A Beginner's Guide to an Effortless Summer Glow

With summer 2021 just around the corner, it's time to switch up your beauty routine for the warmer weather. The infamous “no makeup, makeup look” is seen everywhere from celebrities to TikTok and has truly become a go-to look for those who want to enhance their features without spending too much time. Summer is always a great time to experiment with makeup and an effortless natural-looking glow is an essential look for everyone to have in their arsenal. Furthermore, changing up your everyday routine during the warmer months can help prevent breakouts and make sure your makeup lasts throughout the day.

Image Courtesy: Really Ree

Skincare is one of the most important aspects of achieving an effortlessly glowy look. One of my favorite products for helping to brighten and hydrate skin is the C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil by Sunday Riley. This serum helps to alleviate dullness and uneven texture by using a combination of vitamin C, turmeric, and evening primrose oil to soothe dry skin. This product is intended to be used on normal to dry skin, and I personally find that it’s best to start using it during the end of winter in order to soothe the skin and rejuvenate it after months of cold, dry weather. During the summer, this lightweight serum works great as a base under makeup as it can add a natural glow without making your skin look greasy. That being said, if your skin is on the oilier side, this product works as a great natural highlighter when a few drops are added to only the highpoints of the face before applying makeup.

The next step to achieving this coveted look is to apply a lightweight foundation. One of my favorite “barley there” foundations for summer is the Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation by L’Oreal. I have found that this option is a really good dupe for the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation. In my experience, both options are longlisting and sweatproof, which is essential for summer, and they both give the skin an airbrushed finish without looking too cakey. Furthermore, I found that the best way to apply these foundations in order to achieve a more effortless look is by mixing them in with a sunscreen and then applying the product directly with your fingertips. The heat from your skin helps to warm the product, making it easier to blend and making for a more natural finish overall. This foundation also works really well as a spot corrector if you are looking for an even more natural look.

Image Courtesy: CVS

While sunscreen should be worn daily regardless of the season, it is especially important to remember to use it during the summer. My current favorite sunscreen is the Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 30 by CeraVe. This sunscreen is super lightweight under makeup and because it is also a moisturizer it doesn’t have the traditional smell or chalky appearance of sunscreen. Even just wearing sunscreen without foundation can give the skin a healthy natural-looking glow while also protecting it from the harmful rays of the sun. Finishing your make-up look with a waterproof mascara and a subtle brown eyeliner can help to bring this natural look together and create the appearance of a simple yet put-together look that is incredibly easy to achieve.

Strike Out,

Writer: Annamarie Simoldoni

Editor: Alyson Brinkley

Graphics: Audrey Estupinan

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