Top 5 Best Mac Blushes 2023:
- MAC Powder Blush Melba
- MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush – Sunbasque
- MAC Mineralize Blush – Warm Soul
- MAC Sheertone Blush – Gingerly
- MAC Powder Blush Mocha
Every woman seems to have that one makeup product that they flat-out refuse to leave their home without:
For some of my friends, it’s their mascara, while others have a permanent spot in their makeup bag for tinted lip balms. Concealers also rank pretty high up on that list, and so do eyeliners.
As for me, I don’t go anywhere without my blush.
A hint of color on the apples of my cheeks never fails to transform my complexion from dull, tired, and washed-out to glowing, healthy-looking, and radiant.
A blush can do wonders for your complexion, there’s no doubt about it – but the trick is in choosing the right one. We all know that some formulas and shades look stunning in the pan, but translate to a blotchy, clownish mess on the skin.
MAC’s one of my go-to makeup brands that never fails to deliver in the blush department – and today, I’m helping you pick the best MAC blushes for your cheeks!
Detailed Reviews: 5 Best Mac Blushes In 2023
I’m pretty sure that you can tell by now, but I love MAC blushes – a lot! I’m a can’t-leave-the-house-without-the-blush type of gal, and I tend to reach for my MAC ones the most.
All of them are amazing – but some of them are absolute must-haves!
1. MAC Powder Blush Melba
MAC Melba Powder Blush is described as a soft coral peach – and it does look the part while it’s in the pan. It’s a sweet, muted coral shade with a touch of dusty peach to it, and subtle, warm – a sort of “earthy brown” for lack of a better word – undertones.
But the thing that makes the Melba blush one of the best MAC blushes to date is how versatile the shade is. It shows up beautifully on pretty much every skin tone.
And sure, it looks a bit different on each person that tries it, but the verdict remains the same:
It never fails to add natural flushness to your cheeks, and it’s a perfect choice for any skin tone, any season, and any occasion!
The pigmentation is surprisingly good, and you don’t need much to get it to show, but despite the highly-pigmented formulation, I feel like it’s pretty hard to go overboard with it. Plus, it blends easily without forming patches of color on your skin.
The texture is smooth and finely-milled, and I never experienced that powdery feeling or chalkiness that’s typically an issue with matte blushes.
Pros
- Beautiful soft coral shade with a hint of dusty peach
- Flatters most skin tones and undertones and works year-round
- Dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
- Matte finish that doesn’t feel chalky
- The smooth, finely-milled texture applies easily
- Highly pigmented, long-lasting formulation
- Provides natural flushness to the cheeks
Cons
- May develop a hardened layer known as hardpan
2. MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush – Sunbasque
MAC describes its Sunbasque blush as “peach with pearl.” And while I don’t necessarily disagree, I’d say that it’s a bit of an understatement. Things are a tad bit more complex than that:
It’s a warm, shimmery, rosy bronze that combines pink, red, peach, gold, and a touch of bronze in it into a beautiful shade.
It’s everything a makeup addict could ever want from a blush – and then some. It acts as a blush, a bronzer, and a highlighter, all in one, with the bronze adding warmth to your cheeks, and the peachy tones adding a flush of color.
The shimmer is subtle, but the gold and copper pearl bring a dash of freshness and radiance to your skin.
I was initially worried because it does have a somewhat dry and dusty texture to the touch, and I wasn’t sure how it would translate to the skin. However, it applies surprisingly well – even on bare skin – and blends easily, without accentuating the pores.
It’s semi-sheer and not overly pigmented, so you’re free to layer it up to the desired intensity, which is always a plus. You can make that subtle glow work perfectly for both sunny days and glamorous evenings.
Pros
- Works as a blush, bronzer, and highlighter
- Warm, rosy bronze with a subtle shimmer finish
- The blush is dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
- Semi-sheer but buildable pigmentation
- Applies and blends easily without accentuating pores
- Relatively long-wearing formula
Cons
- The texture is a bit dusty to the touch
3. MAC Mineralize Blush – Warm Soul
I love the way that the MAC’s Warm Soul blush feels on my cheeks. It’s a “sunshine on your skin on a Sunday afternoon walk” kind of feeling – comforting and natural.
That could be one of the primary reasons why Warm Soul is such a popular shade, perfect for everyday makeup – along with the fact that it works with so many skin tones, of course.
The Warm Soul is MAC’s Mineralize Blush, a formula that builds lightly, giving you luminous color and a lightweight feel on the skin. The texture is lightly dusty, but still reasonably smooth – and I found that it blends rather easily.
The shade’s best described as beige-toned with gold pearl shimmer, and it’s what makeup is all about – achieving a healthy radiance that makes your complexion flawless as if you’re glowing from within.
On that note, the finish falls somewhere between luminous and natural:
It’s not as shimmery as some other shades in the Mineralize Blush range, but at the same time, the soft, gold shimmer works its magic to add some dimension to flat, washed-out complexions without going overboard.
As I said already, it feels like sunshine on your skin – and looks the part, too.
Pros
- A mid-tone beige with soft, gold pearl shimmer
- Works well for a wide range of skin tones
- It’s subtle enough for everyday use
- Lightweight formula that blends and builds nicely
- Sheer and luminous color without heavy coverage
- Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested, and non-acnegenic
Cons
- The container is hard to open
4. MAC Sheertone Blush – Gingerly
If you’re tired of pinks, plums, and fuchsias – you know, the standard blush shades – check out the MAC Gingerly Powder Blush!
Seriously, the unique softness of this peach-brown shade with warm undertones does wonders for your cheeks, giving them a touch of warmth and color and a sun-kissed, natural-tan look. And don’t judge the book by its covers:
While this warm, terracotta shade with peach tones does appear a bit too brown in the pan, as soon as it reaches your cheeks, it turns into a light, neutral, peachy hue.
The texture of the blush is pretty soft and thin and doesn’t feel too firm in the pan. When applied, it blends reasonably easily and has sheer coverage, but it’s buildable:
You can make it opaque with two to three layers if you want.
It’s perfect for adding some warmth and depth to your contour, especially if your face tends to look a bit pale and flat, and it pairs perfectly with dark or nude lips.
Also, if you’re trying to recreate one of Kim K’s signature golden glow makeup looks, then this is the blush that’s going to help you achieve that sun-kissed, tanned appearance!
Pros
- A bronzy neutral peach-brown shade with warm undertones
- Adds warmth and depth for a sun-kissed look
- The blush is dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
- Applies smoothly and blends nicely
- Sheer, but buildable
- Long-wearing formula
- Works great for all skin tones
Cons
- Requires two to three layers to make the color pop
5. MAC Powder Blush Mocha
The last one up is another one of MAC’s best-selling blushes – and this one is a perfect choice for fair and light-medium skin tones.
Mocha is a soft pink blush with a light touch of plum to it. The color is very subtle and light, but oh-so-pretty. Those of you who enjoy a lovely pink-colored blush will fall in love with this medium-pink shade.
Now, given that this is one of MAC’s powder blushes with a matte finish, it works surprisingly well for oily skin and humid climates – and since there isn’t any shine of sparkle to it, it doesn’t “compete” with the rest of your makeup.
Your cheeks will get a shine-free pop of natural, healthy-looking color.
The texture is soft and velvety, and while I did notice that it has a somewhat thinner texture and a firmer feel than most powder blushes currently available on the market, it still feels smooth enough straight from the pan.
It goes on evenly and blends out nicely, without feeling chalky or dry on the skin, with what’s best described as semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation. It’s buildable, though, so you can work on getting the desired intensity.
Pros
- The blush is dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
- Lightweight powder formula with a matte finish
- Goes on evenly and blends nicely
- Provides a flush, natural pop of color
- The pigmentation is semi-opaque but buildable
- A long-wearing formula that lasts up to eight hours
Cons
- A bit hard to get it on the brush
How To Choose The Best Mac Blushes For Your Skin: Blush Shopping Tips
Something as simple as a swipe of blush does wonders for your entire appearance, giving you a healthy pop of color and a subtle glow that lasts throughout the day.
It’s pure magic in a compact!
Unfortunately, though, blush often gets overlooked:
All too often, I see women put in effort into picking the right foundation, concealer, and lipstick, but then reach for the first pink blush shade that they come across, ruining their entire look.
A lot is riding on you choosing the best MAC blushes:
Pick the right shade, and you’ll look healthy, radiant, and flushed. Go with the wrong color, and… Well, I hope that you’ll never know first-hand how much it can make or break your entire look.
There’s an art to picking the right MAC blush shade for your skin tone, so if you’re not exactly sure which hue to choose, don’t get discouraged – you’re not alone. It doesn’t have to be confusing, though – instead of trying to figure out your skin tone and undertone, you can use this nifty, little blush trick:
Pull your bottom lip down to take a peek at the color inside. The unique color of the inner side of your bottom lip could be an excellent indicator of which colors are present in your skin tone organically – and can help you find that perfect, natural, goes-with-everything blush shade!
Besides the importance of choosing the right shade for your skin tone, there is one more thing to factor in when shopping for the best MAC blushes.
And yes, I’m talking about the different blush finishes available:
- Matte – A matte blush finish doesn’t contain any shimmer or luminosity to them. It’s the go-to finish for oily skin types and hot and humid weather, where excess sebum and sweating may be an issue. Plus, the formula is typically long-wearing, lasting seven to eight hours before starting to fade.
MAC’s matte blushes add solid color with their higher-than-average pigmentation, which is why it’s relatively easy to go overboard with them, especially with brighter shades.
- Frost – MAC blushes with a frost finish add some serious shimmer to your makeup looks, which works for a night on the town – and even doubles as highlighters – but aren’t typically recommended for more casual, daytime makeup. Also, if you have large, prominent pores or other imperfections, like acne scars, that you’re trying to hide, you should skip frost finishes, because the shimmer only accentuates them.
- Satin – MAC’s satin-finish blushes are the closest to the matte ones regarding pigmentation, but with one key difference – they lend your cheeks a subtle, satiny effect that makes your skin appear smooth and soft as satin, hence the name. They have a pretty reliable staying power, too.
- Sheertone and Sheertone Shimmer – MAC’s Sheertone and Sheertone Shimmer blushes are closely related in the sense that they have a finely-milled texture that goes on smoothly, leaving a sheer but buildable wash of natural, healthy-looking color.
The shades are not intensely pigmented, which makes them a good option for beginners, as it’s hard to go over the top – even the actual shimmer in Sheertone Shimmer formulations is surprisingly subtle and natural-looking.
What Are The Best MAC Blushes, Then?
That’s it for today, ladies – it’s time to wrap up my round-up of the best MAC blushes. Now, your blush is the one makeup product that should have a permanent spot in your makeup bag, and the good news is:
MAC has every tone and every finish you could ever imagine.
If you’re still not sure which blush to get, though, these top 3 picks are worth considering:
Top Pick: MAC Powder Blush Melba
- I wish that I could pick more than one winner today, but that’s not how this works. So, if I had to pick an all-time-favorite, it’s this soft coral peach shade and the touch of natural flushness it brings to your cheeks. Even more so, it’s incredible that it works so beautifully with so many skin tones!
Runner-Up: MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush – Sunbasque
- The sophisticated rosy bronze shade with subtle gold-and-copper shimmer is a perfect fit for MAC makeup addicts who enjoy seeing some pearly shine on their cheeks, besides the flush of color. Plus, you’re free to experiment and use this shade as a bronzer or highlighter, too!
Most Versatile MAC Blush: MAC Mineralize Blush – Warm Soul
- This one looks and feels like sunshine on your skin – subtle and natural, with just enough shine to give you that glowing-from-within look. Warm Soul is the shade that you can’t go wrong with – no matter the skin tone, no matter the occasion.
