The Key To A Flawless Summer Face? These 13 Makeup Tips By A Celeb Makeup Artist

A new season is a great time to embrace new makeup trends, however, as the temperature heats up in the summer it’s important to select makeup that can do the most for you. From multitasking makeup to water-resistant formulas and switching to a more lightweight approach to coverage, you can try out new makeup trends without stressing about whether or not your look will last once you head outdoors. When it comes to perfecting your summer makeup routine, it’s all about glowing (never greasy!) skin, embracing a safe, sun-kissed glow, and playing with color like pretty shades of blue.

Ready to unleash your inner summer goddess? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up tips and tricks from celeb makeup artist Ariel Tejeda to help simplify your summer makeup routine so you can look gorgeous all season.

13 Summer Makeup Tips:

1. Start with smooth skin

Cakey makeup is never trending when it comes to makeup—especially in the summer. If you want your makeup to glide right on your skin and look natural, exfoliation is key. You can also take it a step further and add dermaplaning to your routine. By using a straight razor that almost looks like a (not-so-sharp) scalpel you can exfoliate the top layer of your skin and eliminate peach fuzz. Reaching for an exfoliating cleanser like the MURAD AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser will also make applying makeup a breeze.

“Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, which as a result creates a more even canvas for applying makeup. It also helps skin look less dull, so you get a more glowy look without even putting on makeup yet,” says Tejada. Focusing on your skincare routine will ensure your skin is ready for your makeup application. “I always tell my clients to take care of their skin so that when it’s time for makeup, we already have a strong starting point,” says Tejada. Since exfoliating removes the top layer of dead skin cells, it also makes the new skin underneath more susceptible to the sun, so be sure to use SPF every single day to protect your skin from sun damage.

2. Create a realistic routine

When the temperature rises, a common concern is having your makeup melt off your face. To prevent it from sliding down by lunchtime, be sure to switch out your formula for a waterproof option that can withstand the heat. “Waterproof formulas are the easiest way to ensure your makeup stays intact,” says Tejada, who recommends reaching for waterproof and sweatproof makeup even when you aren’t on vacation. The first item we usually grab? Waterproof mascara like TOO FACED COSMETICS Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara. “Even if you’re not planning on going to the beach or pool, it ensures your makeup will stay on that much more through sweat,” Tejeda says. A good setting spray can also leave you with a waterproof finish, (but more on that later).

3. Primer is important

“Primer absorbs excess oil, so if you get particularly oily or greasy during the summer, this is a great way to get ahead of that,” says Tejada. The YENSA BEAUTY Tone Up Essential Glow Primer blurs fine lines and pores and evens out your skin texture, allowing you to lock in your makeup look even on humid summer days.

4. Try multitasking makeup

We love a good twofer, which is why using a tinted moisturizer with SPF is a great way to simplify your summer routine without sacrificing two things you need: sunscreen protection and skin coverage. A great tinted moisturizer will give you the same flawless finish that you get from a bb cream or cc cream, yet it also serves up sun protection so you won’t have to worry when you head outdoors. You can also get more of a full-coverage look, just like your favorite liquid foundation, with the right product. We’re a big fan of the way IT COSMETICS Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer™ with SPF 50+ reduces redness and dark spots, delivers lasting coverage, and also keeps your skin protected from the sun. If you prefer a more minimal approach to makeup try the DERMALOGICA Oil Clearing Matte Moisturizer SPF 15. This hydrating moisturizer might not blur out imperfections, but it does control oil and shine thanks to the mattifying finish.

5. Buff it out

Invest in a buffing brush if you want to ensure your makeup looks flawless all day and to give your tinted moisturizer serious staying power, especially in the hot weather. A buffing brush like IT COSMETICS Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush #6 will ensure foundation won’t slide off your face by the middle of the day. It's also an easy way to apply it smoothly and evenly, and to build up coverage with zero chance of splotchyness.

6. Make highlighter your best friend

The key to looking like a total summer goddess? A dewy glow. It’s important to look glowing and not greasy, so controlling shine is key. “Oil-free formulas will be your best friend for this,” says Tejada. Use a mattifying powder like TARTE smooth operator™ Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder on shiny spots like your T-zone. Next, finish off your look with a little bronzer and shimmery highlighter.

You can use the PACIFICA Bronzer Blush Duo and try this easy, monochromatic look: Use an angled brush to apply the blush shade beneath your cheekbones, blending upward toward your temples. Then, mix your blush with a little lip balm and dab a tiny drop onto the center of your lids and your lips, blending out for a sheer hint of color. Once you’re done, rub a dime-sized drop of the GLAMGLOW Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Nude Glow between your fingers and gently press onto your cheekbones for a quick shimmery highlight.

7. Get your (fake) tan on 

Bronzer is our BFF, especially come summer. If you’re looking for a cult-classic formula that delivers a sun-kissed finish, look no further than the BENEFIT COSMETICS Hoola Matte Bronzer. Not only is the type of bronzer you reach for important, but so is the brush and application technique. “The key is having the right brush. Bronzer should be applied like a 3 to each side of the face. Start at the top of your forehead then around your eyes, come back in at the cheekbone, and then back out until you come back towards your chin,” says Tejada.

8. Go for a royal flush with the right blush

Faking a sun-kissed look isn’t simply about bronzer, so you’ll also want to reach for blush to achieve that effortless, just-came-back-the-beach beauty look. When it’s hot out the capillaries beneath your skin widen, allowing the blood near the surface of your skin to give you a warm, rosy flush. To look like you’ve been lounging under the sun (without feeling the heat), take a fluffy blush brush and swirl PHASE ZERO MAKE UP Blusher in Making Moves onto the apples of your cheeks, up toward your ears.

9. Embrace shades of blue

Azul waters, infinity pools, clear blue skies—nothing makes us feel more like summer than shades of bright blue. And teal—whether all over your lids or as an unexpected accent color— creates such cool contrast against sun-kissed skin. To get the look with your eye makeup: Keep the center of your lids bare. Using a damp angled eyeshadow brush dipped in bright teal eyeshadow (like THEBALM COSMETICS Eyeshadow in The Buzz) and line the inner corner of your eye to the center of your upper lash line. Repeat on your lower lash line, so you create a sideways “V” shape. Blend THEBALM COSMETICS Eyeshadow in Ooh La La (a matte taupe) into your eye crease to add depth and dimension. Add eyeliner and mascara to polish off your look.

10. Don’t be afraid to go matte

Perfecting your makeup in the summertime is all about finding formulas that can keep up with your routine, which is exactly why we love reaching for matte lipsticks like ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Liquid Lipstick Mini in Pure Hollywood to ensure our lips won't smudge. If you prefer a little shine, you can always layer a lip gloss like URBAN DECAY Revolution High-Color Lipgloss on top of your matte lip for a high-shine finish. We also love reaching for lip stains when we want a flush of color that stays on for hours on end.

11. Rosé all over

If you want to give yourself the look of a lip tint you can also use your blush on your lips for an effortless, rosy touch. Mix your blush with a little lip balm (like COMPLEX CULTURE’s TIME PRESSED Lip Balm), and dab a tiny drop onto the center of your lids and your lips, blending out for a sheer hint of color.

12. Make it a mini

Investing in travel-size versions of your go-to makeup essentials makes it so easy to keep your glam looking flawless when you’re on-the-go. Whether you decide to throw them in your beach bag or pack them in a carry-on, you can rest assured that you’ll always have what you need for a quick touch-up.

13. Set it and forget it

Before you head out the door, be sure to lock in your look with a setting spray and setting powder. “A good setting spray will help keep makeup on and prevent it from fading. Especially in the summer heat, makeup is more inclined to slip off the face, so this is a crucial step,” says Tejada. COVER FX’s High Performance Setting Spray promises 24-hour coverage and comes in an alcohol-free formula that won’t dry out your complexion. If you have oily skin, it's best to dust translucent powder on your face before you apply setting spray to ensure your makeup stays all day. If you want additional coverage, be sure to stow blotting papers in your purse.

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