What’s your go-to summer makeup look? Share!
I’m always switching up the eyes, but I tend to favor Tom Ford Love Lust blush + Guerlain Gems lipstick (which I just may finish this year, sadly!).
Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I’m not sure what it will be this year other than lots of liquid highlighter!
I live in SoCal, so I don’t do “seasons”, LOL! I also favor the same types of shades year-round, and I’m always varying products to make use of everything. That said, in warmer weather, I favor Maybelline Color Tattoos, or if I use powder eyeshadows, Kat von D eyeshadow primer is *amazing*! I go with a BB Cream/ TM with a MPF, NARS Multiples for cheeks, and a tinted lip balm (lipstick tends to bleed/melt on my lips, so I just avoid any possible issues from the onset).
Lots of sunscreen, a light foundation/bb cream. For eyes, a neutral color or no makeup (my oily lids get oiler in summer) . A sheer blush and sheerer lipstick in coral, pink, or MLBB shade. And always SPF lipbalm
Lots of peachy pinks! Chanel Presage, Nars Deep Throat have been the blush choices and less makeup in general!
I live in a tropical area so pretty much everyday is a summer day for me haha. But most days I go for a light base, like Tarte’s BB primer or a powder foundation, with neutral eyes, black liner and a strong lip colour. If it’s a gothy sort of day, then it’s a smokey eye with pale lips!
Not wearing much right now because of some nerve damage issues that make my hands pretty useless, but usually I stick mostly to BB creams (the Dr. Jart Premium BB Cream with SPF 45 is great because aside from being a great BB cream, it has a pump and it takes care of my SPF. I mostly stick with more nude eye looks, but sometimes throw in a pop of color in the form of electric blue liner or something to that end. I trend towards coral in terms of blush, with slightly more golden highlights than I would other seasons (I’m HELLA pale so I tend to skip bronzer as everything is too dark for me and looks very unnatural). Lip-wise I switch it up a bit, mostly corals, orange-leaning reds, and the occasional classic red or more pinky-plum. I avoid lipgloss all year round because it’s just not to my taste.
Hi Anne! I have nerve problems also. It’s taken me many years to figure out how to apply again. I wish you the best. 🙂
Thanks so much! It’s been a tough few years but I have an MRI Sunday (finally, after 3 1/2 years… I LOVE the US medical system, so glad I moved back from Canada!) and we will hopefully have a better picture and get me a few steps closer to being my old makeup-junkie self. And congrats to you on getting through the unbelievably frustrating rehab process that comes with nerve damage. Stay strong!
Aww! Anne, you’re so very welcome but there’s no need to thank me. People reaching out is rare nowadays but I still believe in it. 🙂 I’m not sure where in the USA you’ve moved to, but I wish YOU all the best good in the world! We have many doctor issues here, and much goes unaddressed or uncared for. I pray that is not the case for you. I remember looking at my stash upon coming home way too long at hospitals and just crying. I was mad, frustrated. And I wouldn’took in the mirror at what became emaciated that I could not recognize, and why care for makeup? Nerves can be re-stimulated and progress made. As my world went up and down, during the ups, I came here and found my passion was still very alive. I needed patience for the time I was healthy enough again and ready to test drive. 🙂 Only recently has it been a very positive experience again! I’m so glad I never gave up. I’m grateful for this site. And I tell you ANYTHING is possible! Thank you, I’m doing my best to keep strong! I wish you strength, courage, and the ability to transcend any frustration. It will happen though it will be very different.. May your doctors be the best & help you as thorough as one can be helped. God Bles you, dear. Hang in there.
Anything that matches an aqua blue liner in my waterline
I’m creating mine right now, as this is my first summer wearing makeup! So far it’s tinted moisturizer + warmer toned versions of my usual stuff – soft pink lips/cheeks get switched out for vibrant peaches or corals, bright ivory shimmer in the inner corner of the eye (my deep set eyes wear this year-round).
I don’t have one. I switch everything up year round! More likely to go light so I don’t feel like my face is melting off, since oily skin and being sweat-prone suck. I favour fresh, hilighty cheeks, pop of colour on the lips, and neutral eyes year round (more likely to be a wash of something shimmery in the summer!)
I don’t really have ONE go-to look for summer… But most of my looks do involve a pretty coral or peach lip though 🙂
I don’t actually have a “summer go to look” – I do what I do all year ’round and wear whatever appeals to me on that particular day. With the advent of CC creams, I don’t even eschew “foundation” in favour of powder foundation any more – I wear CC almost all the time. I do, on occasion, go over my face with a bit of light bronzing powder since I am very fair and avoid the sun but there are times when I like to look a bit less ghostly pale.
I usually go for no make-up and slather on the sunscreen. If I have to go outside in the summer, chances are I’d run out of energy (or spoons, as they say in chronic illness communities) really quickly due to my seasonal affective disorder, so I just skip make-up altogether and conserve my energy for other tasks.
I’ve been switching it up almost every day! But my fave look right now is IT Cosmetics CC+ SPF cream with a brightening powder, Sephora brand bronzing powder in Fiji (gorgeous bronzer!) and Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop topped off with Becca Opal pressed. I still favor a matte lip for summer, and I’ve been into the anti-summer lip colors. LOL. So anything tawny, spicey, or wine colored, like MAC Whirl and Maybelline Touch of Spice are still my go-to, while I keep several peachy and browny nudes on hand to switch things up.
I’ve been playing around with bronze/gold eyeshadows more than usual (Urban Decay’s Half Baked, Baked, Twice Baked and Easy Baked).
I like Josie Maran Cocont Watercolor Cheek Gelée for a sheer wash of dewy, summery color. I’m wearing Poppy Paradise today, but they’re all lovely–and sweatproof. It’s already 84*, 75% humidity, and not yet 9AM here, so sweatproof = awesome in my book.
For lips I’ve just been using balm with SPF. I sunburn easily and I’d rather have boring-yet-healthy lips than bleeding/peeling ones. I’d love suggestions for moisturizing tinted SPF balms if anyone has a recommendation! I miss color. :/
The Fresh Sugar lip treatments are great! Pricey at $22 a pop – but there is a current special on Sephora I believe, where you can get 5 mini balms for $36.
Thanks! Those are a tad pricey, but I like the idea of trying out five different varieties before laying out $22 for one I might not like!
The Fresh set at Sephora is sold out, but you can have them email you if it ever comes back in stock. L’Occitane just came out with SPF 25 tinted lipbalms for $16 each, cheaper than Fresh, but I don’t see a value set for them yet. I haven’t tried the L’Occitane ones yet, but they are an option.
Can’t stop wearing TF Naked Bronze cream eyeshadow duo with Marc Jacbos (Ro)Cocoa smeared on lash lines with a hit of dark purple shadow smoked in the outer vee. YSL Teint Saharienne in Fauve as a controur/bronzer, ColourPop Aphrodisiac blush, Laura Geller baked gelato on cheekbones in Ballerina. Estee Lauder Pure Colour envy shine in Mischevious Rose or NARS Anna on lips. Very summery bronzey, but subtle and works well for light, light/medium skin.
That sounds like a gorgeous combo! I might have to steal that and give it a go! Thank you! 🙂
Something lightweight, waterproof, and natural looking. I always end up sweating makeup off so I don’t make much of an effort to create a look per se.
Peach blush, mascara, and bright lips! Errrrrrrrrrrday!
Always sunscreen! I tend to go lighter with my foundation products. during the day, I have been skipping liner a lot on the lashline and opting for just a tightline and or waterline, none, or colors(my favorite). Lips are usually a gloss or sheer lipstick in daytime,if it’s a more formal event,I will wear a berry or coral lipstick. I love the new bronzers or luminizers for blush.The ColourPop blushes, highlighters and cheek colors have been go-to’s for me. They just seem less heavy and stay on in the heat.I have been skipping contour or just doing a very light contour most of the time. I am 39 and my face is oval and already thin. I just think it make me look younger. So, I go for anything that makes me look younger. For eyes, I mix it up. I have been doing more creams though since I have the Tom Ford cream shadows. I have been pretty lazy with eyes I mush admit though.
REALLY sparkly eyes (UD Space Cowboy or MAC Day Gleam), HUGE lashes, and a bright or vampy lip (like MAC Relentlessly Red or Lingering Kiss).
Oh, and REALLY dewy, glowy skin.
So far I’ve been sticking to Chanel Vitalumière Aqua foundation for light coverage, but that’s about the only constant! Lips & cheeks I’m always switching up (in summer I have to admit it’s all pretty peachy, pinky, tawny). I’ve been totally ignoring eye makeup other than mascara! I’m really contemplating a ColourPop haul because I’d like to get my hands on some of those highlighters though! Get the glow on!
This summer it will be Lancome 50SPF sunscreen under MUFEHD foundation, Becca Rose Gold highlighter as blush (or Benefit Rockateur), Hourglass Diffused Light as highlighter, Rollerlash Mascara and Nars New Lover gloss pencil over lip balm. Mwah!
I interchange between three different looks: either a super dewy, fresh face with really basic eyes (a creases color and mascara), a matte neutral eye with thick, winged liner and a bold lip (preferably a bright fuchsia or an orange red) or a mixture of those two lol I love the feeling of how fresh the makeup is in summer. it’s probably all in my head, but illuminizers get me feeling a type of way!
Minimal eyeshadow, very liberal highligher (Benefit High Beam or Becca Pearl), and some weird lip colors! 🙂 I’ve been mixing up interpretations of lippies from Melt, LA Splash, and Lime Crime using Lip tars and they are so fun. I love how I can take the idea of, say, Space Cake and tweak it to be a little more flattering for myself.
I love that idea for lip colors. It’s probably a lot less expensive, too.
I just have to be careful not to use up too much of the tube when mixing! That takes some getting used to. I was going to suggest you try the Primary Pack of minis, but it was a limited edition set and I only found one at eBay, for a ridic amount of money. However, Sephora carries a couple mini sets still. It looks as if OCC is not offering minis at their site for now. Since you’re a pale brunette like I am, though, I would definitely recommend OCC’s Strumpet (a true fuschia) and NSFW (an actual true red, neither warm nor cool. Definitely get the primer, though.
It got a very polarized response when it came out because the value per ounce of product was considerably lower than full sized products, but I think the Primary Pack is the coolest thing OCC has ever done. I snapped it right up and LOVE that thing. It’s for sure got flaws (I think the quality control may be a bit lower than full sized Lip Tars because I have pigmentation issues on my yellow making me unable to make straight ahead yellows or even non-reddish oranges. Also the mini-tubes are a low quality plastic, so if you try to squeeze them to mix the product up in there it can end up cracking.) but I’ve gotten so much fun out of them. I’d been thinking about getting a set of primary colors plus black and white since the olden days of LIVEJOUNRNAL but was never able to commit to spending a hundred bucks on it. Now that I know how great it is, I’m more likely to buy full sizes as I run out of things.
Good to know. Thanks, Blue!
I have the NSFW pencil, but not the tar (yet!). It’s a great red. I don’t have the primary pack in OCC, though I have several of their colors. I don’t have Strumpet yet. I have Anime and Hoochie. I love the bright pinks! I also have a huge amount of JCat’s Wonder Lip Tars, including a grays, blues and red.
I also recommend Lipstick Queen’s Ice Queen, which gives a slightly cool-toned frost to anything under it. Their Hey Sailor, a blue-tinged violet, had much the same effect but with less frost. Burt’s Bees shimmers are also good for this. Both BB and LQ also help hydrate if your primary lip color doesn’t do that.
You can also make any lipstick matte by placing a sheet of toilet paper or blotter over your finished lips, dusting loose powder over the paper, and pressing the paper lightly to your lips. That also helps set colors that don’t want to stay put, like Makeup Revolution’s emerald green, which has poor staying power on me.
I haven’t used Queen. Their prices scare me off. I’ll have check them out more thoroughly, if they have “unconventional” colors. Thanks as always, Janie!
I usually mix it up every year. But lately I’ve been loving wearing Benefit’s My Two Cents on the eyes as a base. I’ll throw on whatever I’m feeling that day to go with it, usually something from Lorac Pro 1 or 2. If I’m not feeling eyeshadows, I’ll just use Royal Wink eyeliner and a bit of black eyeliner. Cheeks are typically corals and lips are almost always bright.
I love a simple, clean look with a bit of coral: foundation powder, filled brows, and coral blush and gloss.
Typically, a light cream shadow (the most used is bareMinerals BB eyeshadow, mostly because of its spf), coral blush, and a peach or coral lip. Something sheerer and glossy during the day, or a bolder lipstick for going out.
Tinted moisturizer, a dusting of powder foundation and an illuminating bronzer + brow stuff and mascara. To be honest I rarely do even this (except the tinted moisturizer, for SPF) because I work full-time.
Natural finish on the skin, super bronzes up with a peachy coral cheek, natural bronze eyes, sometimes I’ll throw a colored liner on the lower lash line whether it be teal/turquoise, purple, or blue and my lip I switch up bright pinks or corals or a summery nude which is usually a bit darker than my winter nudes, and tons of mascara!
I don’t do bronzer but I do go for warmer and brighter colours in Summer. A typical look would be a pale shimmering gold on the lid with a matte brown in the crease, dark brown or black pencil eyeliner on the upper lash line, teal or purple on my lower lash line (eyeliner or eyeshadow), lots of mascara, a warm peachy blush and a coral lip.
It’s been my go to for years now and my beloved MAC Parrot eyeshadow, that they no longer do, is nearly finished. I’m sure I can find a similar eyeshadow though. ,:)
I pretty much keep my routine the same except that I do focus on brighter colors and pinks and of course bronzers and highlighters more
Full makeup: Tinted moisturizer, concealer, EL Bronze Goddess bronzer with a pop of blush color on top, tinted brow gel, eyeshadow, highlighter, eyeliner, mascara, red-orange or peachy pink lipstick, and a spritz of Clinique Moisture Surge spray or MAC Fix+. I use Nars, Becca, Josie Maran, and VS liquid illuminators a lot during the summer and early autumn — they can work as e/s primers, eyeshadows, bronzers, highlighters.
Everyday: bronzer, sheer lipstick, sometimes illuminators.
Light hand on the foundation. Bare Escents Bisque to cover any imperfections, gel blush, navy eyeliner, mascara and pink tinted lip balm.
depends if im gonna be in a/c all day i keep look the same. since im soo pale(got tired of the stares)
i do rock self tanner and up my bronzer dosage during the summer.
Bright statement lips + matching blush is my go-to summer combination, plus I’m probably gonna get a lot of use out of the ColourPop highlighters this summer. Honestly it’s not much different from my go-to winter look…I’m not a one-trick pony exactly, but I’m pretty close. A three-trick pony.
I wear ThinkBaby sunscreen, the Body Shop Vitamin C serum and moisturizer, Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, UDPP, Nars Radiant Cream Concealer, MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, a cream shadow(s) (such as ColourPop or Maybelline 24/7), MAC Haute and Naughty Waterproof Mascara, Anastasia Dipbrow, Kevyn Aucoin Duo #4, and Caudalie Beauty Elixir (to set). I prefer a light, soft look in the summer.
I usually go a bit lighter and brighter in the summer, but I switch everything up a lot. It helps me use all of my stash and keeps me from getting bored. I live near Portland, OR, so most years it doesn’t get terribly hot for prolonged periods until August. Hot days are where my routine changes the most. I avoid a lot of contouring and highlighting, and avoid using too many products. They just end up melting on me.
On hot days: More sunscreen with higher SPF, always moisturize, loose mineral foundation and veil, blush (bright pink or coral) and a little Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer (or BareMinerals Rose Radiance instead of those). Eye primer and mascara per usual. Lighter eye colors, and I use loose mineral eye colors more: I love shimmery nudes, peaches and pinky-brown nudes. I stick with 1-2 colors; maybe a pop of color on the lid or lower lash line. Tinted balm or sheers on the lips: Maybelline Baby Lips (especially the Electro colors), Maybelline Whispers, Stila Color Balm Lipsticks, and e.l.f. tinted balms (both pot and stick). I’m sure my UD Sheer Revolution lipsticks with get a workout this year. I also like e.l.f. Studio Matte lip color pencils for hot weather.
Forgot to mention, I usually switch to Illuminating face veil in summer.
My foundation is the same all year round, but I do wear lighter colours on my eyes – mint, arctic blue etc.
My lip colours varies too – more peachy, ginger colours like Elizabeth Arden’s Ginger Kiss and a Clinique one that is similar.
Just a lightened up version of everything I normally wear and extra sunscreen!
Things that don’t melt in Texas heat. 😉 Either mineral makeup or a foundation/powder combo like Clinique’s Double Face powder. A lot less eye shadow. Burt’s Bees lip shimmers are perfect. I also usually carry a face mist (something with rose hips) and a small vial of peppermint oil – the latter, applied to pulse points, is miraculously cooling. Aveda used to make Blue Oil, which contained mint and was awesome, but they quit. Grr.
MAC Early Morning, Tilt, and White Frost w/ MJB blaquer Tightline, blink, waterline, LG Boysenberry Blush w/Ethereal Rose blush & MAC white Frost, or is it Frodt White (?) For highlight after adding some warmth with theBalm desert blush/bronze & a bit of Cindy-Loumanizer.. Either a light stain of Rouge D’Armani 609 plum with Dior Bonheur Brilliant Rouge lip gloss, so excellent alone even on my pigmented lips, it’s like a hydrating balm and works well on top of lippies, too! 😛
And Nars’ translucent crystal loose powder still reigns for setting while I will use Hourglass Ethereal for crevices and eyes! It’s a fresh and nice look. I’ll be switching it up as far as eyeshadow goes, but I’m pleased with this combo for a quick go-to!
After skincare and SPF, I’ve been using CdP creme foundation, forgot that. It sets beautifully! I’ve been going to the doctors and they all say how much better I look! (Little do they know the secrets of makeup!) Yesterday I had a disturbing call and needed to go see a doc immediately and I called prior, barely audible through crying and a panic attack.. But when j got there: “you look so much better than you sounded in the phone.” It really makes a difference in my overall wellbeing. It’s difficult on my body, but the effort is enjoyable and has wowed me! I’m seeing myself in the mirror again.. And I almost gave up trying… Again, thank you, Temotalia/Christine for keeping me inspired in the industry. 🙂
Coral or orange lips and cheeks, gold shimmer shadow. If I’m feeling really daring (and have the time) I’ll do shadow in either yellow, orange, chartreuse, bronze or copper. To mix it up maybe a gold, copper lip. But you can’t beat coral and orange for summer!
Love my Best of Becca kit I got from Ulta! Just mix the liquid opal with some moisturizer for my face, use the rose gold powder mostly or watermelon/moonstone souffle for my cheeks, and beach tint in guava for my lips errr day!
Lol, I’m OCD about coordinating my makeup to what I’m wearing or how I’m feeling that day. But I love a tropical look with MAC melon pigment and MAC coppering, mythology, amber lights and a couple of colors I can’t think of now. Or a brown neutral smokey eye with a blue/aqua under eyeliner.
I love fresh, tropical coral tones for shadow, lips and cheeks on my NC42 complexion wiith a touch of copper or gold highlighter. I like red-orange gloss like MAC Barbecue from Toledo collection, too.