Hello lovelies!
I just recently moved to Houston and my best friend (who also lives here now) warned me that, “Houston is like living in a hot bowl of soup”. She could not be more spot-on. We both grew up in Fort Worth so we are used to the Texas heat. However, Houston is on a whole different level. Texas heat PLUS humidity!!! I’m constantly covered in sweat and my makeup didn’t stand a chance.
Sooooo I had to find a new makeup routine that would last all day, not give me pimples, and not melt off my face by noon. This is what I came up with:
Step 1: Prep
Sunscreen:
In the summer, I use CLARINS Multi-Active Day Cream SPF 20 to protect my face. Before I do anything in the morning, I apply this cream and let it dry for 10-15 minutes (while I brush my teeth, put my contacts in, pick out an outfit, etc). Plus it fights existing fine-lines! Can I get an amen?!
Exfoliate Lips:
Y’all, my lips are always extremely chapped. So embarrassing!! But I’ve been using TARTE Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant in the mornings and it gets rid of all that chapped, dead skin. Sorry if you just vomited. You just scoop a little out and rub it around in circles and you’ll see clumps of dead skin come off. Again, sorry for the horrific image.
Primer:
I have always been Benefit The Pore Professional’s number one fan. This primer is extremely popular because… well, it’s amazing. First of all, it smells fantastic. Second, it’s very light and velvety so it’s perfect for summer. Third, it really does cover up your pores. In the summer, especially in Texas, it is very hot and I’m definitely not hydrating enough so my pores are enormous, but this primer really smooths everything out. I use my fingers to apply this primer because I don’t want to waste any on a brush!
Step 2: Face
Foundation:
Okay so I have tried out A LOT of different liquid foundations and LANCÔME Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear is BY FAR my favorite. I’ll try something new and after a week, I’ll whip back out the Teint Idole because nothing compares. It is extremely light, it’s almost like a moisturizer but it lasts all day and it’s super buildable. I love this foundation because it isn’t thick and “cakey”. I wear color 340 Bisque N – for “medium to medium deep skin with neutral undertones”. I apply this with a beauty blender or a foundation brush if I’m in a hurry 😉
Concealer (& Highlighter Cream):
Next, I apply Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Concealer under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, on my jawline, and on any blemishes and blend in with my finger tips. I use the lightest shade, “Fair Neutral”, and this doubles as my highlighter (nose and jawline) as well as covering up my dark circles. #TeamNoSleep
Contour (Cream):
For contouring I’ll first use a cream contour, and then blend it in with a powder contour. For the cream, I’m currently using the NARS Sculpting Multiple Duo stick, but unfortunately they discontinued this product so I want to try the KKW BEAUTY Crème Contour Stick next!! I apply the stick to my cheekbones, jawline, and sides of my nose and then blend in with a foundation brush.
Contour (Powder):
For the powder portion of my contouring, I use a Sephora contouring palette. However, they have discontinued the product 🙁 it is similar to this one by Anastasia Beverly Hills. I use a small powder brush and apply over the cream contour (cheekbones, jawline, sides of nose) to make the look more natural.
Bronzer:
Instead of using a powder foundation, I use Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in “Medium/Deep” on the outsides of my face to avoid looking too “cakey”. I use the “E and 3” method to apply my bronzer. Forehead, cheeks, and jaw in a “3” shape or “E” shape, depending on the side of our face. I apply with a Kabuki brush.
Blush:
For my blush, I use Bobbi Brown in “Nectar”. I apply a tiny bit on the very backs of my cheeks closer to my ears and above the contour. I apply in a sweeping motion going back towards my ears. Applying blush in the middle of your cheeks in circular motions can make your cheeks look more plump and round.
Highlighter (Powder):
I use Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body in “Luminous” as my highlighting powder. This stuff is soooo sparkly!!! It makes my skin look super radiant and dewy. I apply this with my fingers to my upper cheekbones/around my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, middle of my forehead, and on my collar bones.
Step 3: Eyes
Eyebrows:
For my eyebrows, I use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown (formerly Brunette). I’ve tried other (cheaper) eyebrow pencils because I run out of this so quickly – my eyebrows are polar opposites in shape and thickness?!?! – but I really like the Brow Wiz because it isn’t too creamy, making my eyebrows look waxy, nor too chalky/thin, making my eyebrows flakey. The Brow Wiz goes on perfectly and makes them smooth and natural looking!
Eye-shadow:
In the summer + daytime, I try to stick with warm neutral eyeshadow colors. Beige, light brown, gold, cream, etc. I use shadows from Too Faced Natural Eyes Eyeshadow Palette and Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I’ll use a lighter cream color on my upper lid below the browline, a beige, light brown, or gold color on my actual lid, and a medium to dark brown in the crease.
Eyeliner:
I use two different kinds of eyeliners for two different areas of my eyes. First, I use Maybelline Define-A-Line on my top waterline because it’s waxy but still solid. Next, I use Rimmel London Scandaleyes Micro Liquid Eyeliner to draw my winged eyeliner on my eyelids above the lashes.
Mascara Primer:
Primer for your eyelashes?? Yea, you heard me. I thought it was unnecessary, too. However, it really does make a difference. To me, it makes your lashes “sticky” so the mascara can latch on better and give more thickness to your lashes. Plus it makes the mascara last longer. I use Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer.
Mascara:
Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara is hands down the best mascara out there! You’re welcome to try to prove me wrong, but I have been using this stuff for 6 years and have not found anything that comes close. Better Than Sex volumizes AND lengthens lashes plus it doesn’t clump or flake off. I swear it’s like every good mascara combined to make a great one.
Step 4: Finishing Touches
Lips:
I’m a big fan of the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits because the lip liner + matte lipstick duo gives me those Kylie Jenner lips. JK, but a girl can dream. Plus they’re great shades, last all day/night, and they’re under $30 for both liner and lipstick. I’ve been using the KOKO K lip kit for summer because it’s very light and I can wear it to work without looking like I’m going on a date. I also use Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in “Baci” when I’m going out or really am going on a date! It has that same matte finish and lasts all day/night.
Hairspray:
Yes I know, it’s weird to spray your face with hairspray…. But I’m telling you, it will make your makeup last all day/all night until you forcefully take it off with makeup removal wipes. I used to use Setting Spray but I couldn’t justify paying $10-$20 for Setting Spray when I was already having to buy hairspray anyways. #TwoBirdsOneStone. I use TRESemmé TRES Two Freeze Hold in level 5 (the purple one/the strongest one). I just close my eyes and spray this all over my face and wave my hand over it to dry!
I have tested these makeup products and summer makeup routine at the beach, the lake, hot yoga, while on a 5 mile run in 95 degree heat, in the rain, and during several naps/falling asleep without taking my makeup off. Looked perfect, or at least good enough to go to a happy hour afterwards, without having to reapply anything!
What are your favorite products and tricks for summer makeup that lasts?
