To achieve easy summer beauty, I start with the flawless skin canvas we created in our Summer Skin Perfection post and simply add a little colour, a little glow and just enough polish to look healthy and refreshed without risking any dramatic makeup meltdowns.
So here are my four summer essentials for achieving that effortless "I look this great and didn't even try" look:
Most important? Blush.
Blush is what brings life, colour, and definition back to your face - especially if you belong to my special pale-people club and aren't using bronzer...
Wonderblush Le Fondant Cream Blush in Aube - $46 - available in five gorgeous shades: Camélia - soft mauve, Aube - coral nude, Ruban - bright pink, Figue - rosy plum, and Cerise - cherry red - - a cream blush that delivers buildable colour with a balm-soft texture and a natural second-skin finish.
It melts beautifully into the skin, adds a healthy glow, and blends so easily that even those of us applying makeup before our first coffee can manage it. Swipe directly onto the cheekbones and blend with your fingers or a brush. I am partial to Aube, a coral-nude shade that is universally flattering and gives that perfect "I spent the afternoon strolling through a seaside market" flush and since I am a sucker for pink, also love the bright pink Ruban for a healthy glow with a little more drama.
Bonus points: the same shade can be dabbed onto lips and across the bridge of the nose for that cohesive, sun-kissed look we all pretend happens naturally.
Extra bonus points: they are a Canadian brand and we do love to buy local!
Available at thedetoxmarket.ca and wonderblush.com or if you are in Quebec, you should be able to grab them at Jean Coutu stores.
If you want to add a little extra shine on top of your Wonderblush lips or simply prefer a sheer glossy lip, this one is a winner:
Revlon Super Lustrous Glimmer Gloss in Haute Honey - $17.49 - available in 10 shades: Diamond Drama, Pink Prisma, Lavender Lust, Happy Hour, Glazed Almond, Bronzed Spark, Haute Honey, Rose Glow, Razz Beamy and Indigo Ice
The formula combines plant-based glitter and light-reflecting pearls for a multidimensional shine that somehow manages to look glamorous without feeling like you've accidentally eaten craft supplies. It's non-sticky, lightweight and packed with hydrating ingredients including agave, moringa and cupuaçu butter. The result is glossy, comfortable lips that look fuller and feel hydrated instead of coated in syrup. The Haute Honey is the perfect shade to add a little natural looking colour whose absence won't be glaringly obvious when it inevitably gets eaten off.
Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.
For eyes, keep it simple stupid.
Complicated eyeshadow routines and summer weather are not natural allies. One quick swipe of colour is basically all the commitment I'm willing to make when it's 30 degrees outside. Which makes this a winner:
NYX Cosmetics Ultimate Glow Shots in Highkey Lychee - $16.49 - in 13 shades: Blueberry Baller, Kiwi Killa, Come Thru Coconut, Grapefruit Glow, Highkey Lychee, Golden Goji, Lemon Slayed, Twisted Tangerine, Mango Moment, Wow Cacao, Clementine Fine, Raspberry Rave and Plum Player
This liquid eyeshadow delivers exactly what its name promises: glow. Not chunky glitter. Not fallout. Just a gorgeous wash of luminous colour that takes about three seconds to apply.
The lightweight formula wears for up to 12 hours, contains vitamin C, and has a comfortable second-skin feel. Highkey Lychee is my particular fave - it gives lids a pretty, polished shimmer that instantly makes it look like you put in far more effort than you actually did. Obviously my favourite kind of beauty product.
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and amazon.ca.
Mascara is always the final, and generally necessary step for me - although I will admit that on especially hot days I sometimes skip it
entirely and accept my fate as a slightly glamorous albino bunny thanks
to my annoyingly blonde lashes.
Benefit BADgal Bounce Fuller Fluffier Volumizing Mascara in Pump'd Up Black - $39
It uses a clever dual-sided brush: one side builds volume while the comb side separates and defines. The result is fuller, fluffier lashes without the clumps, flakes, or spider-leg situation that nobody asked for.
The formula contains conditioning ingredients including linden bud extract, rice wax and provitamin B5, helping lashes look fuller while staying soft and flexible throughout the day. Plus it's vegan, cruelty-free, and designed to resist flaking for up to 24 hours.
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and sephora.ca.
All this just goes to show that the best summer makeup routine isn't the one with the most steps - it's the one you'll actually use. A little blush, a glossy lip, a swipe of shimmer and some mascara are more than enough to fake that fresh, radiant, effortlessly put-together look. The fact that it takes less time than deciding what to watch on Netflix is just a bonus!
- Lisamarie -
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