From beach days to rooftop soirées, there’s so much to look forward to come summer, including effortless, minimalist makeup, which the best blush sticks are capable of delivering in one fell swoop. From Nars’ 3-in-1 cheek, lip, and eye stick to Ilia’s hydrating multi stick, there are plenty of multi-purpose options that’ll deliver that natural-looking glow to your cheeks, lips, or eyes.
One of the major advantages of blush sticks is their creamy and buildable formulas that contour, highlight, and illuminate your skin and its natural complexion. Their formulation allows for easy application, as they glide smoothly onto the skin, providing a seamless, blendable finish. Whether you prefer a subtle flush or a more vibrant pop of color, blush sticks offer buildable coverage, allowing you to achieve your desired level of intensity.
Another plus? Their versatility makes them an excellent choice for streamlining your beauty routine and minimizing the number of products you need to carry (read: they’re travel friendly).
From soft pinks and peaches to rich berries and bronzes, there is a blush stick color for everyone on the list below. Their creamy texture, ease of application, multi-purpose functionality, wide range of shades, and skin-friendly formulations make them a valuable addition to any makeup collection.
The best blush sticks for effortless, summer makeup looks
Merit, Flush Balm — $30.00
This creamy blush is the epitome of butter; it melts directly onto the skin and, color-wise, packs a punch. Featuring nine shades, from soft peach to a cool pink, Merit’s Flush Balm delivers natural, flushed cheeks in seconds and offers buildable coverage in case you want to go all out.
Shades: 9
Summer Fridays, Blush Balm Stick — $28.00
If a multi-purpose stick is what you seek, Summer Fridays’ Blush Balm Stick should not be missed. It delivers a sheer veil of color that’s reminiscent of fruity sorbet. The stick does double duty as a cheek and lip tint, so just swipe and blend in with your finger tip for a hint of color. Even more, it’s formulated with derm-beloved hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to store the moisture.
Shades: 4
Ilia, Multi-Stick — $36.00
The smooth, multi-use formula is packaged in a twist-up stick that makes things easy peasy to apply, and it’s packed with hydrating ingredients like shea butter. Dewy and hydrating is the final look. For a splash of fruit, the shade All of Me delivers a watermelon pink flush that’s reminiscent of summer BBQs.
Shades: 12
Westman Atelier, Baby Cheeks Lip and Cheek Cream Blush Stick — $48.00
Westman Atelier is the brainchild of pro makeup artist Gucci Westman, and the brand’s cheeky blush stick offers a sheer tint of color to let your complexion shine through. It offers a matte-yet-dewy finish and amplifies hydration, firms skin, and strengthen’s your skin’s natural barrier thanks to jojoba seed oil and fruit extracts.
Shades: 4
Nars, The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip, and Eye Stick — $39.00
What’s impressive about Nars Cream Blush Stick is that it does triple duty as a blush, lip stick, and eye shadow (wow). The creamy-yet-sheer formula makes it easy to apply over delicate areas like the eyes while the vitamin E and açai oil keeps skin plump.
Shades: 5
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