I’ve always been a powder blush kind of girl – creams scare me.
But come summer, I’m loathe to put more powder on my already sweaty face and since there’s been a recent spate of cream stick launches, which are so much more appealing than compact creams, I was willing to try again.
I started out with Avon’s Be Blushed. It has a gel-like consistency and comes in eight different shades. It didn’t take much to blend it in, but once I did it was practically invisible. I had to reapply for even a hint of color and even then there was more pigment on my fingertips than my cheeks.
The next day I tried Bobbi Brown’s Sheer Color Cheek Tint. I loved all six sheer shades, the flush looked natural and stayed on all day though it wasn’t nearly as easy to blend. I had to rub it in so violently that I couldn’t tell whether or not my cheeks were red from the tint or from the rubbing. But once the redness subsided it had the most natural look and feel to it.

Lastly, I tried Nars’ Multiple. The stick was gargantuan compared to the skinny Avon and teeny Bobbi Brown, but the cream itself was creamy and soft – it also had the best shade selection of the bunch with twelve hues ranging from deep bronze to the infamous Orgasm. Also, I loved the natural and subtle shimmer in this one. It successfully avoided the frostiness of Avon’s.
So I guess I’m an official convert to the cream side. I’ve been using the Bobbi Brown on an almost daily basis and working the Nars into my routine as well. I don’t think I’ll ever totally forgo powder but these are perfect for the heat and sweat of summer.
–MEGAN MCINTYRE