When the sun shines, and temperatures rise, how we do our makeup can change from the rest of the year. Some look for the ultimate holiday glow whilst others fight to keep their skin matte and shine-free with their summer makeup choices.
I love taking a peek into a well-loved makeup bag for recommendations, so here’s a round-up of the summer makeup routines of four Team Escentual members…
Ceryn: Healthy Glow
What look do you want to achieve with your summer makeup bag?
“I have a combination skin type; my skin’s oily in the T-zone and dry in areas as I have eczema.
I want my skin to look healthy and glowing during summer. I like my routine to be quick, so I can look put together in a flash and get outdoors to enjoy the sunshine (hopefully) in no time. I tend to opt for cream products as I find them easier to use, and they give a more dewy finish, which I love in the warmer months.”
What’s in your makeup bag?
YSL NU Bare Look Tint:
“Nu gives *just* the right amount of coverage and has a gorgeous, glowy (not shiny) finish on the skin.”
bareMinerals bareSkin Serum Concealer:
“A little bit goes a long way, and it hides dark circles without feeling or looking cakey.”
Shiseido Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush – Shade 01:
“This Shiseido blush has a soft matte finish that perks my complexion right up; it’s perfect for a fresh summer look.”
Guerlain Terracotta Skin Highlighting Stick:
“This is discontinued now, but it’s one of my favourite cream highlighters. It has a bronze hue and gives my skin a naturally sun-kissed effect.”
bareMinerals Endless Summer Bronzer – Shade Warmth:
“It makes you look naturally bronzed (never orange) and has a gradual tanning effect too!”
bareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer – Shade Kiss of Copper:
“I’m all about a three-in-one makeup product when I’m in a rush, so the bronze-blush combo here is perfect, especially since it has just a hint of sparkle! I love how this looks; it’s like you’ve spent a day basking in the sun.”
Lancome Custom Highlight Drops – Shade Rose Glow:
“This light highlighter gives the skin an ethereal glow, and these drops blend into the skin quickly without slipping or ruining the rest of your base.”
Dior Diorshow Mascara – Shade Brown:
“I’ve used this mascara for years, and it’s been reformulated recently. It lifts like no other and doesn’t smudge!”
Dior Diorshow On Set Brow – Shade Clear:
“My brows have a mind of their own, which locks them in place without creating a crispy look or feel.”
Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil:
“It’s the only brow pencil I can use without my eyebrows looking like slugs – super-natural but still defined.”
Givenchy Le Rose Perfecto Liquid Balm – Shade Vital Glow:
“Vital Glow is the perfect everyday lip colour, in my opinion – it’s a subtle coral nude with added hyaluronic acid to keep your lips hydrated and plump.”
Do you have any tips and tricks for summer makeup?
“Choose cream products that you can blend with your fingers – it’ll save you time as you can blend them in with your fingers, plus they’ll give you a more glowy finish.”
Zainab: All Day Glow
What look do you want to achieve with your summer makeup bag?
“My skin type is dry. I like my summer makeup to look natural and glowy, but I also expect it to stay on all day without budging!”
What’s in your makeup bag?
“Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer:
“This primer smooths my skin, making makeup sit better. Priming also really helps to ensure my makeup lasts longer, especially during heatwaves.”
DIOR Forever Skin Glow Foundation – Shade 3W:
“I want my base to feel lightweight for summer but still, have good medium coverage. The Forever Skin Foundation makes my complexion look radiant whilst evening my skin tone.”
DIOR Diorskin Forever Skin Correct:
“I swear by DIOR – this is the concealer I use all year round. It has great coverage but blends really well for a non-cakey finish.”
bareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer – Shade Kiss of Pink:
“Kiss of Pink’s warm pink tone adds a flush of colour to my cheeks for a sun-kissed pop. I love how glowy it is, acting as a 3-in-1 makeup must-have as it replaces highlighter for me.”
DIOR Forever Natural Bronze – Shade 05:
“I’m a massive fan of DIOR – if you can’t already tell! This bronzer has a lightweight powder texture, so I use it to warm up my complexion by dusting it all over.”
Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray:
“This cult-classic setting spray takes away the powdery look of makeup and keeps it locked in place – yes, even through a heatwave.”
Benefit they’re Real! Lengthening Mascara:
“They’re Real never smudges on me, even in the heat, but it’s not as hard to get off as some waterproof mascaras I’ve tried.”
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil:
“This is the easiest way to get natural-looking brows quickly.”
Benefit 24-Hr Brow Setter:
“After filling in my brows, they will not budge when I’m using the Benefit Brow Setter – no matter how hot it gets.”
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil – Shade Plum:
“Glossy lips are officially back in fashion. My go-to summer shade is Plum; it might look dark in the bottle, but it’s still natural-looking on the lips as it reacts to your skin’s natural pH levels. It’s perfect for everyday hydration and colour.”
Do you have any tips and tricks for summer makeup?
“Add in a setting spray or primer to help your makeup’s longevity. I would still use a lot of my makeup bag in other seasons, but adding fixing steps means my makeup lasts through heat and humidity.”
Darcey: Sunkissed Glow
What look do you want to achieve with your summer makeup bag?
“I have lacklustre skin that’s prone to dryness. For summer, I like to achieve a radiant complexion with a vibrant pop of colour or a sun-kissed natural glow.”
What’s in your makeup bag?
Yves Saint Laurent NU Bare Look Tint – Shade 5:
“I love that it balances skincare and makeup to offer a lightweight, smooth finish that provides 24 hours of hydration and doesn’t dry my skin out.”
Yves Saint Laurent Glow In Balm:
“This makes my skin so glowy! I’ve had so many compliments on my complexion since using this. It also feels great on my skin, thanks to its blend of glycerin and shea butter.”
bareMinerals Mineralist Palette – Shade Burnished:
“bareMinerals’ eye shadow is ideal for summer if you’re prone to creases or you have hooded eyes. The soft browns and warm reds featured in the Burnished palette remind me of a sunset on a long summer’s night.”
Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils – Shade High-Density Black:
“When looking for a natural, minimal makeup look, I love to wear the NU Bare Tint and the Faux Cils mascara – its nylon fibres have varying lengths for an eye-opening false-lash look that’s effortlessly quick.”
Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm:
“It smells like honey – what else do I need to say? I always get dry lips, especially during summer. I think Nuxe’s lip balm is the perfect primer to use underneath lipstick, ensuring your lips stay smooth and hydrated all day long.”
Benefit Porefessional Super Setting Spray:
“I love the weightless, non-sticky and cool feel of the POREfessional Setting Spray. If I miss this step, my make-up will be halfway down my face – it’s essential for long-lasting wear.”
bareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer – Shade Kiss of Copper:
“Simplicity is my friend during summer! That’s why I love how bareMinerals have blended a highlighter, blush and bronzer in one. It saves me time and leaves my skin glowy and bronzed.”
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick – Shade Matchstick:
“I think summer is the perfect time to add a pop of colour to your makeup look. I tend to opt for hot pinks, bright reds and peachy corals for a tropical feeling.”
Do you have any tips and tricks for summer makeup?
“1. Primer and setting spray is your best friend for long-lasting, even coverage makeup.
2. Don’t be afraid of colour! Summer is the perfect time to experiment with a vivid lip or bright eyeshadow.”
Hannah: Long-lasting Matte Bronze
What I want to achieve with my summer makeup bag:
“I have combination skin and struggle with excess oil, especially during the sweaty summer heat. For me, summer makeup has to last all day – and into the night – with minimal touch-ups required. I also prefer makeup that keeps my skin relatively matte when tackling more oil than usual, but I never want to miss out on a super bronzed finish – I always want to look like I’m just back from my holiday.”
My makeup bag picks:
Eucerin Pigment Control Sun Fluid SPF50+ 50ml:
Although this is technically skin care/sun care, I often go foundation-free in the summer and switch to this instead; I find the tint of Eucerin’s SPF offers a beautiful bronzed shade and provides a surprising amount of coverage.”
bareMinerals BAREPRO 16Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation – Shade 17 Fair Neutral:
When I do want to wear foundation during the summer, this is the one I go for; its ultra-lightweight powder texture is a godsend during the heat.
I love how quick and easy the bareMinerals’ Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation is! It provides medium coverage without unwanted streaks when applied using the Real Techniques 123 Foundation Brush. The formula also helps to improve skin texture over time too, and I haven’t had a single breakout since I started using this skin-care-infused foundation two months ago.”
Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder:
When I’m pushed for time, my go-to summer look just consists of tinted SPF, bronzer and mascara, so I have to rely on a tried-and-tested bronzer – and Hoola is just that. It’s been my go-to for years as it never looks orange, even when dusted all over my forehead – I also love it on my eyes for a speedy bronzed eye look before I rush out the door.”
GUERLAIN Terracotta Matte Sculpting Powder:
For a natural bronzed finish, I add a touch of sculpting powder to my cheekbones and a lot to contour away my double chin. GUERLAIN’s matte powder is silky-smooth and can be layered easily – I sometimes even use a large fluffy brush to very lightly dust it all over my complexion when my body is more tanned than my face.”
Benefit Blush – Shade Shellie:
I mostly wear blush during summer evenings to continue the flushed look I get throughout the day. Shelly is a beautiful peachy pink with the tiniest amount of shimmer that looks amazing alongside a bronzed makeup look.”
Urban Decay Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette:
I wear a lot of bold gold jewellery in the summer, so I love adding a gold shimmer onto my eyelids to complement my accessories. I also use the darkest shade (Sting) as an eyeliner for the evenings.”
As my eyelids are oily, I always use the Urban Decay Primer Potion to lock the colour in place – currently, I am loving the creamier Anti Ageing version for my sensitive eyes.”
Lancome Lash Idole Mascara:
I love long, separated lashes with a tonne of volume, and Lash Idole is my favourite mascara to date – I use it all year round.”
Clarins Lip Oil – Shade Honey:
I switch up my lipstick almost daily throughout the summer, switching between nude shades to vibrant oranges and reds – my favourite brands are DIOR and YSL. The thing that stays the same, though, is the fact that I love a glossy lip during the day, so I slick Clarins’ clear Honey Lip Oil over the top of any lipstick shade I’m wearing that day. It makes my lips ultra-glossy and hydrated.”
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray:
To help my makeup stay in place, I always use a generous amount of the All Nighter Setting Spray, which feels cool during the warmer months. I spritz it before applying my mascara so I can remove the mascara more easily.”
My Summer Makeup Tips:
If you have oily skin, don’t be afraid to seriously mattify your skin first, as your complexion will quickly add a natural radiance (aka, your own oil will stop you from looking cakey). Set all cream products with a powder to keep unwanted shine at bay.
Over to you…
What’s made its way into your summer makeup bag? Share your seasonal makeup bags with us by tagging @escentual.
