I figured since this is my first post of the summer, I'd bring you my Summer Edit - a curated list of products I can't be without come summertime.
Let's talk skincare. Being a dehydrated/dry gal, I tend to go with the mantra "the greasier, the better" when looking for skincare, especially for nighttime. But as the weather heats up, my skin gets a tad more oily and I start reaching for lighter products that won't make me feel like I'm suffocating during the day. Two products that have really been fitting the bill have been the Indie Lee Squalene Facial Oil and the Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream* (I have a full review on this coming Thursday). They're both great summer daytime products as they're so lightweight, yet still pack a punch of hydration so your skin will never feel parched.
And as for the ever-important SPF, lately I've been loving the Radical Skincare Skin Perfecting Screen with SPF 30. I love how lightweight this is (again - see a theme here?). It never feels greasy on my face as some sunscreens tend to (it dries down to a matte finish), and it contains light-reflecting particles to blur imperfections. The subtle light pink tint also helps to brighten up the skin, I find, and makeup lays beautifully on top of it.
Keeping with the "lightweight" theme here, my base products don't tend to go any heavier than a tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation. My two current favorites are the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue because of the beautiful glow they give to the skin. The Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation is an amazing option as well. In summer (and pretty much all year round), I'm all about the glow. I tend to skip the primer throughout the year, but really need it more come summer. I like to still pick hydrating and glowy formulas to really amp up that healthy glow. The Glossier Priming Moisturizer is amazing, as is the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer. For an even more noticeable glow, I'll apply a thin layer of the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone all over before applying my base on top.
I also tend to reach exclusively for cream products when the weather warms up, so for my contour I've been reaching for The Creamy Glow by Kevyn Aucoin in the Sculpting/Highlighting shade rather than the Anastasia Contour Kit. It's so easy to apply and blends like a dream - subtly defined cheekbones in 10 seconds flat. My preferred form of blush is cream anyway, and two of my favorites are the Stila Convertible Color in Lilium for a lovely neutral pink, and the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Pink Escape for a more punchy pop of color - this feels so cooling on the cheeks, making it the perfect summer product. I can't leave the house without my highlighter, even moreso in the summer when there's more sun to be reflecting off these cheekbones. As I said, I adore creams, so I've been loving the one in the Kevyn Aucoin duo and also the rms Beauty Living Luminizer - this gives the most beautiful sheen to the skin with no glitter whatsoever. Two other highlighters I've been loving despite not being creams are the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact in Highlight 01, which is seriously the most beautiful product I've ever owned I think, and the Colourpop Highlighter in Smoke N Whistles. This is more of an intense highlight, but I love it because of its cool tone - it goes perfectly with my skin. And lastly for the cheeks, a summer essential that I tend to skip the rest of the year is bronzer. I've just got to learn how to apply this better and I think I'll be set. I've been lusting after the new Hourglass bronzers since they came out - I'm up for anything that gives the skin a glow. Since I'm so pale, I use The Body Shop's Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder - it's practically foolproof.
As much as I love me a good eyeshadow palette, in the summer I get lazier with my makeup and turn to those perfect one-wash colors. I'm a huge neutral eyeshadow lover throughout the whole year, but summer is when I get really into those golds and bronzes. I've been slapping on a wash of Colourpop's Plunge almost every day since I got it as it's the perfect summery champagne gold. Other favorites include the MAC eyeshadows in All that Glitters and Woodwinked and the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze.
Lastly for lips, I tend to go for something low maintenance like a tinted lip balm. My all-time favorites are the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments in Petal and Tulip, a neutral and a bright pink that have me covered for any summer look. I love that these have SPF in them as well. I've also been venturing into bolder lip colors, and for that I always reach for something long-lasting, like the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stains. I've got the shades Always Red and Strawberry Kiss (see them both on here, and Always Red in my Date Night post), and I actually don't feel uncomfortable in them.
What are your go-to products for summer?