Summer is here at last! I used to be really scared of doing a glowing makeup look during the warmer months, but now I love the look of highlighted, dewy (but not greasy!) skin. This is a pretty easy makeup look and you can always strip it back to the basics for those low-key beach days.
Base
I start by prepping my skin with the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser | £20.50. It's a lovely 2-in-1 product that smooths and moisturises my skin. It's lightweight but if you're very oily, you might want to opt for something like the Hylamide Matte 12* (review). I then apply my trusty Bobbi Brown Corrector (Peach) | £19.50 | under the eyes to mask my dark circles. It has a creamy formula and I find it best to correct before foundation.
My foundation of the moment is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Cushion Stick Foundation (4W1) | £28. It's the perfect product for everyday use because it gives medium coverage without smothering the skin. It evens out its tone but isn't too matte, nor is it overly dewy. It just gives a natural skin finish that really lasts. I would warn you though that it runs slightly lighter than the original formula. I'm also very sad that I'm running out of it, though on the positive side the packaging means you're going to get every last bit out of the product. I just swipe it directly onto the face and blend it out with a damp BeautyBlender Bubble* | £16.
To conceal, I use the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer (Ginger) | £23. It's just so quick and easy to apply and barely needs any blending! It covers redness, blemishes and dark circles and looks incredibly natural on the skin. It definitely isn't drying but it also doesn't crease and lasts very well on me. I've also been loving the Beauty Pie Super Luminous Concealer* (Medium) | £22. I use this under my eyes, after I've done my liner and shadow just to add some extra coverage and brighten the area, which this works a treat for. If you've read my previous posts, you'll know I'm highly sceptical of this concept, so I've decided that going forwards I'm just going to review any products from them as though they were the full price. I do think this is a bit expensive; if it was £15 then I'd definitely recommend it. However I do enjoy the product and it's what I've been using, so I wanted to give it a mention. Again, I just use the same BeautyBlender to blend this in seamlessly.
Cheeks
I always find that cream applies best directly onto foundation, so I powder anywhere I think I need it after applying these products. I like to highlight with the ColourPop Super Shock Cheek Highlighter in Candyman | $5. This is a sun-kissed golden-bronze shade that's beautiful on the cheekbones. It's such a nice, warm colour and the formula is smooth and pigmented, making it easy to blend out with my fingers. It isn't at all greasy so gives a metallic sheen as opposed to being full of glitter. I then use the Nars Matte Multiple in Cappadoce | £25. I just swipe this warm matte bronze tone underneath the cheekbones and across the sides of my temples and blend out with my BeautyBlender. It just gives a natural warmth to the skin and has enough movement to work with it but isn't at all slippery. I then use the cream blusher from the ColourPop x Sonya Esma Here Comes the Sun Super Shock Face Duo | $16. I'm not that into the highlighter from this but I do LOVE the blusher. It's a warm peachy-rose colour with a very subtle golden sheen running through it. It so easy to work with but has a really nice, natural level of pigmentation. It goes on evenly and doesn't fade during the day.
I then pat some of the MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural (Medium Dark) | £24.50 | in the places I struggle with shine. It does have colour and coverage but looks incredibly natural on the skin. It's impossible to go overboard or powdery with this, it just keeps the shine at bay and my face in place without taking away the skin's glow. I then like to finish my face with a spritz of the Rimmel #Insta Fix & Go Setting Spray* | £6.99. It smells so fresh and slightly cucumber-y and gives the skin a gorgeous, dewy finish.
Eyes
Priming is an essential for me, especially in the summer when my eyelids can get super-oily, so I use my trusted combination of the Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original) | £17 | & MAC Paint Peintures in Bamboom | £16. The Urban Decay is a semi-sheer cream-based formula that makes a HUGE difference in terms of making sure your eyeshadow lasts and stays in place. Bamboom is a cream shadow that's a pinky-taupe brown colour with the most subtle golden sheen. On lazy days I often wear this on its own, however it also acts as an amazing base to make powder shadows really pop.
When I have time, I've been using the ColourPop x Sonya Esman Eyeshadow Palette in Gemini by Night | $18. Quality-wise these are the best ColourPop powder shadows I've tried so far - the others definitely didn't have the longevity I look for, and though these aren't up there as the best for me in that respect, it's still a big improvement. These shades are just beautiful for an easy, golden everyday summer makeup look; you have a beige matte transition colour, a champagne-gold with a soft sheen, a warm mid-toned matte brown for the crease and a this interesting pinky-copper shimmer, which I use on the outer corner.
I've actually really been liking not wearing winged liner every single day at the moment - especially when I just want to slap on some makeup and get outside to enjoy the sun, it just seems like an extra step I don't really need when I'm going for quite a soft look. I use the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray* | £14.50 | to tight-line and define. It's just so creamy and the most pigmented black crayon liner I've ever tried. Best of all; it doesn't transfer or smudge. On the lower lash line, I opt for the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog | £15.50. This is a bronze-gold brown shimmery crayon liner, which I like to use because it adds that definition without being as harsh as using black all around the eyes. Again, this has amazing longevity.
To finish off my eye look, I put on some mascara and define my brows. In the summer, I often opt for the Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara | £8.99. I don't love it as much as the original, as it's a little crispier on the lashes, however most mascara 'melts' off my lashes in the heat and irritates my eyes so I find myself reaching for waterproof formulas on hotter days. It still gives my lashes amazing length, curl and definition with a bit of a volume-boost. I recently ran out of my NYX brow pencil and remembered I picked up the ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black N Brown | $5. It's almost like a brow pomade in a handy pencil - it's very pigmented, allowing you to redefine the shape of your brows, but still looks pretty natural and takes minimal effort. It's long-wearing and the shade is perfect for my very dark brown hair (not too warm but also not jet black, which looks too harsh on me).
I've actually really been liking not wearing winged liner every single day at the moment - especially when I just want to slap on some makeup and get outside to enjoy the sun, it just seems like an extra step I don't really need when I'm going for quite a soft look. I use the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray* | £14.50 | to tight-line and define. It's just so creamy and the most pigmented black crayon liner I've ever tried. Best of all; it doesn't transfer or smudge. On the lower lash line, I opt for the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog | £15.50. This is a bronze-gold brown shimmery crayon liner, which I like to use because it adds that definition without being as harsh as using black all around the eyes. Again, this has amazing longevity.
To finish off my eye look, I put on some mascara and define my brows. In the summer, I often opt for the Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara | £8.99. I don't love it as much as the original, as it's a little crispier on the lashes, however most mascara 'melts' off my lashes in the heat and irritates my eyes so I find myself reaching for waterproof formulas on hotter days. It still gives my lashes amazing length, curl and definition with a bit of a volume-boost. I recently ran out of my NYX brow pencil and remembered I picked up the ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black N Brown | $5. It's almost like a brow pomade in a handy pencil - it's very pigmented, allowing you to redefine the shape of your brows, but still looks pretty natural and takes minimal effort. It's long-wearing and the shade is perfect for my very dark brown hair (not too warm but also not jet black, which looks too harsh on me).
Lips
I'm a matte lip girl at heart, but on those days when I just want something simple to hydrate my lips, add some colour and that contains SPF all in one, I opt for my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal | £20. This is a gorgeous warm pinky-nude tone that's perfect for finishing off a glossy makeup look.
Otherwise, I'm loving these three shades from the ColourPop x Sonya Esman Perks of Being a Wildflower Mini Stix to Go | $18 (sorry for all the ColourPop in this post!) I tend to opt for California Lover (a pinky-peach tone) but Empire State of Mind (peachy-brown) is another favourite and Toronto Terrace (brown nude) works well too. These are supposed to be 2-in-1 lip and cheek sticks but personally I don't think they apply well on the cheeks. However for the lips they are give comfortable, opaque, long-lasting matte finish.
Otherwise, I'm loving these three shades from the ColourPop x Sonya Esman Perks of Being a Wildflower Mini Stix to Go | $18 (sorry for all the ColourPop in this post!) I tend to opt for California Lover (a pinky-peach tone) but Empire State of Mind (peachy-brown) is another favourite and Toronto Terrace (brown nude) works well too. These are supposed to be 2-in-1 lip and cheek sticks but personally I don't think they apply well on the cheeks. However for the lips they are give comfortable, opaque, long-lasting matte finish.
What kind of makeup are you wearing on a day-to-day basis this summer?
Disclosure - products marked * were sent to me for consideration however all opinions remain my own.
Disclosure - products marked * were sent to me for consideration however all opinions remain my own.
Read more posts from this series here!
I'm loving my Chanel Perfect Lumiere Velvet foundation, and the ABH Glow Kit in Sweets!
ReplyDeletecarolinasmakeuplife.blogspot.pt
I really need to get the Glow Kit I have back out! xx
DeleteI love a very natural base with only mascara and lipstick at the moment I am more into summery shades.
ReplyDeletehttp://afrenchgirlsthoughts.blogspot.fr
Your blog images literally make me want to buy everything! I've been dying to make a Colourpop order but was hesitant as I heard some mixed reviews on the eyeshadows. Everyone seems to be loving them lately so I definitely need to get round to it!
ReplyDeleteEmma xx
emmajtaylor.com
I definitely think they've improved from the shades I first tried from them xx
DeleteI love having a dewy glow so for sure will be checking out some of these products!
ReplyDeleteLotte | www.lottebeautybox.blogspot.co.uk
Those Colourpop shades look lovely. I'm going to have to look into ordering some x
ReplyDeleteWonky Lauren
I agree about Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof, it makes my lashes really stiff too and I also find it to go gunky way faster than the non-waterproof. Did it happened to yours as well?
ReplyDeleteI didn't find that personally, but I chuck every mascara after 3 months regardless xx
DeleteGreat post! where do you buy your colourpop shadows from? I keep wanting to buy some but worried about extra custom charges :(
ReplyDeleteEllyCavblog
From their website - I've linked it above xx
DeleteColourPop Moscow Sunrise looks incredible! I've never tried any of their products because of the custom charges though :(
ReplyDeleteJaynie Shannon | Beauty & Lifestyle
xx
How did I not know about the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser?! I just picked up the Ultra Moisturiser and now am gutted that I didn't get this instead, First Aid is such a life saver! Also can we just appreciate that swatch of Candyman from Colourpop?! It's utterly mindblowingly beautiful! xx
ReplyDeletewww.iridescentplaces.com
It's so good - I don't know how more people don't know about it! My mum actually introduced me to it :) xx
DeleteI love a good cucumber-y scented product! Haha:) I promise I'm not too wild :) That Color Pop eye brow pencil sounds like a fabulous formula. I'm really intrigued to try the new Rimmel eye brow pencil which has the fibres in to add a bit of hairy-ness as well as colour and definition. Xx
ReplyDeletehttp://elliebowsandsparkles.blogspot.co.uk/
Those colourpop shades are really gorgeous!
ReplyDeletewww.upyourvlog.com
Love the sound of the first aid coconut primer!
ReplyDeletehttp://claresloves.blogspot.co.uk/
I really want to try the Estee Lauder Cushion Foundation, I always think that it sounds so lovely. The Nars Soft Matte Concealer is one of my favourites!
ReplyDeleteDanielle xx
http://www.fashionbeautyblog.co.uk/
It's my 'every single day' foundation right now! xx
DeleteI try to avoid wearing makeup as much as I can during summer season to save my skin from acne breakouts. But whenever I wear it, I make sure to only apply light base makeup. Loved knowing about your summer makeup routine! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeously Flawed
I really like that beauty pie concealer. I find that their concept is odd but some of their products are actually good, so I'm on the fence about the whole thing! I love glow-y skin all year round! Those colourpop eyeshadows look so nice xx
ReplyDeletewww.lpagebeauty.com
I know - it's quite frustrating, as I wish they'd just pitch their products somewhere in the middle...xx
Deletevery little just concealer and eyebrow! love minimum makeup for summer!
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