Clean Beauty Products The 9 Best Natural Blushes of 2023 Give your cheek bones definition with a swipe of these natural blushes. By Neeti Mehra Neeti Mehra Neeti is a freelance writer for Treehugger who covers sustainability and conscious living. She has edited three magazines during her career and she is currently a columnist and is a contributor to a host of publications. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 14, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Clean Beauty Products Tips & Techniques We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Getty Carefully choosing the right blush that suits your skin tone can add cheek-defining rosiness and warmth to your complexion. However, there is a deeper concern too when it comes to making makeup choices. Blush formulations often contain ingredients you'll want to avoid such as parabens, talc, synthetic fragrances, and heavy metals. In beauty terms, "clean" and "natural" have no strict legal definition, so we’ve picked clean blushes which have received the green light from consumer products’ watchdog, the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Added to this selection is a blush from our favorite indie label which uses kind ingredients. Although most of these blushes are plant and mineral based, some contain safe lab-derived ingredients. Sculpt your cheekbones with these best natural blushes: The Rundown Mineral Fusion Blush at Walmart Jump to Review W3LL People Nudist Multi-Use Cream Stick at Thrive Market Jump to Review Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment at Credo Beauty Jump to Review C'est Moi Flushed Tinted Lip & Cheek Balm at Walmart Jump to Review Alima Pure Loose Mineral Blush at Amazon Jump to Review Han Skin Care Cosmetics Pressed Blush at Amazon Jump to Review Beautycounter Cheeky Clean Cream Blush at Beautycounter.com Jump to Review PYT Beauty Hot Flush Blush at Amazon Jump to Review Axiology Of The Earth Balmies Trio at Axiologybeauty.com Jump to Review Mineral Fusion Blush 4.9 Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart View On Thrive Market View On Amazon With none of the dryness that’s found in mineral powders, the Mineral Fusion Blush is enriched with sea kelp to stave off flaky skin. An overachiever, it’s chockful with skin goodies. Rich in age-defying Vitamin C and E, it brims with antioxidants pomegranate, white tea, and red tea. It’s available in six matte and shimmery shades, including a rose, pink, and mauve. Just a light dusting adds a dreamy hue to your cheeks. What’s more, it’s certified cruelty-free and free of gluten, parabens, talc, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. Hypoallergenic, it scores the highest EWG rating, EWG Verified, which implies that the blush has met the highest standards of health and safety, while being transparent about its ingredients. Price at time of publish: $19 Top Ingredients: Mica, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, zinc stearate | Certifications: Leaping Bunny, EWG Verified W3LL People Nudist Multi-Use Cream Stick 4.8 Courtesy of W3LL People View On Thrive Market View On Credo Beauty View On Ulta Get a healthy glow with this versatile vegan cream stick that you can dot on your cheeks, lips, and eyes. Available in just three no-fuss rose, berry, and peach nude, it gives a sheer, dewy glow to your skin. Suffused with nourishing sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, and avocado oil, it’s perfect for thirsty, mature skin. Cruelty-free and gluten-free, this weightless blush is made without nasties such as parabens, dimethicone, and sulfates. Blend it gently on your face with your ring finger or a brush to get a luminous glow. If you want a vibrant pop of color, then just add another layer or two. Price at time of publish: $22 Top Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, candelilla wax, cocoa seed butter | Certifications: Leaping Bunny, EWG Verified TIP: Multi-use makeup options like this Lip & Cheek Balm can help step up the sustainability of your beauty routine, by allowing you to buy fewer products overall. Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment Credo Beauty. View On Credo Beauty The edgy Ramos sisters Katherine, Caroline, and Michelle are behind Rituel de Fille, beauty alchemists with a clean conscience. The brand isn’t afraid to go dazzlingly bold with its palette of dewy matte and dewy shimmer multi-use pigments, ranging from a staid pink to a foxy black. Nymph (a vibrant, bloody red), Euphoria (a dusty mahogany), Intuition (a soft grey) and Eclipse (a sheer ‘anti-highlighter’ black blush) aren’t for the faint-hearted. All of this company's products are handmade in small batches, using minimal ingredients. The pigments are certified cruelty-free. They are crafted minus talc, synthetic dyes and fragrances, phthalates, parabens, and plastic-based glitter, ranking 2 on the EWG scale. We love the compact ebony case, embellished with stars, that slides conveniently into your clutch. Use it liberally on your cheeks, lips, and eyes for a magical glow. Price at time of publish: $32 Top Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, castor seed oil, silicon dioxide | Certifications: Leaping Bunny The 9 Best Natural Mascaras of 2023 C'est Moi Flushed Tinted Lip & Cheek Balm 4.5 Courtesy of C'est Moi View On Walmart Affordable? Check. Clean ingredients? Check. Recyclable packaging? Check. No animal testing, vegan and EWG Verified? Check, check and check. In the pile of blushes available, C'est Moi’s tinted balm stands cheek by jowl ahead of the competition. The tints are enriched with soothing shea butter and kiwi seed oil that hydrate parched skin. The limited yet chic shades in watermelon, mauve, and rose glide smoothly over, adding a dash of color to your cheeks and lips. Once you’ve scraped out the very last pigment of the blush stick, you can ship the rigid plastic container back for recycling, through a partnership with the recycling company TerraCycle. Price at time of publish: $14 Top Ingredients: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearic triglyceride, candelilla wax | Certifications: EWG Verified Alima Pure Loose Mineral Blush Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Alimapure.com Founded by Kate O’Brien in her attic in Oregon, Alima Pure is a brand that balances purpose with profits by creating clean beauty products from non-toxic ingredients. We’re big fans of Alima Pure’s mineral powder blush available in over a dozen pigment options, giving a sun-kissed glow to all skin tones. Depending whether you’re big on shimmer or prefer a natural flush, choose between the two finishes, a non-cakey satin matte great for oily skin or an effervescent luminous shimmer that works well for dry skin. The blush ranks 2 on the EWG scale. Reinforcing its commitment to the environment, Alima Pure is powered by green energy, and also donates to the environment as a member of 1% for the Planet. Price at time of publish: $26 Top Ingredients: Mica, titanium dioxide | Certifications: Carbon Neutral via Carbon Fund, Certified B Corp Han Skin Care Cosmetics Pressed Blush Courtesy of Han Skin Care Cosmetics View On Amazon View On Credo Beauty View On Hanscc.com During her pregnancy, San Francisco Bay Area resident Susan Wong launched the nontoxic and safe Han (a take on enhance) Skin Care Cosmetics brand, combining the benefits of skincare with makeup. Enriched with organic shea butter and argan oil, the pressed blush is made of oil-absorbing rice powder instead of talc, and is gentle enough to use on blemished and mature skin. Rated 1 on the EWG scale, the vegan blush is available in five lovely shades, skirting the universe of pinks, peaches, and corals in either a matte or a shimmery finish. The blush is highly pigmented. Just a light swish on your cheeks and eyes is enough to make you look fresh like a rose. What’s more, when you ship five full-size empty containers back to the company for recycling (they’ve partnered with TerraCycle), Han will send you a lip gloss or eye shadow of your choice in return. We approve. Price at time of publish: $18 Top Ingredients: Rice power, organ oil, açaí oil | Certifications: PETA, Leaping Bunny Beautycounter Cheeky Clean Cream Blush 5 Beautycounter View On Beautycounter.com Gregg Renfrew was alarmed at the unregulated use of chemicals in the beauty and skincare industry, which prompted her to launch the eco-friendly, high-performing label, Beautycounter. Committed to clean beauty, the company's ‘Never List’ avoids using over 1,800 questionable chemicals in any of its products. The brand's Cheeky Clean Cream Blush gets top marks from EWG. This blush comes in a case that's made from post-consumer recycled material, and when it's used up, you can buy refills to minimize packaging waste. Price at time of publish: $42 Top Ingredients: Jojoba esters, Squalane | Certifications: Leaping Bunny, Certified B Corp The 7 Best Vegan Collagen Boosters of 2023 PYT Beauty Hot Flush Blush Courtesy of PYT Beauty View On Amazon View On Pytbeauty.com A lovely buildable silken formula that comes in a case made with recycled plastic, the Hot Flush Blush gives you a gorgeous post-workout flush. The vegan formulation is certified cruelty-free and avoids toxins such as talc, silicone, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Hypoallergenic, the jojoba and sunflower seed oil and Vitamin E in the blush nourish your skin, while letting you dial up the summertime glow. The compact, pan, and packaging can be completely recycled. Available in three matte and shimmery shades, it’s a great day-to-night companion. Price at time of publish: $20 Top Ingredients: Mica, boron nitride, silica, rice starch | Certifications: Leaping Bunny Axiology Of The Earth Balmies Trio 5 Courtesy of Axiology View On Axiologybeauty.com Another great muti-use item, these vegan balmies from Axiology hit all the right notes. Use them as eyeshadow, blush, or lip color. They're wrapped in super minimal paper packaging that can be fully recycled. They're made of just nine natural ingredients, including organic hemp seed oil and elderberry extract. Price at time of publish: $38 Top Ingredients: Castor oil, kokum butter, sunflower oil | Certifications: PETA certified vegan Final Verdict A great affordable pick is C'est Moi Flushed Tinted Lip & Cheek Balm that’s enriched with soothing shea butter and kiwi seed oil, which adds a dash of color to your cheeks and lips. We also like ethical beauty company Axiology's Balmies, which are multifunctional and come in super minimal packaging. Why Trust Treehugger? Guiding you to make the best choices for your skin and the environment, Treehugger helps you choose natural beauty products that are potent and kind. To make this list, we consulted the non-profit EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which ranks products according to strict criteria laid down for health and safety, protecting people from potentially toxic chemicals. We also looked for animal-free formulas, more sustainable packaging, and trusted third-party certifications. Author Neeti Mehra is a luxury-industry veteran who’s also committed to sustainable, slow, and mindful living. She loves using vegan and cruelty-free cream blushes made by ethical companies to perk up her cheeks, lips, and mood. The 7 Best Reusable Makeup Remover Wipes