Easy Summer Looks With Cream Blush and Bronzer

We’ll let you in on a secret: cream blush and cream bronzer are the only makeup products you need this summer. It’s somewhat of a hot take (waterproof mascara enthusiasts might riot at midnight), but in our opinion, the dewy, fresh-from-the-beach effect is unmatched. It’s like your skin, but better. And virtually undetectable.

From a delicate bronzed flush to a perfectly placed “sunburn,” the creamy combination of blush and bronzer work together to enhance (and fake without the added damage) summer’s natural effect on skin. Here are our must-try pairings. Thank us later.

Look #1: Sunburnt flush

The best way to use cream blush during the summer is to target your application on the apples of your cheeks and bridge of your nose. In combination with a well-blended swipe of cream bronzer, you’ll be looking like you had a little bit too much fun in the sun. For this look, sweep on Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand in a 3-formation (sides of your forehead, cheekbones, along jawbone). I like blending the dewy formula with my fingers for the most natural results.

Now that you’ve got a nice bronze going, add Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Stick Blush in Pink Dalia across your cheek bones and over the bridge of your nose to mimic the way the sun hits it. Layer this bright pink shade to enhance your ~sunburn~ without the harmful UV damage (or pain).

Look #2: Sun-touched coral

For this look, allow cream bronzer to steal focus from your cream blush by creating a molten bronzed look with a hint of coral. Go for Nudestix’s Nudies All Over Face Color Glow in Brown Sugar, Baby. Sweep the formula along your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and sides of your nose and buff it in with the brush on the dual-ended stick. Using your fingers, dip into a vibrant coral cream blush, like the shade Joyful from Kjaer Weis, and pat on the high points of your cheek bones for a pop of flush amidst your tanned glow.

Look #3: Bronzed peach

Bronzer paired with peach-toned blush just might be my favorite color combination for summer. Build dimension with Nudestick’s Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze stick in the shade Terracotta Tan by swiping it on in a 3-formation (sides of your forehead, cheekbones, along jawbone). Then apply Nudestick’s Matte Blush & Bronze stick in Nude Peach to your cheekbones, buffing it upwards into your temples. Don’t stop there! Dab on a little of the peach cream color to your lips to finish off the peachy look.