Is cream makeup better for summer?

With the weather heating up, a new season of opportunities to try out all those summer eye, face, and lip looks you've saved on Instagram and TikTok is upon us. But if you're not careful with your product selection, you risk your makeup slipping and sliding off your face when you enter the sweltering summer heat. (Thanks for that, sweat.) If you don't know where to start with your regimen, don't fret, because we tapped a few professional makeup artists to find the best summer makeup tips to ensure your look locks in place all day long.

For this same reason, almost every makeup artist in the game swears by super lightweight, sheer, creamy products in the summertime — think tinted moisturizers and cream blush — as they lessen the chances of your makeup turning into a sweaty, cakey disaster the second the sun hits. Instead, they meld into a naturally dewy glow. Sweatproof, water-resistant products are also key to ensure any oils or sweat from the day won't melt away your makeup. Multitasking makeup will come in handy, too, for easy, midday touchups.

But most of all, impeccable makeup — no matter the season — always starts with hydrating skin care. In fact, when Allure tapped several professional makeup artists to find out their best summer makeup tips, all stressed the importance of proper exfoliation with some handy tools and prepping skin with sunscreen. Curious to know what other summer makeup tips they've got up their sleeves? Keep scrolling to find out.

*Press Sample/Affiliate Links

Well, if cream blushes, bronzers, contour, and highlighters aren’t all the rage right now then IDK what is lol I was swatching the Patrick Ta She’s Statuesque Creme Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo for my friend Courtney and figured let’s just do a post on this… because for the last few months I’ve been wearing almost exclusively cream cheek makeup. And I can’t imagine ever going back to exclusively powder products.

I’ve always been scared of cream products, particularly for the cheeks. My skin type used to be incredibly oily. Now that I’m more oily-to-normal, I’ve started to venture out a bit more. 

Below I’m going to share the products I’ve been switching out for each other along with a mini-review of each. Below that, I’ll share what products are on my wishlist! 

1. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($44.00). This is the ONLY highlight I’ve been using and I picked it up in the shade 2 Fair. I know people like to mix with their foundations etc., but that is just too much extra glow for me. Because I’m only using a small dab a day, picking up the the mini-size ($15.00) was more than enough for me. TBH I feel like it almost helps me gain more control over the oil that develops on my face throughout the day. Almost like I can now decide where it’ll shine the brightest, you know? To apply I just dab a bit on with my finger then blend out with the Sonia Kashuk Makeup Sponge ($5.00).
2. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Creme Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo ($38.00). Because of the higher price point I went back and forth on this one for a long time. Finally I purchased She’s Statuesque and I do not regret it at all. The contour shade is slightly cooler than shown in the swatch pic, and it’s perfect for my light skin tone. It stays on all day and is easy to blend out. The bronzer is a little lighter than I like but works well with the contour. If I could get the contour on it’s own I’d be repurchasing just that one, but I’d still repurchase the duo when I run out because it’s that good. 
3. ELF Putty Blush ($6.00). I picked up Bora Bora because so many beauty influencers were saying it was better than the Rare Beauty Melting Blush (which I also love). At that ELF price point, who could resist just one? While I like it, I do find that it’s a little more dry than the other cream products mentioned in this post. For that reason, I don’t like to apply it using my favorite brush. For this product, it’s better to warm it up on your fingers first, dab it on, then blend it out. VERY beautiful.
4. Rare Beauty Melting Blush ($21.00). I forget what YouTube video I saw Nearly Neutral on that finally made me go, “YES, I’m buying that, I need that.” Again, another one I do not regret at all and that I definitely need more of. TBH I haven’t gotten along with ANY Rare Beauty products before I tried this one out, so I was skeptical… but damn, it’s pretty… and pigmented… and GOOD. Of all of the cream blushes mentioned in this post, this one stays on the longest and it’s the one I usually opt for when I’m at work and sweating my butt off. It looks semi-sheer in the swatch but it most definitely is not.
5. Colourpop Blush Stix ($9.00). My top pick for an affordable cream blush. My two favorite shades are Picnic Time and Cottage Life, though I opt for Picnic Time more in these Summer months. To wear these ones, I rub some color onto the back of my hand and dip the brush there. If I apply the stick directly to my face I notice the pigment is uneven and removes my face makeup as I blend. When I apply from the back of my hand with the brush I get about 8 hours of wear and blending is seamless. 
6. Flower Beauty Blush Bomb Color Drops ($10.29). Though not swatched below, I also really love the Flower Beauty Blush Bomb Color Drops. The pigment is strong, so you absolutely need to apply to the back of your hand first, then stipple on that way. A little bit goes a very long way so start off easy and build as necessary!

The swatches below are done dry and on bare skin (no primers). I took this pic out in the morning sun, so the tones are all a bit warmer than they show IRL.

Are you looking for something a little more subtle? PIXI On-the-Glow Blush Tinted Moisture Stick ($18.00). This is another (maybe it’s a stick formula product thing?!) that I have to apply to the back of my hand before dabbing on with a brush, then lightly blending out. This formula has a bit more slip to it, and if you have great skin and just want a cheek tint at the pool you’ll be obsessed. Otherwise, applying with the brush from the back of your hand will work when wearing over other face makeup.

(swatched separately below because I’d intended on a dedicated post for these but ran out of time!)

And, finally, the best brush for cream cheek ANYTHING is the ELF Beautifully Precise Airbrush Stipple ($10.00). I have many multiples of this one. My only gripe is that on every single one I have the brush part comes unglued from the handle after a few washes. We glue it back together using this and all is well, but worth mentioning.

If money is no object or you’re looking to splurge I also love the Sonia G Classic Cheek ($46.00) and the Wayne Goss Sculpting Brush ($53.00). I received these in separate Beautylish Lucky Bags and they’re two of my all-time favorites!

In addition, my wishlist… because of course I have one and we might as well make this post a little longer.

Cream cheek products that have caught my eye: Patrick Ta Double-Take Creme Powder & Powder Blush ($34.00), Danessa Myricks Vision Flush ($20.00), Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick ($28.00), Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick ($28.00), Milani Cream Blush ($8.99), AURIC Glow Lust ($45.00), and the Kaja Play Bento Cream Bronzer, Powder Blush, and Highlighter Sculpting Trio ($25.00).

I’d love to hear which cream products are your favorites or on your wishlists!

*Colourpop & Pixi were sent to me by the brands. All other products shown were purchased by me.