My 7 Essential Makeup Products for Summer

Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year and it is right around the corner. I love the sun and the high temperatures that make you want to do nothing but swim all day long. Although we are not quite out of Spring where I live, I know a lot of you who live in the south are already experiencing the summer-like weather. Here in Michigan, our summers get pretty hot, but also very humid. This high humidity is one of my makeup's worst enemies. So, certain makeup prodcuts must be worn differently in the summer compared to all year round. Also, summer is a time when your skin needs to be looking it's best with bronzing glow and bright fun colors!

Here are my 7 essential products for perfect makeup in the summer heat :)

Click on any of the bolded product names for the website with more info. 

#1 Primer

In order to make anything last, you need a good base. Foundation and eye shadow primer are musts for me in the summer as well as year round. My favorite eye shadow primer of all time is Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance . Compared to all of the other eye shadow primers I have tried, this is the best, in my opinion. It goes on super silky and creamy. With this, your eye shadow, whether cream or powder, will not budge and crease at all. This is especially needed in the summer when your skin is warmer and sweating more than normal. My current favorite face  primer also happens to be from Too Faced. It is the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pure which came out in Too Faced's summer 2012 collection. This primer is oil free and mattifying. These are two great qualities that you will want in a primer for the summer especially if your skin is sensitive or oily. My skin tends to get VERY oily in the summer and I need a mattifying primer to keep it under control and make my face makeup last.  

#2 Tinted Moisturizer 

During the summer time I like to wear the least amount of makeup on my face as possible in order to reduce breakouts. Tinted moisturizer is great for the summer. It contains a tint of color that will even out the skin without feeling heavy like a foundation. Most tinted moisturizers contain sunscreen which is much needed during the summer time. I can't stress how important it is to protect the skin on your face from the sun since the face is one of the most common areas for skin cancer.  I love the E.L.F Tinted Moisturizer because it contains an SPF of 20 and it is super cheap! The color match of this tinted moisturizer is great and it feels so good on!

#3 Bronzer

Bronzer acts as double duty for me. First, since I dust it all over my entire face, it helps to mattify my face and help make my foundation or tinted moisturizer last longer. Second, it gives my face a beautiful deep, brown tan. I really like to use matte deep brown bronzers since I use them all over my face as well as to contour. If you don't want to use a bronzer all over the face, but rather on your cheeks for a subtle glow, you would be able to get away with using a bronzer containing shimmer or a sparkle. My all time holy grail bronzer is Too Faced Chocolate Soliel (I didn't realize how much I like Too Faced ha!). Very similar to Chocolate Soliel is Benefit's Hoola Bronzer.  A less expensive alternative to these two is NYC Bronzing Face Powder. 

 #4 Lip Stain

I don't know if anyone else feels the same that I do, but I HATE the feeling of lipstick in hot weather. If it's super hot and humid, lipstick on my lips just makes me feel EW. An alternative to wearing lipstick while still having color on the lips is a lip stain. You are doing exactly as it says, staining the lips. Most lip stains come in the marker form so they are very easy to apply. One of my favorites is Revlon's Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm  in Passion. The Revlon Lipstains include the lipstsain on one end as well as a lip balm on the opposite end to help moisturize the lips after applying the stain. Lipstains literally last for hours. Since you are staining the lips, the color is pretty permanent when you put it on. Some of the color will wear off at the end of the day and the rest can be taken off with makeup remover. 

#5 Waterproof Mascara 

Waterproof mascara is a no brainer. Usually I do not use waterproof mascara since it is very hard for me to get off, but in the summer I feel like I need it, especially if I will be outside at the lake or pool. I wouldn't consider the Covergirl Lash Blast my favorite, but this is the only waterproof mascara that I own at the moment. 

#6 Long-Wearing Eye Shadow and Eye Liner (In bright colors!)

Not only do I love cream shadows  and eye liners for the summer, but I love them in bright colors! Cream shadows, to me, are just easy. I apply them with my finger all over my lid, blend them a little in my crease, and I am good to go! I know that I have gone on and on about the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Shadows , but these will be great for the summer. Especially on top of eye shadow primer, the color, vibrancy, and texture of these will last all day long. One of my favorite eye looks to wear in the summer is a bronze or gold color on my lid paired with a bright color eye liner on my lower lash line for a pop of color. The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils  are great for this. These, like the color tattoos, are very long wearing and once you let them set, they will last all day. I wish I could buy these in every color!

Urban Decay 2/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Radium on the lower lash line..

#7 Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray 

To finish it off any type of makeup look, some type of long wearing makeup setting spray is key, specifically Urban Decay's All Nighter. I used this product all last summer and I do not know how my makeup would have lasted without it. This product sets makeup so the face will look less powdery and more natural. It also acts to keep skin matte. This claims to help makeup last for 16 hours and it does live up to it's claim. I would not go a day without using this product, especially in the summer. 

Swatches of All Products Seen Above

What are your favorite makeup products for summer?