Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites (such as @cosme, Amazon, and Rakuten) for the best powder blushes. We then chose the 33 most popular products and tested them.
We focused on three things: its finish, its durability, and how it felt to use. We then compiled everything we learned into a buying guide about and list of the best Japanese powder blushes available online.
Quick List - Top Japanese Powder Blushes
Tokiwa Pharmaceutical
The Powder Blush That's Easiest to Apply
She's a freelance hair and makeup artist and an expert in aromatherapy certified by the Aroma Environment Association of Japan. She also pens beauty columns. She studied under Mr. Hiroki Murooka from the hair and makeup studio ThreePEACE for four years before going independent.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
Here are three big things to look out for.
When applying powder blush, it's important to create as natural-looking of a finish as possible.
When it comes to powder blush, it's easy too apply too much or too little. You don't need to be a makeup expert, but you do need to know which shades will blend into your skin easily. Steer clear of blushes that have particularly vibrant color and that should make your search a bit easier.
Blushes come in all varieties of shades from pinks, to corals, to reds, and more. Each color is objectively more suited to certain skin tones, but you can also choose to ignore those rules if you want to create a certain look or style for yourself. Here's a rundown of what kind of image each color group gives off:
Blushes can come in a pack of one, two, three, or even more colors. If you want to keep your makeup simple or you're not used to using a lot of makeup, we'd suggest sticking to one or two shades per palette.
Palettes with lots of colors are great if you want to brush up (no pun intended) on your technique or want to make your makeup look a bit more three-dimensional.
Powder blushes aren't exactly the most durable of makeups, but you'd like to avoid touch ups as much as possible, right? Along with looking for a powder blush that will moisturize your skin, look for one with powder that sticks to your skin as well. This often means that it will stand up to sweat and friction as well.
It's important to consider more than just the blush when browsing blush powders. How easily can you open and shut the case? Is the brush adequate, or do you need to use a different one? How much powder scatters in and out of the case?
If you're someone that often does makeup in a hurry, you'll want your routine to be as efficient as possible, so you may want to look for a product that won't create clouds of blush powder when you apply it to your face. It's hard to test things like this when you're just browsing online, so make sure to read the reviews and take everyone's experiences into account.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shiseido Maquillage Dramatic Mood Veil|PK200 | ![]() | The Very Best Japanese Powder Blush | |
2 | Kose Esprique Purely Veil Cheek|PK-1 | ![]() | The Best Powder Blush for a Natural Glow | |
3 | Kanebo Lunasol Coloring Sheer Cheeks|06 Natural Pink | ![]() | The Best Beige Powder Blush | |
4 | Tokiwa Pharmaceutical Excel Skinny Rich Cheek|RC01 Pink Nectar | ![]() | The Powder Blush That's Easiest to Apply | |
5 | e'quipe SUQQU Pure Color Blush|08 MOMODAIDAI | ![]() | The Best Coral Powder Blush | |
6 | Ida Laboratories Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks|01 Peach Fleur | ![]() | The Best Blush for a High Class Finish | |
7 | e'quipe RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks N|05 Coral | ![]() | A Great Coral Color with a Flawless Finish | |
8 | BbyE Mama Butter Cheek Color|Pink | ![]() | The Best Blush with Natural Ingredients | |
9 | Ida Laboratories Canmake Powder Cheeks|PW23 Peach Pink | ![]() | An Affordable Blush with a Natural Finish | |
10 | Cezanne Cosmetics Cezanne Mix Color Cheek|01 Pink | ![]() | A Durable Blush with Great Color |
While the case and brush may be a bit clunky, the product inside was worth more than enough to earn it first prize. The brush has two sides that you can use to apply or blend two or more colors in one go!
This blush itself comes in natural shades that blend so well that even those that don't like using a ton of makeup will be pleased with. It also stands up to sweat, oil, and more. We can't recommend this enough!
Not only is Esprique Purely Veil Cheek affordable; it's also easy to apply and looks totally natural on your skin regardless of age. It's a bit weak against sweat, but it's nothing too worrisome.
We also liked how soft the brush was and how easy it was to open and close the case. we didn't notice any blush powder flying away when opening and closing, either. If you're looking for an affordable and natural-looking powder blush, this is a great option.
Lunasol is known for producing cosmetics that make customers look refreshed, and this powder blush is no exception. Its natural beige shades look great on any skin complexion.
Though it comes off when rubbed, it stands up to a lot otherwise, so it's okay to use even on active days. We think this would be a great blush for summer.
This powder blush has a sheer finish that gives you a healthy, flushed look. The included brush is soft and makes it easy to apply the product without any fancy techniques.
It's also pretty durable against rubbing, though it did start to come off with a bit of sweat. We'd recommend this blush if you're looking for something that has a perfect finish and is easy to apply.
We loved the coral shade of this blush and how it made our cheeks pop. Its powder is extremely fine, so it goes on your skin fluffy and airy.
We liked how the brush felt on our skin and the powder didn't fly out of the case that much. If you're looking for a powder blush that is easy to use, we recommend SUQQU.
The smooth shine this blush gave us made it hard for us to believe that it's a powder blush. It gives you a more lively and refreshed look, and it stands up to sweat and rubbing as well.
If you use the brush included with the package, some of the powder might fly away, so we recommend using a different brush. However, we will say that the brush feels amazing on our skin. If you're looking for a high-class finish, this is your best candidate.
This coral-hued blush isn't too shiny, so it gives a finish that people of all skin hues and ages can use. Our expert Fujiwara even went so far as to claim RMK makes the prettiest shade of color color.
It doesn't stand up to sweat or rubbing very well, so it would probably be better suited for days where you're not very active or hot. If you're looking for a good coral-colored blush, put RMK at the top of your list.
Mama Butter Cheek Color includes natural moisturizing ingredients like olive oil and shea butter to care for your skin as well as beautify it. It wasn't super durable, but that's the norm with organic cosmetics.
Though it doesn't come with a brush, we found the case easy to open and close, and there was minimum powder scattering. If you're looking for a blush with organic ingredients, consider Mama Butter.
Even our cosmetics experts were surprised that Canmake could produce such a natural finish with this powder blush. It's also pretty durable and extremely affordable.
Some may not be crazy about the small size of the included brush, but if you're using your own, it shouldn't be a problem. If you're looking for a good blush on a budget, consider Canmake.
Despite having small pearls inside, this Cezanne blush isn't too shiny and gave our cheeks just enough color to make them stand out.
We weren't crazy about the hard-to-open case or the fact that the powder scattered a bit when we applied it, it stayed on all day. If you're looking for a particularly durable blush and you don't mind a bit of mess, we'd recommend Cezanne.
Natural cosmetics are often some of the least durable cosmetics, but Naturaglacé Cheek Blush defied our expectations. The color comes off a bit bolder than other powder blushes we tested, so if you're going for a more cutesy look, this would be perfect.
The included brush can cause powder scattering, but it is pretty soft. We'd recommend this to those looking for a durable and natural blush.
WHOMEE's blush perfectly blends natural pinks, beiges, and highlights to give your cheeks a healthy glow. It's durable and the finish is just shiny enough to make your cheeks pop.
However, the powder puffed out of the case in a cloud as soon as we opened it, which gave it such a low score in our "How it felt to use" category. If you can get past that, this is a great option for a healthy-looking glow.
This blush has more of a shiny than a matte finish, and the color shows up without much product, so you feel like you're getting your money's worth. It also stands up to sweat pretty well, so it's suited even for active days.
You have to dig your nails into the side of the case to get it open, so people with short or weak nails may find it hard to use. But if you're looking for a bold and shiny cheek, consider Addiction.
The color from this Pearl Glow Cheek is so potent that it's easy to use too much; the resulting finish is shiny and glowing. The powder scatters a bit when applied, but it's not enough to fuss over.
The included brush is flat, soft, and easy to use. If you're looking to make a bold statement with your cheeks, we recommend this Cezanne blush.
This blush had a flawless finish; the pink wasn't too cutesy or too shiny, so it's totally appropriate for a sophisticated and feminine look. The powder is fine enough for it to appear soft and natural.
What made it fall so far down in our ranking is the fact that the color comes off pretty easily with sweat. If you're in a cold place or you're not going to be very active when wearing this blush, it should be fine.
The finish of this Malibu Beauty blush is just pearly enough to add shine to your cheeks and look natural. It didn't stand up to sweat very well, but the color is high quality.
The case is also a bit hard to open, so those with weak or short nails might want to be careful. We'd recommend this blush if you're looking for a natural dusty pink color.
While we couldn't find anything in particular that stood out about this blush, we will say that it doesn't have so much shine that those with larger pores have to worry.
We also liked the small and portable size of the case. If you're the type of person who often does makeup on the go, this would be a good blush to have on hand.
We put each of the 33 powder blushes through a series of 3 tests. One test measured its finish, while the other two gauged its durability and its ease of use. Each product was scored on a scale of 0.1 to 5.0 in each category and also given an overall score.
Hair and makeup artist Fujiwara applied each product to a model and gauged its texture, its color, and how natural it looked.
In our tests, we found that blushes with a fine powder looked smooth and high-quality without the applier needing much technique.
We also gave blushes with a bit of shine a higher score rather than those with a matte finish, since they made skin look more lively.
I recommend a contemporary look that has a bit of shine and makes your skin look more lively! You should always check to see if the blush blends into your skin and the color suits your complexion.
But if you're someone that is concerned about the appearance of your pores, I'd recommend staying away from blushes with glitter. It gets into your pores and can make them stand out more than usual.
Next, we checked to see how easily the blushes came off.
We applied each blush to synthetic skin, and then we dispensed a dropper of fake sweat (horse oil and water) onto each blush spot. Then, we dragged a tissue with a weight on it to see if it would rub off.
We were surprised at how durable most of the blushes were; unless you're someone that sweats a lot, you probably won't need to touch up your blush with most of the products we tested. However, we discovered that natural or organic blushes came off quite easily.
We asked five of our editing staff to rate how it felt to use each blush.
They tested to see how easily the powder scattered, how easy the brush was to use, how easy it was to open and close the case, and how portable it was. Their individual scores for each product were then averaged into a final score.
An overriding trend we noticed in our test is that department store cosmetics had powder that was quite loose and flew away easily. We solved that problem with most of the problematic products by using a different brush.
Cases that were too smooth had a chance of getting dirty easily with loose powder or fingerprints, so if you're worried about how your cosmetic cases look, you may want to watch out for that. We also noticed that the volume of soft brush strands often mattered more than the length or size of the brush. Try a few out to see what works for you.
Before you go, we thought we should share some tips on how to get the most out of your powder blush.
Your blush will look best if you apply it at the right time; this happens to be after you've finished applying all of your base makeup. This rules applies whether it's powder foundation or liquid foundation. If you apply blush before it's all finished, you won't get nearly as much color out of it as advertised.
Also, applying blush to your face directly with a brush makes it easy for you to apply too much product. To prevent this, we recommend patting the brush (with the powder on it, yes) with the palm of your hand or a tissue before applying it to your face. And, voila! The perfect amount.
If you constantly find your powder blush almost gone by the end of the day, we have a suggestion for you. If you add cream blush into your routine, we guarantee the color will last at least a bit longer than usual.
So, you should be applying your makeup in roughly this order:
・If you're using powder foundation: foundation primer → cream blush → foundation → powder blush
・If you're using liquid foundation: foundation primer → foundation → cream blush → powder blush
Cream blushes contain a fair amount of oil that helps both the powder and cream blushes meld to your skin, so they should last all day if combined together.
Our Japanese editors work hard to research and compare all of the best Japanese cosmetics so you don't have to. Here are some more suggestions of what we think you should try.
No. 1: Shiseido|Maquillage Dramatic Mood Veil|PK200
No. 2: Kose|Esprique Purely Veil Cheek|PK-1
No. 3: Kanebo|Lunasol Coloring Sheer Cheeks|06 Natural Pink
No. 4: Tokiwa Pharmaceutical|Excel Skinny Rich Cheek|RC01 Pink Nectar
No. 5: e'quipe|SUQQU Pure Color Blush|08 MOMODAIDAI
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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