Summer Beauty Essentials

When a sight of sun is in the sky, my beauty priorities take a change from fuller coverage bases and sculpted, neutral looks to embrace the Summer vibes with bronzed skin and bright shades. As well as my makeup choices, my skincare also changes up slightly. With Summer in full swing, I thought I would share my top beauty essentials for dealing with the summer heat.

MAKEUP/NAILS

In terms of base, I love a lightweight glowy base for Summer. When the sun is shining, the last thing I want is a fuller coverage thick foundation so instead I love a light and comfortable tinted moisturiser/bb cream. My favourite is the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue which gives enough coverage for a light base and also provides a fresh glowy look to the skin all whilst remaining comfortable and moisturising on the skin. To add some extra glow to my skin, I love the look of liquid highlighters. They look soft and natural on the skin and can be worked in with foundation too. I am currently loving the Nars illuminator in Copacabana which blends into the skin beautifully.

To amp up the warmth in my skin, bronzer is such a must in Summer. It helps add a little definition to my face whilst giving me a little colour too. I am currently all for shimmery bronzers to add even more glow in my skin such as the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze which I have been loving. To add even more colour, I love bright lip shades at this time of year. There is nothing better than a bright coral or orange-y red to brighten things up. I will share some of my favourites later but I am loving Mac Relentlessly Red.

I also love bright nails as well, something I will also cover in another post. They look summery and great for enhancing a tan. I have so many Essie shades that I am loving but I am currently all for their new Summer shade Sunshine State of Mind.

SKINCARE

Obviously when the sun is out in full force, it is important to protect your skin. Having light skin, I need high protection for my skin in the sun so SPF is so important. I am currently using the Clarins Sun Cream for Very High Protection which offers UVB/UVA 50+ to help my skin stay safe in the sun. So having light skin means that tanning just doesn’t happen for me and I have to turn to self-tanning products. I am not much a tanning person anyway so a gradual tanner is all I need for a subtle bronzed glow. I am currently using the Clarins Golden Glow Booster to add in to my moisturiser for an extra glow.

Lastly, to keep hydrated I love hydrating mists. In the heat there is nothing better than a boost of hydration to stay refreshed and cool in the heat. I am all for the Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist which is a bargain and super hydrating on the skin.

What are your Summer beauty essentials?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

May Favourites

We are entering the half way point to the year, where has time gone!? As Summer approaches now I am all about the summery bronzey makeup look which I covered in this post. I haven’t been wearing much makeup this month and instead letting my skin breathe but when I have been opting for a little makeup, I have been going for a similar look and these products are ones that I have been loving lately.

In terms of base and application, I have loved a soft glowy look. To achieve that, I have been enjoying using the Nars Illuminator in the shade Copacabana which is a gorgeous pearl-y highlight. This can be used on top of foundation, under or mixed in. I have loved mixing it in with my foundation to create a gorgeous fresh glowy base. To apply my base, I have became a lover of the Beauty Blender. I am a total sponge convert. I spoke in this post about why I think this is worth the hype, it is super easy to apply and blend product particularly liquid based products like the Nars highlighter or foundation. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without this!

To amp up the warmth in my skin, I have been loving two cheek products. The first is the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze Shimmer Brick bronzer. I always prefer matte bronzers to shimmery formulations however with Summer in the air, I am all about the bronze-y glowing look. I basically want all the shimmery bronzers and I turned to an old product in my stash and regained my love. I like to swirl my brush in this and apply in a three shape to the sides of my face and to add a gorgeous glow. Some of the shades can be quite dark so I like to take this lightly for a soft glowy look. How many more times will I say glowy, sorry!

To finish the cheeks, I am also loving the Tarte blush in Exposed which is a gorgeous matte mauve, neutral pink shade that is super flattering. The shade adds a nice level of warmth to the skin without being overpowering and also adds definition and sculpts the face. Lastly, I also have been loving a coral-pink lip combo, perfect for summer. My Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks all seem to work well with my Summer beauty stash and I have been loving a combo of two. A light layer of Sexy Sienna, a gorgeous bright coral shade teamed with a topping of Bitch Perfect, a soft pink nude makes the perfect light everyday Summer lip.

What have you been loving lately?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

 

 

My Current Spring Glowy Makeup Menu

I would always think of myself being more into Fall makeup preferring bold lips and a semi-matte complexion however as of lately I am all over the fresh glowy bronzed look perfect for Spring. I have to blame the sudden summery weather that has hit the UK recently making me go all heart-eyed emoji over all the highlighters and shimmery bronzers! I also picked up a swoon-worthy peach-y toned palette that has Summer written all over it and I thought I would share my current favourite picks for a glowy, bronzed, looks-like-I’ve-been-on-holiday look. P.S Happy 500 posts to me 🙂

BASE

To start, I’ve been loving mixing in my Nars Sheer Glow foundation with the Nars Copacabana Illuminator . The foundation offers a long lasting satin base which offers a great build-able coverage. Teamed with the liquid highlighter, it adds a glowy effect to the base. I then as normal go in with concealer on any blemishes, I am currently using the NYX Concealer. I then use the Mac Prep and Prime highlighter in Light Boost to highlight under my eyes.  To finish, I then set my base with the Chanel Les Beiges powder to slightly mattify but still allow a a bit of shine to come through.

CHEEKS

To amp up the bronze-y glowy look, it’s all about the cheek products. Instead of my usual matte bronzer, I’ve been all over shimmery bronzers lately. I have been obsessed with the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze Shimmer Brick that I couldn’t wait to dig out again! This bronzer just adds a gorgeous sun-kissed look to the face. On top, the Tarte blush in Exposed acts well to compliment the bronzed look by adding a little more warmth and definition to the face. To achieve that overall glowy look, the Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop is the perfect addition. The formula is super buttery and smooth and the shade is just perfect.

EYES AND LIPS 

A very exciting new addition to my makeup collection and that has sparked my love for all the spring makeup lately is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette. Unfortunately this is a limited edition product and I believe no longer available so apologies for mentioning it but damn is it beautiful! The shade range is perfect and great for creating a light shimmery peach-y bronzed eye. After adding some mascara, I then move on to lips and I am loving a peach-y combination. I’ve loved mixing a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Sexy Sienna with Bitch Perfect for the perfect mix of coral-y peach and a light glossy nude.

What have you been loving for Spring?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

The Highlighter Edit

If there is one type of makeup product I have always had a strong love for it is highlighter. I just love that glowy and sparkly look. With Christmas time upon us, there is no time better than present to get that highlight on ‘fleek’! I’ve gathered quite a few highlighters in my collection and thought I would give you a little look at some of my favourites. I’ve split my highlighters into categories due to their formula so you will find cream-based, liquid and powder highlighters in my edit as well as a mix of drugstore and high end products. Time to get that highlight on!

Cream Highlighters 

Cream based highlights are great for the warmer seasons and are a great convenient way to highlight. Both my picks are from Topshop and are two of my all time favourites.

Topshop Glow Stick in Play-up – This was probably my first ever highlight purchase if I can remember rightly. It is also my most used with only a tiny amount of product left. The shade is a gorgeous pearl-y champagne colour and is great for people with fair skin. The wind up stick is super easy and great for on the go as you can simply swipe it directly onto the cheekbones and pat in with your finger. The formula is super creamy too and sits beautifully on the skin. It is also a total bargain at £10.

Topshop Glow Pot in Polished – A very similar highlighter to Play up although this is in a pot form and more creamier. This is one of my all time favourites, it offers again a pearl-y white highlight shade which is much more intense. I like to apply this highlighter using my fingers and just dab it on to my skin for a gorgeous radiant glow.

 

Liquid Highlighters 

Similar to cream products, liquid highlighters offer a gorgeous glow perfect for the summertime. I have a high end favourite and a more budget friendly alternative.

Nars Illuminator in Copacabana – I am a huge fan of Nars as a brand and nothing has seemed to disappoint me so far so this highlighter is no exception. It offers a gorgeous pearl-y pink shade that looks super dewy and fresh on the skin. It is a great one if you are looking for something natural and glowy. With a 30ml size tube, it lasts for ages as you only need a tiny drop.

Seventeen Skin Wow! Primer – This drugstore highlighter is a great dupe for the Nars option. It offers a very similar product although I would say the Nars one is slightly more pigmented whereas this is more of a subtle sheen. Although this highlighter is marketed as being a 3 use product by being a highlighter, primer or mixed in with foundation. Applied as a highlighter it offers a gorgeous natural healthy glow.

 

Powder Highlighters 

Probably my favourite type of highlighter from the bunch. I love the intense look on the skin that a powder formulation offers and my two picks definitely offer that.

The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer – One of the most talked about highlighters in the beauty world. Surprisingly one I only picked up last month! This is totally worth the hype though! A gorgeous gold-y champagne shade that is super intense on the skin. The formula is super smooth and applies beautifully! It also isn’t too badly priced either so definitely one I suggest picking up especially if you have fair skin!

Becca Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal – Becca highlighters are also another well hyped product and one I had only tried recently. As part of their Christmas offering this year I picked up a little mini in the set I spoke about here. Opal is very similar to The Balm option although it is slightly more Gold-er  and peachier in colour. The formula of these though are unbeatable, super buttery and smooth. They really are a dream to apply and one you have to try! I also may have picked up Champagne Pop last week…

What is your favourite highlighter?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

The Spring Edit 2015

Looking out the window just now, it’s safe to say Winter is far behind us. Enter Spring, warm(er) weather, cherry blossom, excuses for ice cream and lighter nights. When it comes to beauty, its all about the light glowy radiant look with gleaming highlighters, fresh radiant bases and coral cheeks. In other words here is the bulky spring edit for 2015.

Starting with the base, I have a newbie in my hands! If you read my blog regularly you may recall me lusting after the Nars Sheer Glow foundation for far too long well as you can see now I have finally picked it up! While BB/CC creams and tinted moisturisers are all the rage for spring for the fresh light coverage look, my skin needs a little more cover. This foundation has pretty darn good coverage but still offers a radiant look perfect for spring. To add that extra light and glowy feel, a swipe of the iconic YSL Touche Eclat under the eyes is great for brighting any dark circles.

Onto the cheeks. I couldn’t resist mentioning this one again, Benefit Majorette Blush. This cream-to-powder coral blush is the perfect boost of colour for the cheeks in Spring. For a bronzed look, a sweep of Nars Laguna round the face and in the hollows of the cheeks for a subtle contour. To top it off, a light sweep of the irresistible Nars Copacabana illuminator on the cheekbones to achieve that extra glow.

For eyes, I have been loving rosy and lilac shades on my lids. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold (swatch here) is the perfect soft pink and has such a beautiful creamy formula. In addition, L’oreal Colour Riche Mono Eyeshadow 601 is such a pretty shimmery blue-toned lilac shade. To finish, Benefit Bad Gal Lash gives the most prettiest natural fluttery lashes.

For the lips, my first ever MAC lipstick is back out to play. MAC Shy Girl is such a gorgeous nude peach shade which looks even prettier with a coat of clear gloss on top for a natural soft look. To finish, Chanel Tenderly (which I reviewed here) on the nails for that perfect spring look or a pastel shade from my Nails Spring Edit will do the job!

How have you changed your beauty routine for Spring?