Hot Take: Tower 28's New Powder Blush May Be Better Than Their Iconic Cream Formula (2025)

• Makeup

It’s no secret that blush has been super beloved over the last few years—an abundance of cream and liquid blush launches and tons of social media buzz about the best options have demonstrated this. While many Byrdie editors have been favoring dewy cheeks and products that help us achieve super luminous skin, believe it or not, matte blush is making a major comeback. Who’s leading the charge? Tower 28 with its new GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush.

I was ecstatic when I first learned about this launch a month ago. The brand’s iconic Beach Please blush is an absolute staple in my collection (and the best overall pick in our cream blush roundup), so I had a feeling the masterminds at Tower 28 would knock this one out of the park, too. Spoiler alert: they did. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this new matte powder blush, including how it compares to Beach Please, and why I think some people might like this one even better.

This formula is completely matte—no faint flecks of shimmer or shine, just an entirely matte finish, which is hard to come by. The brand says it combines the benefits of a setting powder with the pigmentation of a blush. I think that’s accurate; a few swipes on the cheeks eradicate shine while depositing a beautiful wash of color. When you dip your brush into the pan, you’ll notice it’s a bit powdery, but once you tap off the excess and apply it to the skin, it’s not the least bit chalky or patchy. What really blows me away is how blurring this blush is—it smoothed the look of pores and skin texture, leaving me with a matte (but not dry-looking) color with a unique, almost editorial finish. The super blurring quality makes it unlike any other powder blushes I own.

While I hope the brand expands the shade range to include richer hues, I love the options in the current lineup and appreciate how pigmented the formula is. One layer offers fairly vibrant color payoff, but you can build up additional layers for serious impact.

If you’re a fan of cream blush, chances are you’re familiar with this one—it deserves all the praise it gets. It has an emollient (but not oily) consistency that blends into the skin effortlessly with your fingertips, a brush, or a sponge. You can sheer out or layer on the buildable pigment for your desired color payoff, plus it layers beautifully with whatever foundation or tinted moisturizer you’re wearing underneath. I reach for this one when I’m not in the mood to wear makeup but want a bit of healthy color on my cheeks; it looks beautiful on bare skin. The finish is glowy—but not greasy—and gets slightly glowier throughout the day, especially on oily skin. However, it lasts pretty well with minimal fading when set with a long-wearing setting spray. With 10 options ranging from baby pink to a rich terracotta, multiple inclusive shades exist for every skin tone.