Ever seen a shiny new beauty product all over your Instagram feed and wondered if it's really that good?
Glowing online beauty reviews are awesome, but nothing beats a product road-test in real time from someone who's actually used it.
We get it. We hear you.
It's why we asked four of our resident beauty experts to help us out the moment we found out Anastasia Beverly Hills was launching a new range of cream bronzers and cream blush sticks.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush and Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer are the newest launches from the makeup brand known for impeccable brow products and some of the best eyeshadow palettes we've tried.
The summery complexion products promise to be creamy and buttery and basically fool-proof.
Safe to say, expectations were high.
Some people might even go as far as to say the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer is a solid dupe for the luxurious (and very expensive) Chanel bronzing cream...
Intrigued? Here are our honest reviews.
First, a quick recap of the main selling points of these creamy bronzers and blushes:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush:
$50 and available in five shades - latte, peach caramel, peachy keen, pink dahlia and soft rose.
Dual-ended sleek rose gold packaging is easy to use and comes with a small stippling brush on one end.
Cream blush consistency melts into the skin, blends seamlessly and lasts all day.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer:
$55 and available in seven shades - sun kissed, amber, golden tan, caramel, hazelnut, chestnut and cool brown.
Lightweight and buildable cream bronzer you can also use as a contour to add dimension to the face.
Natural matte, long-lasting finish that doesn't contain any shimmer.
Very creamy, pigmented formula blends seamlessly into the skin.
Non-greasy, and won't streak, oxidise, smudge or go patchy.
Now, onto those honest ABH Cream Bronzer and Cream Blush Sticks reviews.
We asked four beauty experts of different ages, with skin types, complexions and makeup skills, to put these to the test.
Watch the ABH cream bronzers and blush sticks YouTube video below, or read on for the quick(er) version.
Who: Amanda Ramsay, our resident over 40s makeup expert and award-winning professional makeup artist.
You can follow Amanda on Instagram at @amandaramsaymakeup and find out more by visiting www.amandaramsay.co.nz.
ABH bronzer and blush shades:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer in Amber (light to medium with neutral undertones).
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush in Peachy Keen (a soft peach).
What they thought:
Like women my age or older (I'm 48), hydration is a bit of a challenge. My skin is pretty normal albeit seriously sun-damaged.
Cream products and mature skin go beautifully together. The bronzer is so creamy and light. The texture is divine. Light as a feather. It's gorgeous. Almost good enough to eat.
I like to use cream bronzers to create a bit of shape and dimension to the face. To do this, dip an angled brush into the bronzer, tap off any excess and run the brush under the cheekbones and along the jawline to carve them out.
The blush texture feels a bit mousse-y, and I like how you can apply it straight onto the skin and blend with your fingers. Even if you have oily skin, this will work for you because it's weightless on the skin and doesn't have that super creamy texture.
Peachy Keen is a warm, peachy apricot colour - I find shades like this to be universally flattering on everyone.
Who: Ruchi Page an Indian Australian writer, content creator and curve model championing confidence and inclusion... and serving fire makeup looks in your feed.
You might recognise Ruchi as a regular face on the Adore Beauty YouTube channel, but you can find her on Instagram @ruchipage.
ABH bronzer and blush shades:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer in Caramel (medium to tan with warm undertones).
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush in Soft Rose (a deep rosy pink).
What they thought:
I have combination to oily skin, with breakouts and texture around the cheeks and temples.
For bronzers, I don't want anything too dramatically dark for my skin tone. I want it to look like skin, like I've got a tan. Blush-wise, I prefer warm tones on my complexion because it amplifies the colour of my skin.
First, I applied the cream bronzer using a damp beauty sponge. Stick it straight in there and dab into the skin. I love how natural the finish is, it blends in really, really effortlessly.
You can dab the cream blush straight onto the skin and blend using fingers or the little brush on the end. The shade Soft Rose is soooooo pretty. I would opt for a warmer shade like this one over a baby doll pink.
The product emphasises my cheekbones, and the sticks are so easy to use. A+ Anastasia Beverly Hills, you killed it.
Who: Yadira Cauchi is our resident dermal therapist and beauty journalist. Oh, and she makes hilarious bite-sized skincare videos on Instagram @yadscauchiskin.
When she's not writing articles for Beauty IQ or treating clients in-clinic, Yads is keeping three kids under five alive and completing a post-grad qualification in human nutrition to complement her in-clinic work.
ABH bronzer and blush shades:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer in Amber or Golden Tan (light to medium with warm golden undertones).
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush in Peachy Keen.
What they thought:
I love cream bronzers. I have a gazillion. Plus, the older I get (I’m 34), the more I steer towards cream products over powders as they just sit better on the skin and don’t settle into fine lines.
When I first used these products, I was surprised by the satin-y finish because I expected them to be dewier. I still love them though. Ha. They blend out super easily, are never splodgy and most importantly, they actually last on the skin.
I do my makeup in a rush and/or on the run, and these are mum-friendly. I personally apply the bronzer with a brush, however I like to dab the cream blush on the apples of my cheeks and blend with my fingers.
The cream blushes melt into the skin and layer beautifully. I wouldn't use the cream bronzer as a contour as the shades aren't cool-toned, but I swear it's a dupe for the Chanel Tan de Soleil Bronzer, only a tad warmer and in more colours.
I haven’t stopped using these products since I got them and I'll repurchase when I inevitably run out.
Who: Amy (me!!) is Adore Beauty's Senior Editor and self-appointed beauty road-tester.
She's also a journalist and the co-host of our Skincare School limited series podcast. Go listen immediately if you haven't already.
You can find Amy's Beauty IQ articles here, and on Instagram @theamyclark.
ABH bronzer and blush shades:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer in Sun Kissed (fair to light with neutral undertones).
Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush in Peachy Caramel (deep warm peach) and Pink Dahlia (rose petal pink).
What they thought:
Even though my dry skin loves them, I've always found cream bronzers intimidating to use.
They're very pigmented and you have to work quickly to avoid a big splodge in one spot... and usually not the spot you wanted. Too much effort for my 'good enough' makeup skills.
Because of this, I get the best result applying with a flat stippling brush like Spectrum B01 Buffing Foundation Brush because it's basically an eraser for mistakes.
Thankfully, the bronzer blends really well. If you get the right shade, it's almost hard to use too much. Still prefer a matte powder bronzer for every day because it's just easier, but it's nice to know this isn't a scary cream bronzer.
Onto the cream blushes, which I'm obsessed with.
I appreciate what the brand was trying to do with the in-built brush... my opinion? Forget it and use the same flat stippling brush or fingers instead to work the product upwards along the cheekbones.
Side note, I highly recommend checking out our resident makeup artist Megan's hack for applying blush.
The blush texture is neither sparkly nor dewy, but the skin-like finish looks fresh and lively all day. It's the Goldilocks of cream blushes.
And that wraps up our Anastasia Beverly Hills cream bronzer and blush reviews!
If we've convinced you to add them to cart, probs do it fast because there's a good chance they'll sell out...
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