Summer Beauty Tips and Tricks: How to Make Your Makeup Routine More Summer Friendly

by Amanda of Broke & Chic 

After a long, harsh winter and a barely-there spring, summer is indeed on its way. The pros of summer: beach days, tans, short shorts, ice cream, and iced coffee. The cons: melted makeup.

Yup, melty makeup is the worst. Since NYC summers can be brutally hot, I tend to wear less makeup out of convenience. But since I'm a makeup hoarder and a former makeup artist, giving up makeup 100% will never happen! 

That’s why I change up my makeup routine every June to make it more sweat resistant. Below are the do's and don'ts of summer makeup application. 

Do's

1. Wear sunscreen! It's the first thing that should be applied after you wash your face. I like using face lotion with SPF 15 from Purpose. For extra protection, apply it to your neck and chest as well! 

2. After letting your sunscreen set into your skin for about five minutes, apply a face primer. This will be your saving grace! Primer helps your foundation stay put for hours on end. I really like the Radiance Primer from Lauren Mercier. It's a splurge, but it's so worth it! 

3. If you wear eyeshadow during the summer months, add an eyelid primer. 

4. Wear a shine-free foundation. The shine-free foundation stick from Maybelline is the only foundation I wear when it's hot outside; it stays put and doesn't get cake-y. 

5. Wear waterproof everything! Mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil...

6. Trade in your lipsticks for stains. If you prefer gloss over matte, just apply a Chapstick with SPF over your stain. 

7. Finish off your look with a setting spray. It sets your makeup and prevents fading and melting. It's kind of like hairspray for your face! 

I really like the setting sprays from NYX. Both the matte and dewy setting sprays work well! 

Don'ts
1. Avoid BB Cream! It seems like the right thing to do in the summer, but sweat + BB cream = a hot mess. Just don't do it. Trust me! If you'll miss the convenience, use the Miracle Blur with SPF 30 from Loreal. It'll smooth out your skin without adding color. 

2. Don't wear powder. If oil is a big problem for you, only put powder on your T-zone. Your cheeks really don't need it. 


3. Avoid cream blush and eyeshadow when you're in direct sunlight. Cream-based makeup tends to melt in the sun. 

4. Don't over do it. It's not necessary to wear a full face of makeup if it's 100 degrees outside. If you feel really naked without makeup, just wear sunscreen, primer, shine-free foundation, mascara, and a fun lip-color. 

Some of My Summer Beauty Must Haves


Purpose lotion //  Radiance Primer  //   Eyelid Primer  //   Maybelline Fit Stick   //  NYX setting spray //  Miracle Blur //  Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara  //   Cattiva Eyeliner  // L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Liquid Lipstick  //  Stained Gloss by OCC  //  Revlon ColorStay

Lip Color

Revlon ColorStay: This lip color applies like a Chapstick, but looks like a matte lipstick once it dries. Plus, it lasts for hours! 

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Liquid Lipstick: I dislike wearing lipstick in the summer because I'm afraid the tube will melt in my bag (it has happened before) if I'm outside too long, or if I leave it in the car by accident. This one is liquid and goes on like a gloss so I don't have to worry about it. 

Eyeliner

Cattiva Eyeliner: I wear waterproof liner year round and the one from Cattiva is my favorite! 

Mascara

Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara: This is my favorite waterproof mascara! I don't feel it dries out my lashes as bad as the rest of them do. 

What are some of your summer beauty tricks?

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