Hey friends! I Hope your summer is going great!  I have purchased quite a bit of new things to try over the past few months, I’ve also worked dilegently  on using up things already in my collection, so that I can give my overall thoughts! Today, it’ll be a mix of some items I purchase on a regular basis as part of my routine, as well as some things I really needed to finish up. Grab a cup of something iced (cause its HOT!!!), get comfy, and let’s chat about some product ’empties’!

Skincare + Beauty

Simple Micellar Water Makeup Remover Wipes – These are good to have on hand for step 1 to remove makeup before applying cleanser. I like to alternate on what I use for step 1, but always keep these in my stash cause they are that good.

Shiseido Facial Cotton – The softest facial cotton and a regular part of my routine. If you haven’t tried these, please do! FYI: There’s a small travel pack to try now that I recently saw at Ulta if you’d like to try those before committing to a full size package.

Yes To Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturizer – This moisturizer is great for the cooler months. It has a light scent. I’m quite oily, and this is a heavier moisturizer that doesn’t break me out and keeps my skin happy.

L’Oreal Pure Clay Charcoal Mask – Such a fantastic detoxifying mask at a great price from the drugstore!

Pixi Glow Tonic – I’ve been through a ton of these and finally remembered to save a bottle! This is one of my favorite exfoliating toners that I currently use in my evening skincare routine. Really does give you a glow. Super gentle, even if you have sensitive skin.

Clarisonic Radiance Brush Head – Gentle and effective! Out of all of the other variations of brush heads, this one is my favorite. [Read more…]

There’s a lot to love about summer! One thing I love most is how simple a summer makeup routine can be. My everyday quick summer makeup takes just 5 minutes from start to finish. It feels very light and looks fresh. Keep reading to see what’s included in my 5-minute summer makeup routine!

Skin

I apply my usual skincare products, making sure to moisturize and prime. Switching to using a gel moisturizer just for daytime in the summer months helps a lot if you have oily skin like I do.  Next I apply some sunscreen because protecting our skin is key to keeping it looking its best!

Eyes

Achieving a good base is easy when using my favorite lightweight (and matte!!!) BB cream, which is great for oily skin. Some days are just way too hot to even bother putting a liquid base on.  So, I like to alternate and use BareMinerals Matte mineral makeup when I’m not using the matte BB cream.  A little concealer under my eyes keeps that area nice and bright. Then I use just a bit of powder set the concealer under my eyes. Up next … lashes! I curl and apply some lash primer . Then I finish eyes with two quick coats of whatever mascara I’m using.  Some days, I will use a long wearing or a waterproof eyeliner.

Blush & Highlight

Now it’s time for blush and a little bit of highlight (and sometimes bronzer for me … but not always). Milani Baked Blushes give a nice wash of color to the cheeks. The Wet n Wild highlight powders are also great and affordable! I tap it on a few areas of my face for a natural glow. I don’t do very much to my brows on a daily basis, so using a brow primer/conditioner and Anastasia powder  to define and darken a bit does the job. Some clear brow gel to keep things in place all day. For summer days, skipping eye shadow keeps a routine as simple as possible.

Lips

For daytime, lip gloss or lip balm with SPF works perfectly.  The balm sticks by Revlon are moisturizing, have SPF, and give off plenty of color.

For summer nights, I keep the routine pretty much the same, with the exception of using more eyeliner, including a brow pencil, a fuller coverage foundation, and some bright lipstick!

Facial Mist 

Then I finish up with a quick spray of one of my facial mists! I toss it in my bag to retouch as needed throughout the day.

That’s it! Developing a routine that takes very little time helps to feel put together and ready to go for the day!

What products do you use in your quick summer makeup routine? I’d love to know!