Two different makeup artists touted this formula from Merit as—hands down—the best blush for mature skin. They were not wrong. “This cream is incredibly user-friendly with a gorgeous natural finish,” says professional makeup artist Samreen Arshad. It offers more than a pretty pop of color, though. The cream formula is “packed with vitamin E and nourishing oils that make skin look healthy and radiant,” she says. We appreciate that it’s also fragrance-free and vegan, which is more appropriate for sensitive skin types.
“Some shades are more pigmented than others, but they all give you a natural smooth finish,” says WH commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, who tried three of the eight shades for us. “It blurs the appearances of pores because it gives skin a slight glow, unlike more powdery blushes that feel drier against the skin.”
The packaging is clever, too. Though it’s technically a stick, the round shape makes application easier—you can literally just pat it on with your fingertips, no fancy brush necessary. “Just make sure you close the lids well, so you don’t get blush all the inside of your bag. “That actually happened to me,” Gomez warns.
I personally own this pick as well, and I love how it contours to my cheeks. Simply swipe it on and dab upwards to blend for the perfect flush. I have very dry skin, and this one gloriously melts right in.
Read more: The Best Concealers For Mature Skin
