Summer is finally here, and I'm celebrating by making my face as dewy as possible. The grass is always greener, right? This summer I'm going for sheer, glowy products all over for a fresh, "I woke up like this" kind of look.
Glowy base products are a must for me, not just in the summer, but year-round. The Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint is a forever favorite - it smooths over the skin beautifully, has just enough coverage, and leaves a healthy glow to the skin. A budget option (and my favorite cushion foundation I've tried) is the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion. It's super easy to apply on the go, and like the Glossier Skin Tint, leaves a lovely glow. I've also recently fallen for the Erborian CC Creme.* It's one of those products that comes out as a white lotion but transitions into a more beige-y color as you rub it in. This has more of a skinlike, satin finish, but it's so lightweight and hydrating on the skin that it's still perfect for summer.
My blush goals for summer and basically always is that "just woke up from a nap" flush. I don't have time to nap, I just like to pretend I do. Glossier Cloud Paint* in Beam is one of my favorites for the job - it's the perfect warm peachy pink that actually looks like a natural flush. Even on my cool-toned skin, the peach is ultra-flattering. Sometimes, if I'm feeling my look needs a bit more pink, I'll mix in the Cloud Paint in Puff - mixing makeup has been kind of my thing lately, maybe it's the chemist in me.
Summer and bronzer go hand in hand, and I really amp up my bronzer application when the weather heats up. I live as a vampire and like to fake a little bit of a glow instead of going out in the sun. My top picks for this summer are going to be the BECCA Sunlit Bronzer in Bali Sands and the Guerlain Terracotta Sun Trio. The BECCA bronzer is one of the nicest ones I've ever tried - it appears quite shimmery in the pan, but on the skin it's a beautiful satin finish that leaves you looking radiant. The Guerlain is my favorite matte pick - there's a bronzer, contour, and highlight shade all housed in the compact, but my preferred method of application is swirling all three shades together. This works really well for my cool-toned skin, too.
Highlight is a must for me, especially in the summer. I've strayed from my old love of metallic highlights and have instead been falling for ones that look quite glossy and natural on the skin. I'm drawn to liquids and creams much more than powders these days, too. The Glossier Haloscope in Quartz is pretty much my go-to every day. It gives the most beautiful glossy sheen to the skin that's not overly glittery or shimmery. I also love the Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color in Illumi-Naughty for another glossy sheen that also has a bit of a pink shift - it's such a cool look. Nudestix seems to do everything so well. To round out my go-to stick highlighters, I've also got the Ilia Illuminator in Polka Dots and Moonbeams. It's even more natural on the skin than the Haloscope, and it really reminds me of the rms Living Luminizer in stick form. The new YSL Touche Eclat Glow Shot is an absolutely beautiful product. It's quite natural and gives a luminous, lit-from-within glow.
As for eyes, I'm really embracing the glossy lid look for summer. My eyelids are super oily anyway, so I'm just going with it. If I want an actual eye gloss, the Milk Makeup Eye Vinyl is easy to apply on the go, isn't too sticky, and doesn't run all over the place. If I'm not going for a gloss, I still like eyeshadows that look a little glossy. The Revlon ColorStay Creme Eyeshadow in Praline is definitely a hidden gem of the drugstore. The shadow does not budge on me, and the shade is absolutely perfect - quite similar to my skin tone, a little rosy, with a glossy-looking sheen. The Nudestix Sheer Color Eye Pencil has a similar finish on the eyes, too. It lasts well, and the shade Pewter is a great taupe-y shade.
Like the rest of my face, I'm going sheer and glossy for lips this summer. The Glossier Lip Gloss is a must of course - a clear gloss goes with anything, and this one is glassy and not goopy. The MAC Crystal Glaze Gloss is a nice gloss option as well - it feels moisturizing rather than sticky, and it works well on the cheeks and eyes too. My other go-tos this summer are going to be the Nudestix Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balm in Pulse, a perfect plummy nude shade, and the Dior Addict Lip Glow. I love this stuff and couldn't go without it.
What are your picks for this summer?
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