The Best Cream Blushes for a Dewy, Radiant and Sun-Kissed Summer Glow

If you’re on the eternal search for that dewy, radiant, lit-from-within glow, then it’s time to explore the wonders of cream blush. Cream blushes are one of the best ways to attain a makeup look with a natural flush, for that “just got back from the beach” aesthetic, even when it’s the dead of winter and you can’t remember the last time you caught a glimpse of the sun. That said, a sunburnt look is especially well-suited to the summer—that is, as long as you achieve it without the sun damage.

Cream blushes give a natural, dewy pop of color, and they typically don’t cake, unlike many of their powder blush counterparts. Cream blush tends to be lighter and more buildable, too, which makes it relatively easy to apply, even for a beauty novice, as well as a great option for more mature skin, since it doesn’t settle into fine lines like so many powder formulas do.

It’s all about finding the right cream blush formulation, of course; you want a product that’s sheer yet buildable, long-lasting and won’t slip down your face (or just disappear altogether) by the end of the day, and serious bonus points to all the cream blushes with moisturizing (but not greasy) ingredients. While I usually apply cream blush by tapping it in with my fingers, you can also use your favorite blush brush; one that has soft, long bristles is best.

If you still associate blush with a caked-on, aggressively overdone look of a different generation, just give cream blush a go—you’ll change your mind instantly, as long as you find the right formula. For those of us admittedly suffering from blush blindness, cream blush is the way to go—you can just keep layering it on, because some of us like to look like we spent a full day at the beach, but don’t want to forgo the SPF! Now that you’ve surely been convinced that you absolutely must add a cream blush to your makeup repertoire, see our favorite cream blushes to try right now.