A duo is a palette for people who do not want a palette. Natasha Denona Hy-Blush in Sweet Cheeks is a baby pink and icy pastel pink cream duo, and Vamped pairs mahogany with icy peach, both in a lightweight gel texture with a semi matte finish. LYS Beauty Higher Standard in Self-Love pairs a satin matte cream with a velvety powder in dusty rose brown. Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion Duo in Rosé is a talc-free rose pink powder with encapsulated ceramides. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo in Sable and Suede pairs a warm tawny with a warm rose in a matte, talc-free powder. Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take in Just Enough puts a soft blue pink creme and powder in one compact.

DIBS Beauty The Duet in Vip Pink and Stila Blush and Bronze Hydro-Blur Cheek Duo in Grapefruit Caramel are two more duos to swatch side by side.

How to use them: press the cream on first, then dust the powder just over the top. Patrick Ta and LYS make that easy because both textures are already in the compact.

What I would skip: a deep duo like Vamped or Sable and Suede applied with a heavy hand. Start with the lighter side and go darker only at the outer edge.

Face palettes are the travel option, with a blush next to a bronzer and highlighter. ILIA The Ethereal Baked Face Palette in Botanical Blur has a highlighter, bronzer and blush with 8-hour wear, in shades inspired by California flora. The Colorful Face Palette in 01 Light to Medium has two blushes, a bronzer and a highlighter. Laura Mercier Bonne Glow Cream Face and Eye Palette in Amour is a balm to powder palette for light to medium skin with a blush, highlighter and bronzer. Anastasia Beverly Hills Magic Touch Cream Blush and Lip Trio in Pink has cool toned, candy and soft pink shades in a high-pigment cream with a matte flush.

Alleyoop Stack The Odds in Sassy Pants, Benefit Cheeky Love Letter and two more face palettes, the Multi-Use Cream Blush, Bronze and Highlight Palette and Get Cheeky, round out the group. Swatch those side by side before you choose.

Pairing tip: pick the pink from a face palette, then take the bronzer lightly along the hairline. It gives the cheek a little depth.

What I would skip: using a cream face palette like the Laura Mercier over a powder base. Cream on powder can look patchy, so put it on first.

Start with texture. Cream palettes like Make Up For Ever and ONE/SIZE are for skin that likes a dewy look, and baked or pressed powders like Laura Geller and ILIA suit a softer, blurred cheek. Then look at the shade range. A palette with a cool pink, a warm coral and a deeper berry gives you a range across seasons and moods. Layer cream under powder for wear, and use the lightest shade as a highlighter on the high point. And if you only ever wear one blush, a duo is plenty.