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How does your makeup routine change for summer?

If I wasn’t testing something, then I would be using setting spray and a lighter base with no powder along my nose (sunglasses and foundation separation!). I tend to keep it lighter on makeup if I’m going to be outside a lot or doing a lot of errands where I have to go to one place, then another, and then another, etc. I would reach for more waterproof or extra long-wearing formulas for eyeliner, mascara, and the like for longer times outside. On a typical day, though, since I’m inside a lot I don’t make adjustments.

— Christine

15 Comments

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Nancy T Avatar

Summer in AZ literally zaps me. So I can become a bit more lazy…. about EVERYTHING. Although, if I’m going out somewhere, I will put on a whole face of makeup. The foundation I’m using right now seems able to hold together even in the broiling sun at over 100°. I will at some point begin using BB (Lumene) or possibly a CC cream like the one by It, with powder to set it. I do usually wear waterproof mascara and liners anyway, so no adjustment there except that now is when I may just use some smudged pencil liner instead of doing my trademark wings on days where I just feel too blah from the heat.
Speaking of heat, I’ve had quite the day today: my AC died! Guy is scheduled to come tomorrow a.m., but my poor cats! ?

Mariella Avatar

When it’s oppressively hot and humid (as it gets here in Southern Ontario), I wear lots less. As much as I love my IT CC Cream, if it’s stinkin’ hot, I’ll go for a powder foundation (my faves are from IT, Laura Mercier and good ol’ Pur Minerals) or just a powder overtop La Roche Posay’s very light, liquidy SPF. I have several good setting sprays but more often than not, I just forget to use them but I do love the one from Clarins (it was reformulated about 2 years ago and I have a bottle of that and 2 bottles of the original). Everything is just lighter, more powders and mattifying powders and blotting papers become my good friends.

Aj Avatar

More powder for one, I tend to get a lot shinier during the warmer months. I guess brighter lip colors too? While I do wear bright lip colors during the colder months here and there, I get the most use out of them during the summer.
There’s not much else of a change though.

AB Avatar

Summer here in NC is hot and very humid, so any thing oil-based or with less staying power is out. Face powder is out because it gets icky in humidity; so I use blotting papers and Aveeno wipes (I dab) liberally. For makeup, I go lighter in amount and tone. Generally I prefer glosses or lipsticks with some sparkle.

Erica Avatar

I wear a BB cream instead of foundation. I wear brighter colors. I wear more highlighter or bronzer than the rest of the year. Sometimes I wear very little makeup. I make certain I never go without sunblock with a decent amount of spf. I tend to stay away from matte anything. No liquid lips. But it all depends on what I’m doing and how humid, hot or rainy it is!

MacKenzie G. Avatar

For one, I tend to wear makeup less often (no school, fewer occasions, laziness, etc), but the products I wear don’t change much. I wear a very light, hydrating foundation with SPF anyway, that I always set with powder where needed. I’ve been moving toward more creams and liquids instead of powders anyway. I tend to focus more on bold lips instead of eyes. Can’t stand waterproof mascara and eyeliner, but Northeast Ohio summers aren’t bad, and I tend to not wear makeup (just SPF) if I know I’m going to be outside sweating

Rachel R. Avatar

For cooler days, it doesn’t change. I have oily skin, so between that and sweat, makeup can melt right off me when it gets really hot. So, no cream products on my face aside from sunscreen and eyeshadow primer. I use the Neutragena Dry-Touch sunscreen. For hotter days, say 85 F and hotter, I wear mineral veil under and over powder foundation. I wear less makeup. I don’t contour or highlight, and just use powder blush. I wear a “one-and-done” shimmery neutral eye shadow all over the eye and mascara. If I wear eyeliner, it’s a liquid one. I’ll wear a tinted lip balm, lip gloss, or non-drying liquid lipstick on my lips, and skip the lipliner. I use lots of setting spray.

kjh Avatar

Think I’ll try that…with the mineral veil before and after powder. I’ll get too dark, despite myself for my foundation, unless the differin plus spf..realized it was a 50, does me in. I was outside today about 3-4 hours, and I may have gotten a tad of burn. Gotta be the differin: I very seldom burn. Oy, summer problems already. Glad it’s going to rain for another eternity. That differin might f* with my ocean time!

Dianne Avatar

I use bases with sheerer coverage, like my It Cosmetics CC cream, or the Neutrogena Hydro-Boost, and lighter concealers as well, like Maybelline Age Rewind. I do get oily, but I try and combat it with blotting sheets and powder. I wear more bronzer and sometimes go for shimmery bronzers, like the Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light. I often opt for cream products more often, like the BareMinerals Bareskin Sheer Sun liquid bronzer and Nars liquid blushes, which I’m excited to add into my routine. I don’t feel comfortable wearing crazy brights on my lips, but I do enjoy a glossy coral or red-orange lip when the mood strikes.

Shannon. N Avatar

I’m in HUMID Southern Ontario, where it’s not 100+ but it gets to be about 35+ every summer. And I hate the heat 😛 It zaps my energy, and makes my anxiety and my chronic pain SKY ROCKET.

My usual summer makeup routine is:

LOADS of SPF
Mattifying primer on the T zone (I use MUFE mattifying primer)

and a highlighting primer on the cheeks (Im loving Becca’s back light primer!)

A high coverage concealer under my eyes (I’v been using and loving tarte shape tape!)

Loose translucent powder all over my face to set

a shimmery coral blush on the apples and blended back (I like a LOT of these shades in the summer!)

a more “natural” highlight (Im liking the Essence Highlighter!)

Brow pencil and set with a strong brow gel!

a matte transition in the crease/hood, a deeper matte shade in the crease, and then a cream eye shadow on the lids.

Waterproof mascara

Bright coloured eye liner, or eye shadow on the lower lashline.

And a bright HOT pink, Orange, or Orangey Red lip!

A spritz of SPF setting spray and I’m good to go!

ChynnaBlue Avatar

Summers here are hot and humid, so I wear less makeup and have to use waterproof products because of the humidity. If I’m going to an outdoor event in the morning or afternoon, I won’t wear makeup at all and just use sunscreen. I carry a pack of baby wipes and extra sunscreen with me and every 2 hours I wipe my face off with the baby wipes and reapply the sunscreen to avoid both clogged pores and sun damage. I learned that trick when I worked at a summer camp where sweat, dirt, and sunscreen would give us all ‘camp skin’. Once I started using the wipes, my skin stayed clear all summer. Makeup wipes work too, but baby wipes are cheaper. 🙂

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