In the summertime I’m all about quick and easy makeup that will last all day without making me look too “made up”. Summer is a time when you want your skin to look fresh and luminous. What I love about summer makeup is my routine is cut almost in half! This leaves me a lot of other time to get stuff done, such as laundry web surfing. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity and high temps in the summer. I need my makeup to last (and look good) from the time I put it on to when I wash it off at night. This can be hard to achieve but with the right products and routine seen below, you will be on your way to long-lasting, fresh-faced, summer beauty.
1. Primer
Primers are specifically made for either the face or eyes. A primer helps the longevity of your makeup. It creates a smooth surface for applying your foundation or eye makeup.
A facial primer not only helps to reduce the appearance of your pores, it also helps to control oil and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re using a face primer, a little goes a long way. You usually only need one pump, if that.
An eye primer keeps your shadow adhered all day long and also keeps it from creasing. It also works to the benefit of the eyeshadow by bringing out the true pigment in the shadow. I would consider an eye primer a staple in anyone’s makeup collection, but if you’re someone with oily eyelids then a primer is an absolute necessity. When wearing foundation or eye makeup in the summer, I definitely recommend trying one of the following:
Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer, $23 at BareEscentuals.com
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer, $34 at Sephora
2. Neutral Eyes
Think beachy and bronzed…and J. Lo. Summertime is when you can get away with minimal eye makeup, so use it to your advantage. The great thing is you don’t have to be makeup savvy to create a look. I usually keep it simple with one light, shimmery color all over the lid. For evening, pop another color into your crease and you’re good to go. Here are some of my favorites.
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, $50 at Sephora
MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch, $15 at Nordstrom
Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar, $14 at Nordstrom
3. Peachy Cheeks
When I think of light, fresh makeup I think of peachy-pink cheeks. You want a shade that gives you a natural-looking flush of color. The focus point shouldn’t be on your cheeks. You just want a pop of blush that gives you that little pick-me-up, making your finished look polished.
NARS Orgasm Blush, $28
MAC Buff Blush, $24
Kirsten Dunst at Cannes Film Festival 2012. Summer makeup perfection.
What are your summer makeup essentials? Stay tuned for Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2.
