This blog post is long overdue. I've been asked by readers to post my summer makeup essentials since the end of May so here goes.
1. Lots of lip balm
I'm a lip balm addict. I have chronic chapped lips so I constantly exfoliate them. I also cannot leave the house without some sort of lip color and most lipsticks and glosses give me major lip peel. After I exfoliate my lips with a wet washcloth, I slather (and I mean slather) them with some Tokyomilk Dark Lip Elixers. These smell so yummy I have to stop myself from eating them. I'm also a huge fan of Dior Addict Lip Glow in Coral, which looks amazing and feels super soft and buttery. Being the addict that I am, I have to have several backups in case I ever run out so I also carry a few tubes of Rosebud Perfume Co. lip balms.
2. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
I'm not a big eyeshadow person but I like some subtle definition and color. The Urban Decay Naked Palettes have the best range of nudes out there but Naked3 is my go-to this summer. I'm about to hit pan on Nooner so it might be time for a restock by the time summer is over.
3. MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30
I am not really a sunscreen wearer but after hearing from so many people that I need to start, I experimented with a bunch of different brands and formulas before I finally found the one that I like. This one is tinted and dries matte so it alleviates any need for foundation or even tinted moisturizer. It's a bit on the greasy side, which I don't mind, but some people might.
4. Ben Nye Banana Powder
I've talked about this product so many times and it's used on every single shoot. If you're into makeup and you watch YouTube tutorials and follow makeup gurus on Instagram, you already know about this product so I'll just leave it. I only apply it to my t-zone, where I tend to get shiny.
5. Latisse
This is the newest addition to my makeup bag and easily my favorite. I am on month 6 of using this every single night and am in love with the results. It does take time to really see the effects (I didn't notice any difference in my lashes until the end of month 3) but once you do, there is no going back. I haven't experienced any side effects and my lashes are super long and they even curl up now. You guys know I'm a major lash person and I haven't worn falsies in such a long time. Also, when I get lash extensions, I can finally upgrade to a longer, thicker set. Tip: don't use the disposable brushes that come with it. They waste product. Buy a cheap eyeliner brush with a super fine tip instead.
Now that I have long eyelashes that you can actually see, I've discovered tubing mascaras, which are perfect for summer because they don't smudge and don't require oily makeup remover to take off. My favorite is L'Oreal Extend Tube Mascara in Blackest Black.
6. My Vueset Lip Palette
About a year and a half ago, I got sick of having 8 million tubes of lipstick in my makeup bag. I depotted my favorites and got rid of the ones I no longer liked or were almost finished and put them into several Vueset Lip Palettes, arranged by color. This particular palette contains my favorite summer colors like YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in Tangy Mandarine, NARS Audacious Lipstick in Lana and Kevyn Aucoin Expert Lip Color in Carliana.
7. NYX Brow Gel in Brunette
THE HOLY GRAIL EYEBROW PRODUCT. Remember back when I was raving about brow powders? Yes, brow powders still give you a gorgeous, natural looking brow but I was having a hard time with them once I started using sunscreen and only applying setting powder to my t-zone. Enter NYX Brow Gel. I use it with my Anastasia Brow Brush to get that perfect arch that stays even if I go in the pool or sweat like crazy. They are very similar to the Make Up For Ever Aquabrows but cost way less so I don't feel guilty when I go through an entire tube in just a few months.
8. Milk Makeup Blotting Papers
Because I hate having a shiny face, I always keep a pack of these in each of my bags. They blot any excess oil and keep your face from looking greasy. Pro-tip: if you don't want to buy blotting papers, here is a secret I learned from a fellow makeup artist. Starbucks Coffee napkins work just as well (she swears they're even better) as blot papers. Since I'm not a coffee drinker, I don't go to Starbucks very often but I tried it out and she was right. There is something about the linen and texture that gets the job done without ruining or smearing your makeup. For those of you that stop at Starbucks every morning, pick up a stack of their napkins and check it out for yourself.
9. NARS Powder Blush in Orgasm
The classic. I have about three of these just in case I run out because they make my complexion so healthy-looking. It works on pretty much every skintone and it's universally flattering. Now that it's summer, I skip the contouring and just pat this above the apples of my cheeks to achieve that just-got-back-from-the-pool glow.
10. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal
I use this sparingly because otherwise I'll go nuts and end up looking insane and greasy. I only use it on the tip of my nose and my brow bones.
11. Repel Insect Repellent Sportsmen 40
Makeup artist Courtney McCormick and I douse ourselves in this stuff before every outdoor shoot because we both get completely ripped apart by mosquitos. I keep this in my makeup bag, my purse, my car, etc. It's not greasy like Off! and it doesn't stink either.
12. Laiter Collyre Bleu Eye Drops
This is a pro makeup artist secret that has reached the masses. The drops are tinted blue to make the whites of your eyes super bright white. You need to be really careful when using this stuff. It stains like crazy. I would put this on before getting dressed because you'll ruin your clothing otherwise. It also stains your bathroom counter and your skin so aim carefully.