I know a lot of people that pretty much spend the summer months make-up free. They’ve already got a sun kissed glow going from all the outdoor festivities, plus they’d rather not have any extra product on when they are sweaty enough as it is. But alas, I am not that girl.
Trust me, if I was blessed with flawless skin (or perhaps just a little more self confidence), I’m sure you would find me out and about with my bare face for all the world to see. And maybe I’ll get there one day. But until then, I do like to keep things as fresh & natural as possible to give off the illusion that I’m not wearing a ton of make-up when it’s 90 degrees outside.
In order to do this, I put most of my attention on my skin to get that healthy glow through makeup. These are the products that I find myself grabbing on a daily basis for my everyday summer routine.
1. Sunscreen – I pull some pretty animated & expressive faces when I’m talking. I know without a doubt that forehead wrinkles and laugh lines are in my future. The last thing I need is premature aging from the sun on top of it. So I always use sunscreen under my makeup – I like this one by Neutrogena for an oil-free formula that won’t clog your pores.
2. Primer – This step is going to help your makeup stay put in these hot summer temps. I’ve just recently picked up this primer from Maybelline. It doesn’t minimize my pores quite as well as others that I’ve used in the past, (all hail the Porefessional by Benefit), but as far as having my makeup last it definitely gets the job done.
3. Concealer – One of my tricks to looking a little more natural is skipping any heavy, full coverage foundations & just going straight to concealer. I’ll apply this under my eyes, to any imperfections I’ve got currently going on, and then the high points of my face to brighten. Tarte’s Shape Tape is my all-time favorite. The trick is to apply with a damp beauty blender sponge so that there aren’t any harsh lines where your concealer ends and your bare face begins.
4. Blush / Bronzer – This is just to give your face a little more dimension and sun kissed color. I love NARS Orgasm Blush this time of year. It’s also super flattering on a ton of different skin tones, which is why it’s such a cult favorite.
5. Highlighter – Nothing catches the light and gives you that dewy look quite like a good highlighter. I usually prefer a neutral one that adds sheen, but no additional color to my face. Mac Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade works great for this.
6. Eyeshadow – All you really need is one to sweep into your crease and give you a little extra definition. There’s so many beautiful, warm shades in the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette. I’ve been finding myself reaching for this for the past few weeks, and choosing a shade or two to blend on with a big, fluffy brush.
7. Mascara – Popping a few coats of mascara instantly makes you look put together and awake. If I’m in a crazy rush and can only do one thing, mascara is it. I’ve been using this one by Maybelline for at least a year now. Gives me great volume & never runs or flakes.
8. Lips – Throw on whatever suits your fancy when it comes to lips and you are good to go. I’m usually a lipstick or liquid lipstick kind of girl. This liquid lip by Wet N Wild is a newly discovered favorite of mine, and is only going to set you back five dollars.
And that’s it for my summer look, gals! What are your favorite summertime essentials?
xo Emily