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The Best Cream Blushes to Give You That Dewy, Sun-Kissed Glow

By Natalie Zee Drieu
Jerod Harris/Getty Images

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Cream blush is a must-have for summer beauty. Pourquoi? Not only does it blend seamlessly into the skin, it also wears longer than a typical powder blush. Plus, your cheeks will have that soft, dewy and sun-kissed glow—something us SF gals kinda need help with thanks to our close relationship with Karl the Fog.

"The best way to apply cream blush is to use fingers," says Janice Daoud, NARS lead stylist. "Use the middle fingers to apply the cream blush to the apple of cheeks and blend the color upwards toward the temples. Doing so will create a flushed look that also looks natural."

To help you find the perfect blush color for your skin tone, Daoud shares her expertise. "For fair skin, try soft baby pinks. Medium skin tones always look great in Peach, like NARS Orgasm Blush. It's a soft flirty and fresh shade that looks great on tanned skin. Olive complexions work best with bronze shades, like South Beach Multiple. It will give you a fresh, natural look while balancing out your skin tone. And dark skin look best with tangerine shades, as it gives a neutral look while adding a perfect pop of color to your cheeks."

To get you started on your own chic, cheeky glow, we've rounded up 10 of our favorite dreamy cream blushes...

  1. NARS The Multiple

    The NARS Multiple Stick is a cult-favorite that works on cheeks, eyes and lips. The color runs sheer and is enriched with Vitamin E and açai oil.

    $39

  2. Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush Stick

    This newly released limited-edition blush stick is sheer and blends easily into skin for a natural look.

    $32

  3. Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm

    Clinique's classic Chubby Stick balm comes in four blushing colors to give you a perfect natural glow.

    $21

  4. Ciaté London Blush Pop Creme Blush

    These adorable mini pots look like colorful teensy mushrooms. The shape makes it easy to apply blush to the apples of the cheeks.

    $19

  5. Benefit Fine One One

    For an all-in-one blush and highlighter, go for this cream stick blush. It comes in three shades: pink champagne, sheer watermelon and soft coral. The look is a soft (and buildable) sheer coral pink.

    $30

  6. DiorBlush Cheek Stick

    Luxury beauty lovers will love Dior's new limited-edition cheek stick. The cream-to-powder formula is ultra-pigmented.

    $34

  7. Make Up For Ever HD Blush

    A favorite among makeup artists is this compact cream blush. Made with HD technology, the blush blends seamlessly into the skin with no visible texture.

    $26

  8. Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick

    Living up to it's beachy promise, this roll-on cream blush is compact and tote-ready. The special cream formula also plumps up the skin.

    $45

  9. MAC Cremeblend Blush

    This cream compact blush is smooth and provides a long-lasting dewy finish. Comes in five shades.

    $22

  10. Laura Mercier CrÉme Cheek Colour

    The small case makes this blush a perfect travel companion. And the natural-looking color is sheer and gives a velvety finish. Comes in six shades.

    $26