Get Your Stash Summer-Ready With These 5 Essential Products

Hi friends!

Summer is very nearly upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, and I don’t know about you but I’m definitely excited about that. I can’t wait to start sitting outside without catching a chill, eating dinner al fresco and ditching the coats for good! Who’s with me??

Now, while I’m not the biggest proponent of “seasonal” makeup – you can certainly wear bronzer in the fall or burgundy eyeshadow in the summer without the beauty police knocking on your door – most of us tend to gravitate towards using certain products during certain times of the year. In the summer it’s typically lightweight, yet long-wear products that can stand up to heat and humidity; in the winter it’s typically thicker, more nourishing textures that cushion our skin against the colder, drier air; and so on, and so on.

So in today’s post I’m going to talk about how to get your stash summer-ready. To me, this means having the following products to hand in your makeup bag: a sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer, a bronzer, a crease-proof eyeshadow, and something fun yet comfy for the lips. This is not a full-face of makeup; these are just a few products that you may find yourself switching in or out of rotation depending on the season or conditions you’re in.

Let’s get started!

 

A GOOD SUNSCREEN

I know, I know, you absolutely should be wearing a sunscreen all year long. This is not me telling you not to do that. But I’ll level with you, during the darker months of the year or on days where I know I won’t be leaving the house, I tend to rely on the SPF I get in my foundation. But in the spring/summer it’s especially important to wear a dedicated SPF under your makeup to protect your skin.

I wrote up a whole review on the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 back in 2019, and three tubes later I’m still using the stuff. It’s that good! It’s gorgeously lightweight and layers really well under makeup. Not gloopy or sticky in the slightest, the gel texture has an almost velvety feel to it. The finish is completely matte, but Supergoop does have a radiant version called Glowscreen which – you guessed it – has a radiant finish! I have not used that one though.

If you prefer to shop at the drugstore, both La Roche Posay and Neutrogena also make great lightweight sunscreens. Last summer I relied on the La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50, although the tint was a bit too dark for my pale skin.

A LIGHTWEIGHT TINTED MOISTURIZER

I’m a tinted moisturizer girl 365 days of the year, but most people tend to reach for them during the summer months when a full foundation look can be too heavy. When you want something that’s both thin and lightweight, but still offers a little coverage, it’s probably best to reach for a tinted moisturizer. I wouldn’t necessarily say they are sweat-proof or very long-wear, but I find the more lightweight the base product the less noticeable the wear-down is, if that makes sense.

I’ve been obsessed with the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint since it launched in early February 2020. It’s since become a cult, sell-out product for good reason. You can read my full review here, but this is a part-makeup/part-skincare product that offers hydration, coverage, glow and sun protection (it contains SPF 40). It’s the perfect base product for summer, in my opinion.

I’d also whole-heartedly recommend the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue or the Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days. You can check out my full reviews on these products here and here.

 

A NATURAL BRONZER

If you want to enhance that summer glow – or prolong the effect into fall – there’s nothing better than getting out that bronzer compact, and dusting some warmth across your hairline, cheeks, nose and jaw. I finally got into bronzer only within the past year or so myself. As a pale-complexioned person, I was always scared of its muddy effect on my skin but it’s all about finding the right tone (and undertone) for you.

I wrote a lot about bronzer last summer, but ultimately the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer is my all-time favorite. This satin-finish, smooth-textured powder is incredibly buildable and blends seamlessly across the skin. The Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer is an excellent choice if you prefer something completely matte in finish; they just recently expanded the shade range even further to a whopping 9 shades! Check out this post I wrote a while back comparing these two formulas side-by-side.

A LONG-WEAR EYESHADOW

You could argue that long-wear or crease-proof eye products are always in season – and you’d certainly be right – but I think it’s particularly important in the summer to have a formula to hand that doesn’t slip and slide around, creating that awful raccoon-effect.

I’d really recommend the Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow in this category because they’re not only bullet-proof (obvs), but they’re also very easy to apply. Slap it on, get to work blending quickly with a dense brush before it sets, and you’re good for hours. Bold color, no creasing. They have a few neutral tones like Globe and Supreme, but also some more dramatic colors as well.

I wrote this post last year comparing the Kosas to the ILIA Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint, and while the ILIA was not my most favorite formula of the two it’s certainly extremely long-wear. It’s a liquid to powder formula that sets down rather quickly, which can make it a bit tricky to work with, but I’ve found that blending it out my finger works much better than with a brush.

 

A BRIGHT POP OF SOMETHING COMFY ON THE LIPS

Summer is all about sunshine, warmth and color, so why not crack out something a bit bolder and shinier to paint your lips? The Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss is a beautiful formula that still manages to cushion the lips without being sticky whatsoever. They have several fun shades like bright pinks, reds and berries, but if you’re a neural lover to the core they also brought out 4 milky shades last year.

If you prefer something less glossy and more balmy, you know I adore the classic Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms. I’ve been singing the praises of these gems since the start of my blog, and I’ll never stop! They also have a separate more intense line if you prefer bolder shades with the same comfy formula.

How do you get your stash summer-ready? What products do you include? I’d love to know!

xo, and be well, Erica

 

PIN THIS POST!