Every summer, I find it’s necessary to change up my makeup. A change to my makeup routine is a necessary pleasure. Sweltering heat, rising humidity, and icy blasts of air conditioning don’t exactly make the best conditions for the cosmetics I use in the winter and spring. And while there are a lot of beauty trends out there, I prefer a practical approach that mirrors the lazy days of the season. Here are some options for a minor makeup shake-up as we hit the dog days of summer.
As with any time of year, effective makeup starts with skincare. Summer can actually be good for your skin. Warmer temperatures can create an effortless sheen, while sunshine gives a bit of a golden glow, and drier complexions don’t need as much hydration. With that in mind, approach your skincare with a light hand with cream and liquid products that aren’t as heavy as the deep moisturizers you use in winter.
Of course, a lighter hand does not mean skipping steps in your routine. Still use serum, lotion, and primer before applying makeup. The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Support Serum makes a nice switch for summer, especially with its use of ingredients to help reduce redness if that glow becomes a bit more rosy than gold with a day in the sun. Then, use a simple moisturizer like CeraVe’s Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel and finish your prep with e.l.f.’s Hydrating Face Primer before applying a light-reflecting foundation. I switch out my winter foundation for Glossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint when the weather gets warmer and the days get brighter, and I use a setting powder or spray, such as NYX’s Dewy Setting Spray. As the name suggests, this helps to maintain a glowing face in summer, instead of a matte finish.
Of course, an all-over glowy, dewy face isn’t always appropriate for your summer plans. A shiny forehead at work is less than ideal, right? If you’re more comfortable in the matte camp, but are looking for a bit of glow, then consider a demi-matte approach. Since the middle of the face is where excess shine or redness tends to occur, then use your regular powder for higher coverage. Forgo matte around the edges of your face for a perimeter of glow. You may even want to utilize two types of primer for those different areas. A mattifying primer, such as Neutrogena’s Mattifying Primer with Shine Control, for your T-zone, followed by the e.l.f. primer mentioned above for cheeks.
Once you have your foundation and finish level set, next up is color. I definitely use less bold shades for eyes and cheeks during the summer, which can appear harsh in the sunshine. I’m looking at washes of color versus pops, and blurred edges rather than harsh lines in more watercolory pigments. I’m really liking the shades of Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush, which features the added benefit of a cooling and refreshing jelly texture for those hot mornings when you’re getting ready in front of the fan. There’s also Pixi Beauty’s On-the-Glow Blush to swipe on cheeks and lips for a hint of natural color. With these “wipe on” products, use a fluffy brush to buff and blend for a soft painterly effect.
If you’re more into a clean look, opt for an early 2000s-inspired nude lip instead of a tinted one. Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick is a great one-in-two product that comes in a variety of “naked” shades to best complement your skin tone. There’s rose tan, honey brown, light peach, and light pink-beige, to name a few. The glossy effect brings this trend into the modern day versus the opaque matte lip of 20 years ago. Or check out Jones Road’s The Lip Tint for a nude-ish, glossy lip with shades like pale mauve, rosy brown, or cool chocolate brown.
Another great lip trick for summer is a blurred lip line. Who wants to fuss around with a pristine lip when the sunshine is calling? A blurred Cupid’s bow with softened edges gives a smoother, more rounded appearance and embraces the romantic side of summer. If you’re going with a nude lip, a blurred lip line helps define the mouth and saves you from a blank-ish face.
If you find you want to experiment with more color, then consider blue. Not the blue shadow of the 80s, mind you, but instead a denim-adjacent blue shade. ColorPop’s So Elemental Eyeshadow Palette has tones and textures for this effect. Use their Calm Down Matte circle has a base and then highlight with Out of the Blue Metallic or Malibu Waves Pearlescent Glitter.
If all of this sounds too much for these hot and sticky days, I get it. Do whatever makes your makeup feel like you. Think about your favorite features and create a look that enhances them. Of course, you don’t have to wear makeup at all. But hydration and sunscreen are for everyone, no matter what goes on your face afterwards.
