This article written by Ellie Watkinson is a step-by-step guide so you can achieve a really beautiful natural glowing look in the summer months without your skin looking lifeless and dull. These tips will give you a simply beautiful light, fresh and glowy look throughout the summer months.
1. Prep Your Skin
If you are trying to achieve makeup to blend seamlessly into your skin and look super flawless, prepping your skin with moisturiser, serums or face masks can really help hydrate your skin and smooth out the appearance of your skin texture.
When we are looking for a natural Summer glowy skin, we always start with skincare first. If we keep our skin healthy and clear, we know our makeup is going to be applied so much easier and we are out to achieve that amazing glowing look.
Using an exfoliate to eliminate dead skin cells
Over time dead skin cells accumulate on the skin and to prep your skin for a glowing look we need to exfoliate two to three times per week. This is great for getting rid of those dead skin cells and I would suggest using chemical exfoliants as these will give you a glowing, dewy, smoother and even complexion.
Toner or Essence
Using a toner or essence helps prep and hydrate your skin and which you use (toner or essence) depends on your skincare goals and skin type. For example, if you have acne-prone skin it is highly recommended to use just toner. Whereas if you struggle with other skin concerns such as hyper-pigmentation, an essence with ingredients like vitamin C would work best for you.
Moisturiser
It is recommended after your toner or essence to then use a lightweight gel or water-based moisturizer under the makeup as these offer a lightweight texture that easily absorbs into the skin. When you have a lightweight moisturizer applied to your skin during Summer it helps hydrate your skin without adding a greasy layer and this results in your makeup sitting a lot more comfortably on your skin.
Look for moisturizers or primers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or vitamin C for added radiance and these better hydrate your skin and absorb much better.
2. Use a Glowy Primer
Using a good primer before applying your makeup helps to hydrate, smooth and blur the look of your complexion to create the most effective canvas onto which to apply your makeup! Without primer, your skin may appear more textured and have a harder time meshing nicely with your foundation.
You want to try and aim for a primer with a dewy or illuminating finish. Personally I would recommend the ‘Too Faced Plump and Prime’.
Apply this to high points of your face or there is no harm in applying it all over depending on your glow goals.
3. Go Light on Foundation
We need to remember that for a natural look, less is more. To achieve this we can use a skin tint or a lightweight foundation.
Personally, I would recommend the ‘Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter’ as this does not allow heavy coverage or I also recommend the ‘Giorgio Armani foundation’ as with this a light foundation and you can achieve exactly the look you are going for.
For concealer I would highly recommend the ‘Natasha Denona’ concealer’ as this is a very light glow finish concealer.
Apply this with a damp beauty sponge for a natural, skin-like finish.
Bonus tip: Mix a drop of liquid highlighter with your base for extra glow.
4. Cream Products Are Key
Cream products enhance natural dewiness and melt into your skin flawlessly. They also help blend seamlessly into the skin, avoiding any unwanted lines or streaks.
Cream Blush: Use a peachy or rosy blush on the cheeks, and a little on the nose for a sun-kissed look. (For more tips on how to make your makeup last all day, refer to this article here for 7 great tips.)
Cream Bronzer: Use to add warmth and dimension to your skin. Apply to your temples, cheeks, and jawline.
Liquid or Cream Highlighter: Dab on your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and brow bone for a soft glow.
Then of course, there is eye makeup to consider. If you want your look to last through sunshine and heat, professional eye makeup is a durable option for no smudging on those warmer days and pairs perfectly with a dewy, natural base
5. Set Strategically
You don’t want the powder to take away that beautiful glow you have fulfilled. So to prevent this, use a translucent powder and only apply to the areas prone to excess shine (like your T-zone which is an area of your face encompassing the forehead, nose and chin).
Then finally, use a luminous setting spray to lock absolutely everything in and this will add radiance and won’t hide the beautiful glowy makeup you have achieved.
6. Finishing Touches to Brows, Lashes and Lips
Here are a few tips for the eyes and brows to completely finish that glow look.
Brows: Lightly fill with a brow pencil going with the natural shape of the brows for a smooth, feathered look.
Lashes: Curl and apply 1-2 coats of mascara and if you’re still not completely happy, then add some individual eyelashes onto the ends for that extra dimension.
Lips: Go for a naturally tinted lip balm or lip oil for a juicy and glossy look. If you want to add a little extra to that then apply a touch of lip liner with the natural tones of pink and light brown. For more makeup application tips these can be found here on Ellie The Makeup Artist
