"Picture this: You just got spent a day at the beach with your friends, breaking up your time sitting in a lounge chair sipping on an ice-cold drink with quick dips in the ocean. Suddenly five hours passed by, and you just got back to your hotel to get ready for your dinner reservation (it’s still three hours away, though—you’ve got time). You finished blowing out your hair (it looks perfect) and getting dressed (it’s the outfit you bought specifically for tonight), and are about to put your makeup on. But you look in the mirror and realize that you’re so perfectly sun-kissed—not burned, though, since you re-applied SPF throughout the day—that you don’t want to cover it up. You swipe on some mascara, apply a little brow gel, and head out the door feeling the best you’ve ever looked, like… ever.
In a perfect world, a magic genie would give us that just-back-from-the-beach flush permanently; in reality, those days only happen a few times a year, and we have to rely on products to mimic it in the interim. The good news? Blushes that perfectly imitate a sun-kissed glow do exist, and there’s an option available for everyone.
These nine blushes will give you the same confidence boost as a beach day—no sun damage required.
If you’ve written off powder blush, this is your sign to give Kosas’ Blush is Life formula the ole college try. The silky smooth, talc-free formula is baked into a duo-color formula for a dimensional, long-lasting wash of color. The shade ‘Dreamland’ is a rosy-bronze shade that’ll make it look like you just got back from a day at the beach.
With a foolproof formula that’s loved by blush newbies and experts alike, Saie’s Dew Blush is the gold standard of liquid blush. The buildable pigmentation makes it easy to give your cheeks a subtle wash of color or a full-on flush, depending on your mood. The shade ‘Spicy’ is a warm terracotta that’s ultra-flattering on summer skin.
With a one-of-a-kind blurring formula, Danessa Myrick’s Yummy Skin Blush uses upsalite technology for unrivaled blurring and oil control. The cream-to-powder formulation gives a long-lasting, flattering flush that’s compatible with even oily and textured skin. The shade ‘Red Velvet’ is a punchy red that will mimic the look of a natural sunburn.
This easy-to-use cream blush incorporates aloe vera extract, green tea extract, and castor seed oil to hydrate and soothe the skin while providing a healthy, natural-looking wash of color. Its radiant finish gives that just-went-for-a-run dewiness—you know, without the need to actually go for a run.
This multitasking balm-to-gel cream formula is a natural blush lover’s dream come true. The formula is lightweight and buildable, and gives a luminous wash of color that’s radiant, but never greasy. The formula can be be applied with either a brush or your fingers—it’ll melt in either way—and will give you a foolproof tint of color, every time.
NYX’s Buttermelt Blush went viral for its buttery blendability and and long-wear finish that rivals even the highest end blushes. This blush is pigmented enough to pack a punch with minimal effort, but not so pigmented that you have to fear it. The shade ‘Back and Butta’ is a perfect rosy-red shade that’ll compliment all bronzy summer makeup looks.
Want a blush that’ll stay put until you wash your makeup off? Look no further than L’Oreals Infallible Fresh Wear Blush. The lightweight, thin powder gives a soft-matte finish that’s never chalky, and lasts all day long—no matter if you put it through, heat, sweat, rain, or all the above.
You know the Victoria’s Secret Angels’ signature glam? This is the blush that’s responsible for it. Rose-Marie Swift, makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty, famously used this red shade on the Angels to mimic a natural flush on the cheeks. While the shade might look intimidating at first glance, we promise it’s anything but.
Saie’s new SuperSuede Talc-Free Blush is one of the most flattering powder blushes I’ve ever tried. Despite being a powder formula, its ingredients help to hydrate and moisturize the skin while providing the cheeks with a flush that’s glowy, but not sparkly. For the ultimate sunkissed color, the shade ‘Ciao’ is a soft golden-brown that’s perfect for the summer months.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she leads the site’s fashion and beauty coverage, including trend reports, shopping roundups, and celebrity style. A trend expert with an eye for the latest must-have products and up-and-coming brands, Madeline is always on the pulse of what’s next and making sure readers stay in the know.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of CVS but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
Products included in graphic linked within the article. Feature graphic images credited to: Saie, RMS Beauty, Milani Cosmetics, Saie, NYX Cosmetics, RMS Beauty