While I certainly don't love getting a real sunburn, this summer I've been all about the sunburned cheek look. Wearing a blush to make you look like you maybe slightly overdid it in the sun is actually such a flattering look in my opinion - it gives the skin some life and color, and for me, it makes me look healthier. The key here is to look for blush shades that have a bit of a red tone to them and formulas that make themselves one with the skin. I like to apply these kinds of shades pretty much all over my cheeks, and even a little on the bridge of my nose, to really amp up that sunkissed/burned look.
Glossier Cloud Paints in Storm & Dawn | I'm sure it's no surprise there are Cloud Paints included here. Glossier's two newest shades of the fingerpaint/blush are perfect for this kind of look. They're much brighter/deeper than their first four shades, making them great for a more dramatic blushed look for summer. Storm is a deep, warm rose that instantly makes you look like you've come in out of the sun or you've spent the whole morning doing some intense cardio. Dawn is a stunning bright orange coral that gives an even more sunkissed look - definitely the one to go for if you want to look more "bronzed" instead of burned. The Cloud Paints of course are a thin, gel-like liquid blush that instantly becomes seamless with the skin, making it look like it's your own natural flush. (As always, you can get 20% off your first Glossier order through my rep link!)
Onomie Boosting Lip + Cheek Stick in Tamar | I've fallen hard for these lip and cheek sticks again, and I've been using at least one of them in every makeup routine lately. The formula is so creamy and leaves a beautiful dewy look on the skin, but they don't move around or wear away quickly. They're quite a bit more pigmented than you'd expect for a "makeup/skincare" product, so you really only need to dab on a bit and blend. The shade Tamar is a lovely wine shade that adds the perfect flush to the skin - it's a little bit brown and a little bit red, so it's great for looking like you've been in the sun.
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk | Another new shade - Milk's chubby sticks for lips and cheeks have always been a favorite formula of mine, but there was never a shade I constantly wanted to reach for until they brought out Werk, which is a dusty rose. On me, it has enough warmth and enough of a red tone to give that perfect mix of a little bit tanned and yet a little bit pink. In the sun I only turn pink, so this is an upgrade for me. The formula is creamy and easy to apply and blend, making it a go-to for summer when you just want to get out the door and get to the beach or something.
NUDESTIX Nudies All Over Face Color in Naughty N' Spice | This is another creamy formula that becomes one with the skin. I love the Nudies formula because it's quite thin, so it really does sink into the skin, feels weightless, and it moves with the skin without sliding around. Naughty N' Spice is a similar dusty rose shade to Milk's Werk, although it's a little more vibrant (less "dusty"). It adds a really nice natural flush to the skin and looks a little more red (on my skin) than Milk's Werk.
bareMinerals Gen Nude Blush in Strike a Rose | This is the only powder blush on this list, but this really speaks to how lovely and skinlike the formula is. When you swatch these blushes they almost feel like a cream to the touch, and I've found that no matter what brush I use, the perfect amount gets picked up every time for a soft wash of color on the cheeks. Strike a Rose is, you guessed it, a warm rose shade that perks up the complexion and looks like a shade a lot of people would naturally blush. This one is perfect for summer because it's the most long-lasting (because it's a powder), so it won't melt off your face on a hot day.
What are your favorite blushes for a more "sunburned" look?
Ā