When summer rolls around, I always find myself shifting my makeup routine. The shift happens for a lot of reasons. Firstly, my skin isn’t nearly as dry this time of year thanks to not having to deal with dry, forced heat from a furnace mixed with the cold, icy wind of the winter. Next, I have to make some small adjustments to make sure everything still looks a-ok in the heat. No one wants their makeup melting off and I also have to take into account things like sunglasses constantly coming on and off my face. Lastly, I always make sure to use something with a proper SPF to protect my skin.
While some products stay in my routine whether it’s winter or summer, certain products always make the ceremonial switch when the warm weather comes around. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite makeup products that I can’t stop loving for summer 2017. Not to mention, it’s been a HOT SECOND since I shared some beauty tips up in here.
BB Creams & CC Creams
Let’s dive right into it. I love BB and CC creams this time of year. Not only are you getting the added bonus of SPF, but they are lightweight and mega comfortable for the warm weather.
Erborian BB Creme Au Ginseng*:
This was a new find for me this summer and I’m in love. This Erborian BB Creme Au Ginseng has sunscreen protection of SPF 20 and finishes off demi-matte, meaning it’s not left feeling tacky or wet like some BB creams. It’s fluid enough that you can apply it with your fingertips and wipe over your face for skin that instantly looks more smooth while diminishing the appearance of dark spots and blemishes. Just like all BB Creams, it’s not full-coverage but will smooth the skin’s appearance overall. This cream is enriched with Ginseng, known for its anti-aging benefits.
See it in action: See this BB cream in action in my summer makeup instagram video
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream:
I’ve been hooked on this CC cream for a few summers now and have gotten a lot of my friends and family hooked too. It is a more full-coverage CC color correcting cream offering anti-aging skincare and SPF 50.
What do I love about this CC cream? Firstly, I prefer it to foundations because it’s lightweight and stays put during the warm weather. It helps to camouflage my skin’s imperfections without looking or feeling cakey or overdone. Second, I like it more than other CC creams because while being lightweight it still provides decent coverage. It’s certainly not going to cover like a full-coverage foundation, but as far as BB/CC creams go, you’re getting a comfortable amount coverage so you don’t feel like you need to come back in with foundation afterward.
My suggestion for this CC Cream is just to give it a try, there’s a reason it’s a #1 best-selling formula. You can grab the travel-size from Ulta and not pay full-price so you can give it a go with less of the commitment.
It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination*:
This illumination CC cream gives you ALL the benefits and joys listed above with one added bonus: Illumination. When you first swatch this CC Cream you might notice the appearance of shimmer/microglitter which usually sends me running for the hills. The last thing I want is for my face to look like a cheesy disco ball. But, give it a chance. When blended into your skin you don’t notice the shimmer at all and instead are left with a more glowing looking complexion. #YAS
See it in action: See this CC cream in action in my Date Night Ready FAST video.
TIP: What’s the big difference between CC and BB creams you might be wondering? A BB Cream stands for “blemish balm.” Blemish in this instance just stands for any imperfection on your skin, not just a breakout. BB creams are designed to help dimish the look of these imperfections. BB creams can range all over the place from super lightweight to more full coverage to containing SPF to not. As far as the CC Cream, well they are a spinoff on the BB cream and the CC stands for “color correct”. They tend to have a little more coverage than BB creams and almost always have SPF, while not all BB creams do.
Highlight Palettes
Let’s move right along to highlight palettes. I have three that I love, two being from Becca because no matter what everyone else is trying, Becca is still the queens of highlighters in my book. They just get it. There are some killer highlighters out there, but I always find myself gravitating back to my Becca ones.
Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop*
Released last year, this palette still rocks my world. It includes 2 highlighters: Champagne Pop (a pink/white gold), and the brand-new Prosecco Pop (high-intensity warm gold). It also has a luminous blush shade called Rosé Spritz, which is a pink with gold shimmer as well as two matte mineral blushes, Amaretto, a toasted almond, and Pamplemousse a warm-toned coral pink. The reason I constantly grab for this palette is its ease of use. The formula of these highlighters are heavenly, highly pigmented, creamy, and they blend like a DREAM. They never look glittery, shimmery or fake, like some other highlighters do, but instead give you that glowing from within look you want.
Read More About This Palette: In this full review of the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Collection
BECCA X Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette*
The newest palette collaboration from Becca is the one with Chrissy Teigen. How does it compare to the Jaclyn Hill one? Well, right off the bat this palette is more about color and less about straight up highlight. While you do have two of their shimmer skin perfectors, Beach Nectar (apricot with gold shimmer) and Rose Gold (subtle rose gold), they are both pink-hued. Then you also get a bronzer Malibu Soleil (medium warm brown), and a blush Hibiscus Bloom (luminous gold/coral). As far as quality and formula, this palette is the same as the other – great pigmentation that’s creamy and easy to blend.
If you’re trying to decide between the two, I’d say it depends more on your makeup style. I find the Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette to be a little more “low maintenance” in the sense that you can just grab a color and sort of slap it on, will the Jaclyn Hill palette is more of a purposeful palette, you have to know you want a popping highlight and how to properly apply it.
See it in action: See this palette in action in my summer makeup instagram video
Carli Bybel x BH Cosmetics Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette
I literally can’t stop being in love with this Carli Bybel x BH Cosmetics palette you guys. I feel like I’ve talked about it a million times, but it’s just one of the best $15 I’ve ever spent- point.blank.period. It’s crazy versatile and the highlighters are crazy good quality for such an awesome price. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, you really should get this palette in your life.
See it in action: See this palette getting used in my Boyfriend Does My Voice Over video.
Eye Makeup
When it comes to summertime makeup, I tend to pull back on the eyeshadow. Not only are my eyes usually behind sunglasses, but the last thing I want is a beautiful smokey eye that mixes with heat and humidity and turns into a smokey mess.
L’Oreal Infallible Super Slimer Liquid Liner
I’ve tried my fair share of liquid liners. Between gel, pencil, and liquid liners I’m a liquid liner girl 100%. I’m constantly searching for the perfect one…and yet I always come back to this one. L’Oreal just gets it with this liner. It’s highlight pigmented, mega fluid, and long lasting. Now, keep in mind I do not have oily eyelids so I can’t speak to my ladies who have that problem. But, for me, it’s a ride-or-die liner. For those summer days when I don’t want to fuss with my eye makeup, a quick swipe of liquid liner and dab of mascara can instantly open up my eyes and make me feel put together.
See it in action: See this liner in action in my Date Night Ready FAST video.
Setting Powders & Sprays
In the heat it’s all about setting your foundation/concealer to prevent looking like a sweaty, melting, mess.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Aging Micro-Powder
My gotta-have-it under eye powder. This stuff sets my concealer like a dream. You just need the tiniest little bit on a small fluffy brush and then lightly swipe it anywhere you applied concealer. It locks tacky and slick concealers into place for all day wear.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Illumination Pressed Powder*
This powder is currently only available as a Bye Bye Bundle from QVC. It’s a totally translucent pressed powder that has a very subtle glow/shimmer to it to give your skin that glowing illumination you want this time of year. The pros of this product are that it’s a perfect one-and-done all over face powder to set everything into place without looking overly matte or powdery. My one complaint is that it’s not ideal for dry patches on your skin.
TIP: Not all powders are designed for the same purpose. Typically loose powder is used to set foundation/concealers. It’s much finer and contains fewer oils so instead of offering a lot of coverage it’s better designed for setting. Some loose powders have tendencies to settle into fine lines because the powder is so fine itself. It tends to be great for setting your concealer under your eyes because it isn’t too heavy. Pressed powders are heavier and contain more weight and oils. They are better at covering because of this but also can have the tendency to look cakier because of the same reason. Pressed powders are better for setting your all-over foundation, and not for under the eyes.
Summer Lip Picks
Sure, I wear brights all year long, but there’s something about the warm weather that makes it that much more fun. The year I’m really craving corals and red-oranges as well as my always favorite hot pinks.
Revlon HD Lip Color
I adore these things. I’ve sung their praises for a long time now and own almost every color at this point. They are insanely comfortable, easy to wear, long-lasting, and come in an awesome range of colors. The color I have here is “HD Love.”
See it in action: See lip color action in my summer makeup instagram video
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
Another budget-friendly option are the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. They also come in a great range of colors and are easy to apply, comfortable, and MEGA pigmented (like, serious pigmentation). They don’t have the same extreme long wear as the Revlon HD Lip Colors, but they still wear really well.
Skincare
Dermalogica Daily Micofoliant*
This Dermalogica Microfoliant is made up of a rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water. It’s in a dry powder formula so you wet your face and begin buffing it in. When it is mixed with water it releases Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to help smooth your skin and accelerate cell renewal while micro-exfoliating dead cells. It’s the perfect addition to your summer skincare routine to keep your skin looking and feeling smooth while buffing away the dirt and grime of the day. The best part is it’s gentle enough to use on a daily basis.
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel*
This cleanser is actually a completely soap-free, foaming gel. Because it’s soap free it doesn’t disturb the skin’s natural moisture balance – like other soap-based products can. The gel foams naturally and gently washes away toxins and deep-cleanses debris. Perfect for everyday use to keep your skin fresh and clean without over-drying it out. I love that is makes my skin feel super clean but not stripped of its natural oils.
Derma E Rose Cleansing Oil*
I’m kind of hooked on this cleansing oil, it feels and smells AMAZING. The rose cleansing oil dissolves away long-lasting makeup and impurities while nourishing your skin with oils such as Jojoba Oil. I love cleansing oils because they help your skin maintain its natural balance by cleansing away bad oils and leaving being the good, natural oils. My skin always feels soft and healthy after using this. Plus, it smells like roses…who can be mad about that?
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
The perfect treatment for little blemishes is this drying lotion from Mario Badescu. A comination of salicylic acid and calamine you pop it onto any blemishes before bed and let it work its magic overnight. I swear by this stuff for any breakouts, pimples, or other little problems that might pop up!
Urban Decay Go Naked Perfume Oil*
You know that amazing smell when you get back from the beach? That mixture of sunscreen, sweet ocean salt, and sunshine? Yea, well Urban Decay somehow bottled that smell into a perfume oil and it’s the perfect scent for summer. Super lightweight and natural, you pretty much smell like you just came from the beach even if you’re sitting at your desk. I’m hooked.
That does it for my current must-have products for this summer. What products are you loving this season? What can’t you live without? Let me know in the comments down below.
This post contains affiliate links. Products marked with an asterisk * were sent to me by the company or by a PR company. This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are thoughts are 100% my own.
