Summer Beauty Essentials

The UK is in full summer mode, and with record-breaking heat waves, makeup quickly melts off your face, and sunscreen drips into your eyes. No fun! Like most makeup-wearers, my summer beauty routine is significantly different to my winter makeup looks, and even my “daily makeup” changes.

Here are my summer beauty essentials!

Facial sun protection

I use SPF on my chest and arms in summer if I think I’ll be in the sun for more than 15 minutes. If I’m headed to the beach, or in the sun all day, I cover myself in factor 50, wear sunglasses, and sometimes a hat. But, for everyday sun protection my go-to is The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence. I’ve written about this product in my best and wort budget skincare post, and I swear by it. It’s a bit pricy, but The Body Shop often as online sales; I just picked up a new bottle at 30% off!

Setting Spray

I don’t like wearing heavy layers of makeup in summer because it slides off my face and clogs my pores. I’ve never got on with primers (I’m still trying), and I used to reserve setting spray for special occasions. This was because the one I was using was the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist. I really want to like this product, but it’s got fine powder in it for matifying, making it grainy/spotty when it sets. More annoyingly, you can’t casually mist your face — it gets all over your clothes and leaves a residue.

A few months ago I got the e.l.f. mist and set in clear and it works just fine. No mess, dries quickly, no fuss (see my previous review). The sprayer could be better though. The hunt for the perfect budget setting spray continues, and I welcome suggestions!

Regardless, in the heat I’ve found that a quick spritz really does help my makeup stay in place longer and it adds to that summertime glow.

Bright Nail Polish

I have to make sure that my toe nails are painted throughout summer since I wear sandals almost daily. I tend to opt for pinks (like In a Heart Beat from Barry M), but today I’m rockin’ a blue shade I got from H&M (read about it here) .

BB Cream

I don’t like wearing heavy foundation in summer so I opt for either light coverage foundation (my favourite is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum), or I go for a BB cream. The BB creams that come white and change colour to your skin tone are in theory wonderful, but I often find they are too dark, or they oxidize. The Garnier BB Nude is the best budget option I’ve found so far for fair skin. I prefer to apply it with my beauty blender for an airbrushed finish.

Antiperspirant

An obvious one, yes, but I’m a sweaty human (before you ask, deodorants don’t work for me). Apart from my underarms, I’ve found that applying this to the small of my back can help prevent shirts from clinging in sweat spots. And, the humans out there with larger thighs will know that a bit of antiperspirant can help prevent chaffing. I use Mitchum roll-on.

A good moisturiser

We often think of winter as being the dry season for our skin, but I find summer can be worse. I shave my legs more, which dries out the skin, sunburns can cause peeling and irritation, and chlorine from all that swimming gives me itchy skin. I like Mixa for a basic, rich cream; I enjoy The Body Shop body butters; and I’ve also been using the Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant for years!

Squeaky Clean

Nothing beats a refreshing shower in summer, and it’s the perfect time of year to use fun body washes in fruity and invigorating scents. I’m currently using the Nivea Caring Shower Gel which smells like sunscreen.

A Summery lip

I wear different lipsticks daily, but I tend to opt for the more vibrant colours in summer. See my post on Spring Pink makeup for my daily lip colours. I also like to use my Lancome Juicy Shaker in the shade Freedom of Peach in summer, especially layered on top of NYX Butter Gloss in Cherry Cheesecake (which is actually orange).

A glowy bronzer

I have a matte bronzer that I use daily, but in summer I sometimes prefer to go full bronze goddess! The Illuminating Powder in Warm Bronze from Tanya Burr Cosmetics is gorgeous. I use this on my cheeks, and a touch on the forehead and nose – it makes a great eyeshadow too, allowing me to pull off a glowy makeup look with minimal products.

Summer perfume

I wear perfume every day, but I transition between winter and summer scents, with a couple of “all-season” options. My favourites for summer are: Zara Fruity, Marc Jacobs Honey, and Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers.