Hey everyone! You know what I haven't written in an eon? An everyday makeup post. For someone who is constantly wearing makeup, testing makeup, and talking about makeup, I probably should make more of an effort to show you what I've got on my face most days, and the types of looks I'm currently digging. This summer I've been all about bold lips, a flawless complexion, and neutrals on the eyes. There are quite a few products in my stash that I rotate through to get this kind of look, but here are a few of the ones I'm hooked on right now!
Let's start out with what I'm using on my face. If you read my recent YSL Touche Eclat Blur Perfector and Blur Primer review, you'll know that I've been a huge fan of swiping the Blur Perfector onto my bare T-Zone to help minimize the look of pores as well as to help control shine throughout the day. As for my foundation, I've finally found a magic combination to use my Cover FX Custom Cover Drops (I use the shade G30) with. I mix a couple drops with the Touche Eclat Blur Primer to create the most silky, lightweight foundation ever. It covers beautifully, but still looks natural, and doesn't look too matte or too dewy on the skin. For my under eye, around my nose, or any areas that need a little extra coverage, I'll dab a little of the Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer. This stuff covers really well, but isn't too heavy or creamy and therefore prone to creasing. I find that my Real Techniques Setting Brush is perfect for buffing this in and giving me an airbrushed finish.
To warm up my complexion, I'll buff a little bit of the Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer to the perimeter of my face and along my cheekbones. This stuff is perfect for the summer because it's designed to hold up against heat and humidity and not melt right off your face. I'll also add a bit of glow to the high points of my face with the Julep Glow Highlighting Powder. Using a fan brush I'll dust a bit to the tops of my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, cupids bow, and under my brows. For a pop of color on my cheeks I've been absolutely in love with the Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush in the shade Water Poppy. This is by far the most pigmented shade in the line, and a little dab goes a long way. I'll apply a tiny dot to the apples of my cheeks and blend back toward my ear using my fingers. I find this gives a really lovely, natural looking stain to the cheeks that lasts all day.
Last, I'll seal everything in with a bit of the NYX HD Finishing Powder. This translucent powder makes your skin looks so flawless, and helps to control shine without giving you cake face. It reminds me a lot of the Make Up Forever HD Setting Powder, but for a fraction of the price. Plus, being in a pressed form instead of a loose powder makes it way more travel friendly and easy to use on-the-go.
For my eyes I'm sticking to mainly neutral, beigey-brown tones to balance my bold lips. To start, I'll prep my eyes with my NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. This transluscent cream is amazing for anyone with oily lids. It seriously locks down your eyeshadows and keeps them from fading or creasing in even the sweatiest of weather. Next I'll turn to my Julep Long Weekend Eyeshadow Palette (which you'll be hearing more about in my August Maven Box review). I'm going to start by sweeping the shade Getaway all over the lid and through the crease as my base. Next, I'll pick up the shade Bonfire on a fluffy crease brush and gently buff the color into my crease. With a smaller precision brush I'll take the shade Monday and smudge it along my upper and lower lash lines. Finally, I'll take a bit of the shade Friday, the lightest in the palette, and dab it on the inner corner of my eye and along the brow bone.
Once my shadow is on I'll create a winged line with my Tarte Precision Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in brown. I've really been loving using a brown liquid eyeliner, as it think it's just a little bit softer and more easily wearable in the daytime. Finally, I'll finish the eyes off with a few coats of volumizing mascara. Lately I've been using the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, which definitely packs a punch. The only thing about it that I'm not a huge fan of is the wand. It's absolutely massive, and I feel like that makes it really easy to accidentally smudge mascara onto your eyelid while you're trying to apply it.
For brows I'm keeping it simple and just adding a bit of definition and filling in sparse areas with my Chella Dazzling Dark Brown Eyebrow Color Pencil. I love that this pencil has a super fine point, and that it twists up which means I never have to worry about needing a sharpener on hand.
And now for the thing that makes this entire look - a bright lip. I'll start out by priming the area with my Rimmel Moisture Renew Universal Transparent Lip Liner. This will help to prevent my lipstick from feathering and fading, and also provides a bit of a moisturizing base for the lips as the lipstick can be a little bit drying. Then I'll swipe on my Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Venenzia. This bright coral shade is absolutely stunning, and I think it looks beautiful paired with the Water Poppy blush. The formula on this lipstick is really soft and mousse like, and dries down to a matte finish. For more ideas of great statement lip shades, this post I wrote last month has some solid recommendations.
Lastly I'll seal my entire look in with a few spritzes of Coola Makeup Setting Spray. This stuff will not only help to mattify your skin and lock down your makeup, but it also has SPF 30 to give your skin a boost of sun protection. You can also reapply easily throughout the day, especially if you know you'll be outdoors and getting a lot of sunshine. I'll be posting a full review of this product tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that!
And there you have it! Bold lips are an instant confidence and mood booster for me, so I love wearing this look any day that I need a little pick-me-up. I also can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on this lipstick. The color may seem a little scary in the tube, but it really is pretty fab. I hope you guys enjoyed this little makeup tutorial and maybe found some interesting products along the way. I'll definitely have to make this a seasonal thing, if not a monthly one.
What has been your go-to look this summer? What have been your favorite products to use?
*This post contains affiliate links. For more information regarding my affiliations and disclosures click here.
