Bombshell Bronzers: Why We Love Charlotte Tilbury’s Beach Sticks

What are the chances of you reading Beautylish today from an island resort? If you’re like us, you’re most likely braving the tail end of winter right about now. But, thanks to Charlotte Tilbury, you don’t have to look it.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Beach Sticks offer five shades of sunkissed glow. A chubby smudge stick enrobed in a sleek gold packaging, the formula glides on easy and melts into both cheeks and lips for a sheer, stained look rather than the more heavily pigmented effect of other 2-way cream blushers.

The gold mica particles throughout the formula pick up light and reflect it warmly, giving even the fairest-of-them-all a sunny-looking, dewy glow. With four shades as blush tones, and one as a contour color, we found a buildable beach look no matter what color we picked. But which is right for you?

Es Verda | shop it

The perfect intro back into bold colors after a long drab winter makeup rut. The brightest of the range, Es Verda is named after a mystical island in Ibiza. The baked coral shade is packed with gold shimmer and looks beautiful on olive-toned skin. It also works on a variety of skin tones as a flattering, sheer orange lip color.

Las Salinas | shop it

A pretty, flamingo pink warmed up by micro golden shimmer particles. One swipe of this blush may look bold on the cheeks, but blend it in and you’ll create a color that looks like a whisper of bubblegum, glowing beautifully as light hits your face. It’s an innocent summer glow that compliments pale skin while looking equally lovely against dark tones.

Moon Beach | shop it

For those first-timers wishing to try a bronzer, this is the one for you. Pretty and peachy, the formula may be the most user-friendly shade in the range, as the apricot tone bridges perfectly between blush and bronzer. Blended in, Moon Beach gives off a coppery, subtle blush tone. The added lipstick capability makes this a worthy purchase.

Formentera | shop it

Named after a small island known for it’s nude sunbathing, Formentera echoes the look of heavily bronzed island skin—just what we need, right about now. Blend this shade in for a glow on the apples of the cheeks, or smooth it below for a contour effect. A level up from Moon Beach, we consider this to be bronzer at an intermediate level. Smooth into lips and top with a gloss for a bombshell bronzed effect, year round.

Ibiza | shop it

As a contour shade, this very dark yellow-toned bronzer will make your cheekbones pop. Glittery, golden flecks amp up the look but bounce light off the skin, keeping even heavy contouring from looking too dark or graphic. Dark-skinned beauties will love this as an all over blush and bronzer packed with complimentary shimmer that will warm up the entire complexion. We recommend this shade to use alongside one of the lighter tones in this range for a full shadow and highlight contour kit. You will leave people wondering what tropical getaway you snuck off to last weekend.