Summer Makeup For The Ultimate Glow Up

If you are anything like me then you may not like the idea of wearing lots of makeup when you’re feeling hot. Especially during the summer months and when you’re packing for your summer holiday, what do you pack?! Then you remember, you want that sun kissed glowy, no look makeup, that takes your skin from the beach to a summer night enjoying your dinner alfresco. Let’s get your summer makeup ready!!

So I’m here to help! I have finally nailed the ultimate makeup essentials kit that I will be taking with me on my next summer trip. In this post I will give a few options of products that will help you achieve that glowing summer look with minimal makeup to apply, so you can be comfortable but ready to glow. Thank me later!

Let’s get started with your summer makeup

It’s all about the base

When I apply my makeup I want it to look flawless and natural. I always wear an SPF 50 sunscreen on my face daily and especially on holiday which results in my face not looking as tanned as my body.

So when selecting my base, I want a natural coverage but one that matches the skin tone as my neck. I have two products that I opt for when I’m not reaching for my foundation and that is the L’Oreal Paris Lumi Glotion and I wear the shade 903 in Medium Glow. This lightweight glow boosting highlighter instantly illuminates and hydrates the skin resulting in a glazed and glowing skin, with a hint of colour. This product has been designed to be worn alone or as a primer underneath makeup. It can also be used a highlighter. It’s a brilliant product to take away with you because of its multI-taking abilities.

Another product which is very similar to this is the Rimmel Multi-Tasker Better Than Filters. It does what it says on the tin. No need for a foundation when this product primes, highlights and boosts the skins radiance. With a subtle colour that blends flawlessly into the skin. It’s lightweight texture ensures a little goes a long ways making it buildable, to give you your desired finish.

For any areas that need a little more coverage like under eyes, I love the E.L.F. Cosmetics Flawless Brightening Concealer in the shade Light 26 N. This concealer is lightweight and buildable. It gives you the most gorgeous radiant finish when adding that little bit of extra coverage.

Pro tip: To give your skin that extra hydration and glow apply a few spritz of the Rhode Glazing Mist to ensure hydration and that natural glow.

Enhance that summer sun-kissed glow

Now that we have a barely-there glowing base, it‘s time to add a little bronzer or/and blusher to our canvas. This step all depends on whether you want a bronze powdered finish or that ‘I caught the sun on my cheek and nose’ look. I love a bronzing powder and the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Bronzing Powder in the shade 100. Summer makeup wouldn’t be summer makeup without a bronzer and this is one of my favourites. A buildable warm tone bronzer, feels like silk when applied.

This bronzer is buildable so you can achieve your desired bronze hue. I like to apply this bronzer in a figure of 8 on my face, from the top of my forehead, round to my cheek, along the contour and on my jawline. I also use this bronzer on my décolletage and the tips of my shoulder for a subtle shimmer.

Now you can leave the base like this. You would have that perfectly natural no makeup summer glow. Or you could apply a blusher or highlight on your cheek bones, brow bone, tip of your nose and the bow of your lip. This just gives you that “I’ve been in the sunshine catching the rays” look. The two products I love to have in my summer makeup bag include: Rhode Pocket Blush in the shade freckles and Pixi Beauty On-the-glow SuperGlow Highlight Moisture Stick. I use the blusher to add a little colour and the highlight stick to add an extra glow (I’m so here for the glowing skin!)

Don’t forget the brows and lashes

Now, I never feel put together if I don’t have my lashes and brows situated. I always carry a clear brow gel with me on holiday, just to keep them in place. The Rare Beauty Flexible Lift Gel is the best on the market. Whether it’s day or night, those brows are staying put. The clear gel just gives it that natural look. I use the wand to brush the brow hairs up and over to the top of my temples. The lifted brows gives the illusion of an eye lift, making your beautiful eyes pop.

And on that note, let’s talk about the eyes. No mater if its for a daytime or night time look a good mascara is always handy to have with you. A solid and trustworthy mascara is a girls best friend. You can opt for a waterproof mascara in the daytime, in black or a brown shade. Of an evening, a mascara that is easy to apply, stays put and can easily remove after a full day of holidaying.

Pro tip: I always take a travel micellar water with me for easy removal of mascara before I continue to do my double cleanse of an evening. This reduces irritation to the eye area and makes cleansing quicker and cleaner. No panda eyes in the morning either.

The two mascara I will be travelling with are the L’Oreal Telescopic Lift Waterproof Mascara and my all time favourite Glossier Lash Slick, it is so easy to apply and stays put nut also removes so easily. The wand is soft and flexible to use too!

Finish with that gorgeous pout

Last but not least, the lips. Juicy, hydrated lips for the win on holiday! Now, in the day I would recommend a lip balm with an SPF like the hello Sunday. For your evening look you could keep it simple and apply a moisturising balm like Summer Friday Lip Butter Balm in Mint. If you want a bit of colour I recommend the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in the shade Ribbon.

One product that’s always come away with me is the Huda Beauty Lip Blush in the shade Coral Kiss. It’s a great alternative to a lipstick without the worry of heavy lips and smudges. This lip blush gives your lips the perfect colour. Just like a lipstick but the lip blush lasts for ages and with no transfer stains. It’s a great one to have in your summer makeup collection for sure!

I hope you have found my recommendations and tips useful. If you have any summer holiday favourites, please share them with me in the comments! I’m always intrigued by new product recommendations. In the meantime check out some of my other beauty posts for more tips and recommendations from an ex-skincare specialist.

Love, Pia x

p.s. don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @glowwithpia_

*post includes gifted PR items