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Summer sees my makeup routine become quite simplified - foundation is changed for something lighter which I can build upon should I want to, an easy highlighter is thrown in for some added glow and I keep my eyes easy with just brows and mascara.
There are five products in particular that have fast become my summer staples and so here is everything you need to know along with performance, prices and why you need them too.
I've dabbled with Lottie London over the years and to be honest, I never thoroughly warmed to the brand (there are a couple of not-so-great reviews deep within this blog) but I just can't get enough of this product. The Lottie London Superfake Mascara is a bargain at just £6.95 and easily rivals some rather expensive brands I've tried over the years.
The ultra-lengthening mascara has a super slim comb-like wand that catches every lash to completely open up the eyes. With long wear up to twelve hours - lashes are darker, separated and beautifully lengthened. I'll be repurchasing this in a heartbeat, I've never had so many compliments on my lashes.
I've been using this foundation since 2020 after discovering it through one of Bailey Sarian's youtube videos and oh my, it's the best foundation ever. This has the coverage and finish (should you want it to) of MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix while being ultra-lightweight, breathable and sweatproof. It's a full coverage matte foundation and the finish is almost airbrush-like - I apply it with a stippling brush before going over it with a beauty blender and it just looks flawless every single time. The best bit? It's a bargain! I'll be devasted if this is ever discontinued.
I recently joined a Zoom meeting with the founder of Be+Radiance for a fascinating insight into the brand and have been using a couple of the products since then. The clean beauty brand is the first hybrid makeup brand that offers healthy products for all skin tones: clean formulas, skin food ingredients and probiotics for skin-friendly makeup.
One favourite has been the Color+Glow Blush Highlighter compacts - the richly pigmented blush and contrasting highlighter gives skin a multidimensional effect for healthy and glowing-looking skin. Talc-free, silicone free and made from 95% natural ingredients the do has been infused with active probiotics (Lactobacillus Rhamnosus) to boost your skin microbiome - summer-ready skin has never been easier.
A splash of colour on lips with ultra glowy skin is my favourite evening look in the summer months but I always prefer something a little more subtle during the day. The L'Occitane Pressed Fruity Lipsticks are great for this and Pomelove has been my go-to shade the last two summers. Enriched with a luxurious combination of vitamin E and a unique blend of fruit and vegetable extracts, this lipstick is great for skin, leaves a gorgeous satin finish and doesn't smudge. Brilliant for when it's hot!
The last product....BROWS! I had my brows microbladed this year after much going back and forth - I'd plucked too much in my teens and needed them fixing but there's just one little part from a previous scar that didn't take so this is the perfect product for me. The three-in-one brow definer combines a soft, micro brow pencil, a fine tip eyebrow pen and a spoolie brush so you can get the perfect brow every single day.
The micro brow pencil is perfect for creating a super soft fullness to the brows while the brow pen is unreal at mimicking natural-looking brow hairs. Plus, thanks to a clever tattoo-effect dye, you can be safe in the knowledge that your brows aren’t going anywhere for 24 hours. It's such a great product, I wouldn't be without it now.
I've linked all the products above - they're such a great starting point for your summer makeup bag!
