add layers for a deeper color.

• The twist cap ensures that the product doesn’t dry out.

Cons

• My only complaint was that this cream blush didn’t fit into any of my clutches, and I really wanted to take it with me to a black-tie event for quick touch-ups!

Of the 9 shades, I bought the Cheeky, which is a cool medium pink. You’ll also find Merit Flush Balm at Sephora.

Milk Makeup Cream Blush + Lip Color

Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick comes in a twist-up stick that you can apply directly to your cheeks (or lips).

Pros

• This cream blush is a good size for travel (and the twist-up stick prevents accidental stains in your handbag).

• It provides saturated color even with light application.

Cons:

• Of the three cream blushes, the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush feels the driest. I didn’t have any trouble patting it onto my skin, but it did feel a little powdery once I put it on.

• I’ve used a few different Milk Makeup products and found that they dried out before I finished them. They recently rolled out smaller sizes, and the cream blush stick does come with a protective makeup disk, so hopefully that solved the issue.

• At $24 (price at Sephora at time of writing) for 0.21oz, this is the most expensive of the three cream blushes that I tried.

I’m wearing Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Blush Stick on my cheeks and lips in the color Muse.

I also have the Matte Cream Bronzer Stick (in Baked and Blaze) which I really like as a bronzer and for contouring.

My Current Favorite Cream Blush For Mature Skin

Of the three that I tried, my current favorite is the Merit Flush Balm. It’s not too oily and not too dry. It’s buildable (i.e, I can add more layers to deepen the color) but never looks too bright.

Note: In terms of cost per ounce, the Merit Flush Balm is cheaper than Milk Makeup’s Lip + Cheek Cream Blush but more expensive than Jones Road Miracle Balm.

I also really like the Jones Road Miracle Balm and the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick, the former for my everyday look and the latter for special occasions.

How To Apply Cream Blush To Mature Skin

If you’re used to applying a powder blush with a brush, you may need to practice applying a cream blush.

You can use a brush, a beauty blender, or your fingers, depending on your product. Just make sure that you dab or buff the color into your skin rather than dragging it or rubbing it in.

If you’re used to powder blush, you may want to continue to use a brush. Merit’s No 1. Blending Brush is highly rated. It has densely packed, extra soft vegan bristles.

Do you use a cream blush? Which is your favorite brand?

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