Peachy Keen Cheeks

This sun-kissed fruity hue is the color of spring 2012

In winter we dusted our cheeks with rose or cranberry pink blush. It produced the kind of flattering flush you'd get after taking a long walk on a cold snowy day. But with the approach of spring, the skies are clearing, temperatures are rising, and our cheeks need a new hue. What we want now is the warm whisper of color that lingers on our cheeks after an early morning hike on a sunny day.

What we want now is peach.

The perfect mixture of sun-kissed warmth and ripe fruit, peach is the cheek color of spring 2012. You can find stunning versions from every major makeup brand, and no wonder. It's foolproof and universally flattering. "I love peach," says Raychel Wade, founder of Cheek to Chic studio in New York City. "It looks great on everyone, whatever their skin tone or eye color. Unlike pink or berry hues, almost any peach shade will work on almost any woman. And, unlike other blush colors, peach doesn't build up to look muddy or overdone. It's a very forgiving color."

How to choose the peach that's right for you? Think about texture, wearability and convenience. Here are some suggestions:

Best to Throw into Your Beach Bag
Cargo Beach Blush in Miami Beach offers four complementary tonal shades of blush and bronzer in the brand's signature, nearly indestructible tin case. Shimmer particles catch the light, adding a radiant glow to the skin, even after the sun has gone down.

Best on a Budget
ULTA Extreme Wear Mousse Blush in Peach Glow is lightweight, creamy, budge-proof and super long lasting. You can build the color from a natural glow for daytime to more intense drama for night. And, with no brush needed, fingertip application makes the $8 price tag even more of a money-saver.

Most Eco-Friendly
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blissful is infused with natural clay from the banks of the Amazon River and baked in the sun. Nutrient-rich, it offers a fade-free flawless finish that lasts 12 hours, minimizing oil in and around pores in oily skin and keeping dry skin hydrated. And it does all this without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals or synthetic fragrance.

Best with an LBD
Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush in Exposed is effortless and elegant, just like your killer black cocktail dress. Silky smooth, long lasting and versatile, it can make a statement or be shyly seductive. Sweep over cheeks with a dry brush for natural soft color. Apply with a slightly dampened brush for a bold pop.