Summer is my favorite season for beauty as it’s the easiest, lowest maintenance time of year… and it’s also when you (in my opinion) naturally look your prettiest. A little bit of a tan, a few highlights in your hair, there isn’t all that much that you have to do! I like my brows full, my makeup natural, and my hair to be a bit of a mess. An intentional mess, at least! 😉 Today I wanted to share my summer routine. Granted, I’m always mixing it up to test new things, but this is the jist of it! It’s simple and straightforward, but if you have any questions let me know in the comments!
Skincare:
In the summer, I switch from a creamy cleanser to a gel. My favorite-favorite cleanser is this one from Tracie Martyn as it also really helps with redness. I’ve been testing this one too though – it smells exactly like blueberry yogurt which I know sounds weird but you have to experience it! After cleansing (morning and night) I will pat SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence into my skin… gently pressing until it’s completely absorbed. I love their eye cream too. At night, I apply either Vintner’s Daughter or The Blue Cocoon – both are super hydrating and soothing but won’t make me break out. During the day I wear Farmacy’s Green Screen. It’s a (mostly) natural sunscreen. I also really love this day cream, so sometimes I will layer that under the Green Screen. And this isn’t skincare but before bedtime I try to always remember to apply Neulash as it has helped my lashes grow really long!
Makeup:
My daily routine is sooooo simple right now which I love. I will apply a little tinted moisturizer (this one – in bisque – is my forever favorite) or use the L’Oreal cushion in classic ivory. I like a pretty flush so I will dot on a liquid blush (I love Glossier Cloud Paint in dusk and NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm). I have been using Benefit Hoola since I lived in Boston (which was eleven years ago), and it’s still the best bronzer I’ve ever used. For a little shimmer I will dot on Becca’s highlighter (in Moonstone). I put it on with this brush. A little at my temples, brow bone, and down the bridge of my nose. For my brows I will use this Covergirl brow mascara in honey brown. I actually like it more than Boy Brow right now as it makes my brows thicker – and darker, which I really like for summer… especially since my brows tend to bleach out in the sun. On my eyes I will use a little bit of Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliner pencil (the pencil NOT the pot… I can’t figure that out! This one is so much easier to apply than regular eyeliner and I like a very thin line), and a few coats of mascara. Right now Wander Beauty’s mascara is my favorite but I’ve been testing out this one from Revlon and have been impressed with it so far. (I always say you really don’t need an expensive mascara… the drugstore ones oftentimes work better than the nice ones). I don’t really wear eyeshadow but while I was home on Cape Cod I tested out this liquid one in bronze and quickly became obsessed… it makes your eyelids look as though they are adorned in liquid copper. So. Pretty. On my lips I change things up constantly but if I could only wear one lipstick for the rest of my life I’d pick YSL’s Vinyl Lip Cream in Rose Mix.
Hair:
I am an Alterna girl through and through. I only wash my hair a couple times a week in the summer but when I do it is with their purple bottles (moisturizing) shampoo and conditioner. It’s expensive but so luxurious and I see a noticeable difference when I use it (my hair is softer, less frizzy, and I swear that it makes my hair a little less curly. Once a week or so I will do Aussie three minute miracle (it’s the best drugstore steal!) or this hair mask – I really like it as it leaves my hair super soft but you only have to leave it on a minute or so. If I am wearing it natural I combine Shu Uemura’s oil and this coconut oil gel (I use about a quarter size of both but I have thick, dry hair)… combine it in the palm of my hand, rake my fingers all through my hair and let it dry. If it’s frizzy once it dries I will mist on a little bit of shine spray or use a little bit of this cream.
Body:
In the shower I have gotten addicted to the scent of this body wash – it’s such a pick me up! I am always trying out a new body cream but to be honest Everyday Oil is the best moisturizer there is… it smells so good and leaves my skin ultra moisturized with just a little bit of sheen. You can use it on your face too. It’s from my friend’s company but I spend my own money on it… nearly every month! My favorite self tanner (seriously!) is this one from L’Oreal but I also really love these wipes from Dr. Dennis Gross – they also exfoliate and allow you to shave less… I’m all about a good multi-tasker. If I am feeling fancy or have a special occasion, I will put on a little of May Lindstrom’s The Good Stuff. It smells heavenly and adds a tiny bit of shimmer.
A little help from my friends:
If I do get a blowout, I have been going to the Amika Styleblow. I am obsessed. They do a great job (if you follow my instagram stories you know I am rather particular, to say the least) and have weekday specials where it is only $35. I get the Williamsburg which is a little messy and surfer-girl… it usually lasts me 4-5 days. I’m also big on gel manicures for summer (I go to Primp & Polish), and getting my lashes and brows tinted at Benefit. It’s rare that I will have all three of these things done, but when I do I definitely feel my best and get ready much more quickly!
Is the SKII Facial Treatment Essense good and would you recommend it? I’m always hearing about it, but it costs quite a lot so I’m still on the edge.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Yes!!! I have been using it forever. I wrote about it back in 2015 here: http://thestripe.com/2015/03/why-you-should-use-sk-ii-facial-treatement-essence/
And included it in my holy grail post here: http://thestripe.com/2015/10/my-holy-grail-beauty-products/
It’s amazing how adding this one small step to your routine can make such a big difference! xx
yesss to intentionally messy hair. yours is always right on point!
xo, brittany
my long hair tips on my blog today!
http://www.notablob.om
aw, thank you Brittany!! xo
Ooo I love a lot of this! I used the L’Oreal cushion foundation for my wedding and loved it! I’m not typically a foundation girl, but that one is great.
When Revlon first did an overhaul on their mascaras, I wasn’t impressed. But I’ve been hearing good things about the new one with the blue cap. I’ll have to test it out.
And finally, yessss to the Aussie 3-Minute Miracle. It’s amazing and words so much better than some fancy conditioners I’ve tried.
I’m all about the drugstore!
I agree!!
I haven’t been a big Revlon fan (tbh, their brand felt really dated to me) but I have been watching them closely since Linda Wells joined – I think she is going to do great things for the brand. I like this mascara a lot.
So glad you agree with me on the 3 min miracle – it’s like $3 and leaves your hair SO soft!!! I’m obsessed!!! xx
Ooh, that body wash sounds great!
Briana | youngsophisticate.com
It is the perfect morning pick me up!! xx
This is a such a great post. When I was visiting my sis in Brooklyn ( even though I hate the humidity) I do think it make your skin look good. Something about all that moisture. I can’t wait to try the TM cleanser and the Farmacy green screen( I’m obsessed with their coconut masks). I’ll have to try that mascara. Years ago I used to buy one from Italy with that kind of “tube” formula and I loved it. I also think blinc makes one. I agree, I typically like drugstore mascara, L’Oréal voluminous carbon black is a favorite. I’m currently using Dior show, but it was a freebie. It’s good, but not sure it’s worth the price. I do get my brows and lashes tinted( I don’t go to Benefit anymore, did for years, but they have really lost their customer service here)it makes a huge difference! That eyeshadow looks fun too. Thanks for such a fun post!
Thank you so much Cy!!! I think you will really love the Tracie cleanser – it’s one of my favorites!!!! And the Wander mascara is really, really good! xx
Can you tell me a little bit more about getting your lashes and brows tinted? As a fellow blonde, I would like mine a bit darker. Thanks!!
Sure! What do you want to know!!!
I like the brow tint as it also (for a time) tints the skin underneath so I can skip filling my brows in. I usually ask for a shade or two darker than my natural shade. I think that I could probably tint my own brows as it seems pretty easy. Lash tinting is a bit more complicated as they really get in there and there’s quite a bit of rinsing. It felt really weird the first time I did it but now I’m used to it.
A great tip from Grace! I always get lash and brow tints. It is a little weird( the lash part), now I’m used to it. As Grace says, a shade or two darker for your brows, but I always get black for my lashes. I’m a dark reddish blonde. It makes your brows look really full. I’m lucky I have thick, long lashes, but they are a bit lighter at the tips. Great in the summer, when you don’t want to wear much make up!
Yes to Alterna hair products!!! My hair is on the thicker side, but fine, and literally every other blow-dry bar’s products weighed my hair down, until I started going to a place that uses Alterna. No one ever talks about them! I’m sure you have tried tons of hair products, so it’s good to see a recommendation on them from you!
Question about the Revlon mascara – how build able? Like how many times are you going over your lashes for the look you want? I prefer to have something that doesn’t coat my lashes in one or two swipes; it makes me feel out of control over my lashes haha! But not 20 coats- that’s too much.
Thanks!
Yes!! They are the absolute best!
The mascara is VERY buildable. Almost too buildable in my opinion, as I am lazy and like to get my lashes done in two swipes. I put on like 5 or 6 when I use this!
If you liked that liquid eye shadow, you may love this super affordable rose gold shadow from E.L.F. I got mine at Target. (http://www.elfcosmetics.com/p/aqua-beauty-molten-liquid-eyeshadow)
I’ve been wearing it every single day this summer, for both work and play. It doesn’t clump in my crease like other I’ve tried, and it really makes my green eyes pop while helping me keep a natural beauty look. I hardly wear any makeup so I really like subtle stuff. Anyway, I think it would look great with your eyes. Give it a shot!
Oooh thank you so much for the suggestion! I will definitely check it out. xx
I’m loving tinted moisturisers! Less effort!
SAME!!!
Can you write a post about skincare for oily skin? I’ll really appreciate. Thank you!
I have dry skin so that’s a bit tricky but will look into some good bloggers who have oily skin!