We got back from the beach two weeks ago, and yet the time since we arrived back home (and the heat dome descended) have been such a whirlwind I feel like we just got here. Something I’ve come to accept—and better yet, appreciate—about the beach is my normal beauty routine is so different there. I cleanse like I do at home, but my makeup is a marked departure. I don’t wear a ton in my everyday life, and yet on vacation my entire makeup routine comes down to a little mascara and lip gloss.
I enjoy this nearly-no-makeup routine for a week, but it’s nice to come back to my own bathroom and full makeup drawer. Even in a heat dome, I appreciate spending five minutes with a few products that make me feel like I truly got ready for the day.
These past few years I’ve enjoyed experimenting with makeup more than I have in the past, but I’ve noticed that I tend to go pretty bare-bones in the summertime, even if I’m dressing up for a book event or fancy(ish) social gathering. It’s too hot to put too much makeup on, plus around here summer feels decidedly unfussy.
When I am going minimal, these are the products I find myself consistently reaching for. Getting the color right is often the hardest part and it’s so helpful to hear specific shades from others, even if our skin tone doesn’t match. That’s why I’ve included my shades below.
Foundation and Blush
Along with mascara, I’ve been wearing the following trio on the daily this summer.
I love an oh-so-light application of this e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter Highlighter (I like shade 3 in late summer and shade 2 in the winter and spring) over the parts of my face that see the sun the most. I hear it’s an excellent dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter but I’ve never shelled out for that more expensive product.
I didn’t wear concealer until the past few years, but now it’s part of my routine. I’m fond of this Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica in #14 Light Peach. (This is Lady Gaga’s makeup line!)
To apply the e.l.f. Halo Glow and the concealer, I love and adore the Merit Brush #1. This has easily been a top three makeup-related purchase of the past few years.
I also always reach for a blush: In the winter and spring it was Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Wisdom. (This shade unfortunately isn’t available anymore, but I’ve been happy with a variety of the Rare Beauty liquid blushes I’ve gotten in sampler kits that sadly also aren’t available at the moment.) But this summer I’ve been gravitating toward the Westman Baby Cheeks blush sticks, especially in the shades Petal and Chouchette. These are super versatile: I also use them on my eyes and lips (but not this summer).
Half the time I’ll take an extra minute for the Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder, in light medium.
Eye makeup
I keep saying mascara is sometimes the only makeup I reach for in the summer: in 2024 that mascara has been the Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara, in black. Though at our MMD Book Club conversation about The Husbands last week, the chat somehow turned to the difficulty of finding a brown mascara, and Tower 28 also offers this product in brown. Different products work for different people; this one works for me. (I’ve also been dipping into this Sephora mascara sampler pack this month so maybe I’m about to have a new favorite?)
For eye shadow, I am still happily using a Natasha Denona Mini Biba palette that was included in a Sephora Favorites holiday set several years ago. But it’s going to be empty soon, so I’m relieved to see this Natasha Denona Mini Biba Eyeshadow Palette is available when the time comes. (The linked Biba palette has two additional shades compared to the one I have.)
I’m a longtime user of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe, but when I ran out last month I finally opened the Kosas Brow Pop Nano Ultra-Fine Detailing + Feathering Eyebrow Pencil I ordered ages ago. (I don’t like to have too many products open at once if I can help it, is that weird?) I LOVE it so far—not because the lines are particularly fine, which seems to be the marketing angle, but because it’s so easy to apply: I can lay it down with a light touch, which means I can easily apply just a tiny bit of product.
Lips
There have been many past summers where I’ve basically only worn lipstick and mascara, but for whatever reason, this summer I’m gravitating toward a very light lip. This Make Up For Ever liner in Whatever Walnut has been living on my bathroom counter, so I often use that as a light liner/base, often with a medium pink or coral like Fenty Gloss Bomb Lip Gloss in Glow (LOVE) or the Kosas Weightless Lip Color Nourishing Satin Lipstick in Daydream. (Up till now the Merit Shade Slick in Sangria has been in regular rotation, but I sent it with my daughter to her summer program! She loves it.)
What makeup have you been loving lately? Please share in the comments.
P.S. How do you find your favorite lipsticks? and Tried and true beauty and skincare products I never want to be without.
14 comments
As a fair skinned, blue eyed redhead, I have limited choices. Redheads need good color that help with the washed out look. I go to Charlotte Tilbury on a regular basis. I am of Irish/ Scottish ancestry. Ican go from looking good to clown quickly. Any suggestions?
Hi Maggie, I have similar coloring with Scandinavian ancestry. To add some color to my face, but not look clownish, I’ve been using Haus Labs concealer under my eyes to brighten that area, and then a light blush. I like Clinique’s powder blush in New Clover and Clinique’s Chubby Stick in Robust Rhubarb. A little bit of the Chubby Stick goes a long way. I use Clinique’s Superpowder in a light shade on my nose and that’s it for face makeup. I’m going for a smooth and bright look with a bit of pink blush on my cheeks and these products are simple and quick to use. I hope that helps!
Hello! I’ve also developed a minimal makeup routine that I love, as follows:
1)MOST IMPORTANT: SUNSCREEN! Seriously, as someone who had to get skin cancer removed at 22, sunscreen is non-negotiable. It also doubles as my face moisturizer.
2) Face – I use the Ulta brand face primer and foundation. They’ve been good! I also have powder but I haven’t been gravitating towards it as much. Sometimes I skip this step and just do sunscreen.
3) Brows – Benefit gimme brow, I use color 4.5 for dark brown hair. I love a strong brow and this delivers!
4)Eyes – Tarte tubing mascara. I have oily skin and hooded eyes which means my eyelashes are always touching my brow bone. This is the ONLY product I’ve found that doesn’t leave marks on my skin.
5)Lip – I have been in love with red lipstick lately! My new go-to color is Urban Decay Vice lipstick in the color No Parking. For pink, I love Clinique Pop in the color Love Pop.
Thank you for the source for brown mascara – that is a summer go-to for me, and you’re right, it’s often difficult to find.
I’m a Clinique girlie. I love their tinted moisturizer and their Chubby Sticks for lips and cheeks–great for travel or throwing my gym bag. My go-to mascara is their Lash Power brand in black. If I’m using eye shadow, though, I’ve been hooked on the Urban Decay Naked 3 pallete.
It’s been so hot lately, though, that I’ve been using nothing but moisturizer and mascara.
The Natasha Denona Mini Retro works for your cooler-toned friends. 🙂
I love the Fenty glass Bomb in Glow. Perfect color. I’m also a huge fan of Tower 28 products especially the Sunny Days Tinted SPF in Ocean Park, the Milky Lip Jelly in Pistachio, Coconut & Cashew, and the amazing SOS rescue spray and serum.
Sunscreen! Everyday! Beauty of Joseon (K-beauty) Relief Sun, SPF 50, PA++++, best sunscreen I’ve ever found and I’ve worked outside for 30 years (iHerb.com carries this). Korean skincare sunscreens are so much better than the “US-approved” limited SPF filter choices, it’s all I’ll use.
Loving the new L’Oreal Panorama Mascara, long lashes and it stays put all day. The new NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in Butta Cup is the perfect sun-kissed shade for me and the Buttermelt blush in My Butta Half is beautiful.
Super-quick skin enhancer with Laura Geller’s Balance-n-Brighten powder foundation.
I recently discovered and love Tatcha Kissu lip tint with SPF — perfect for summer! It is rare to find an SPF lip color that doesn’t have a terrible taste, and this one is great.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this lip rec! I am a super taster and SPF anything is absolutely disgusting to me, so I’m always looking for lip products with SPF that are at least not terrible
I love Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later blurring face primer with SPF30.
I almost exclusively use Thrive Causemetics. They are pricey, but much like when buying Bombas socks, Thrive also has a mission. I like the women’s groups they support and that my purchase does something bigger. Their liquid lash extensions mascara is probably my favorite product. Their customer service is also outstanding. I have done the online chat and submitted a photo of myself for help with the best foundation color for me. Their suggestion was perfect.
I love Thrive, especially the tubing Mascara in Brown and Black. Their eyeshadow sticks are great for everyday. I rotate with their foundation and also like the Westman Antelier foundation. Pricey but it nourishes the skin all day and keeps it moisturized. I like Thrive lipstick in several of their colors. Blush is Elf from Target. They have great shades and it works just as well as department store brands blush. I love the Kosas eyebrows brush on color. Just enough color to keep eyebrows groomed. I go lighter in the summer with makeup too due to hot weather and a more relaxed outdoor activity schedule. I am experimenting with Ilia liquid eye shadows and so far love them too.
I need to try that concealer! Summertime is the best time for getting my lashes tinted – lasts about a month & I never need mascara. And I’m with you on not having too many products opened. I am a “completist” and cannot force myself to open a new moisturizer/cleanser/face cream until the one I’m using is gone! (The exception being day products vs night routine)
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