Summer is right around the corner, and as much as I love a full face, I really do not love when I feel like my makeup is melting off (don’t lie, you guys know the feeling). This look is my go-to for summer time, or whenever I’m being really lazy and can’t find the motivation to spend more than 10 minutes doing my makeup. It’s super easy, and really doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup (because who doesn’t love when people think you look good “without” makeup on).
*disclaimer: I don’t have any specific products that I religiously use for this look; it’s just kind of my favs at the time, so instead of saying products I’m just going to explain the types of products I use and how to apply them.
STEP 1. MOISTURIZE
For this look I always stay away from using any moisturizer that’s really oily or makes my face oily throughout the day. Because I’m not using any foundation or focusing a lot on setting with powder, oil or dryness can turn your look from healthy and glowing to dull or shiny. P.S. I don’t put any on my eye area because I use an eye primer.
STEP 2. PREP THE FACE
Ok so like i just said, next I use a hydrating eye primer; I use my fingers to massage it into my under eye area and eyelid. This makes them look less dull, and especially helps if you’re dry in those areas. Another reason I do this is because I usually don’t use an under eye concealer for this look but I do put powder there, so you need something for the powder to grip onto.
After that I prime the rest of my face with whatever primer I’m hooked on at the moment. The only thing I keep in mind regarding primers and this look is that if I’ve been really oily, using a hydrating primer after using a really hydrating moisturizer can make me REALLY oily… and that’s not cute.
Another step that I do in this look (depending on if I’m breaking out at the moment) is mixing a liquid highlighter into my primer. For this I just use 3/4 the amount of primer I would normally use and then one drop of the highlighter (the one from Sephora that I use is in a dropper). This little secret literally makes you look like you’re glowing from within, and stops your face from looking matte or like it’s not your skin.
Final step in the priming process is misting your face with a priming spray or a hydrating facial spray (not toner – just hydrating). I do this to really lock in my primers and make sure that they’re doing their job for as long as possible.
STEP 3. CONCEALER
If I’m having some serious complexion probs, I go in with a green concealer before anything else; I take a small concealer brush and dot the concealer on any redness. Then, I blend it in really thoroughly with a damp beauty blender, but I make sure to only blend it into the skin in that specific spot.
Next I use concealer – not a highlighting one though, the same color as my skin. Same application as the green concealer: use a concealer brush to dab it on any blemishes or areas of discoloration and blend with a damp beauty blender. P.S. like I said somewhere up there ^^^ I don’t use under eye concealer because I don’t like using a lot of powder to sett his look, but if you really don’t like your under eyes or just any eye discoloration, dab on your concealer and set it with setting powder right after (I don’t like to use a very bright powder for this because it doesn’t look very natural to me).
STEP 4. POWDER
So for powder, I stay away from any matte ones – For example, I use the Maybelline Fit Me Set + Smooth Powder because it looks more natural and skin like. I use a big fluffy brush so the powder goes on lightly and isn’t really noticeable. This keeps your face from looking dull while still combatting oil and keeping everything in place.
STEP 5. BROWS
For this look, I only use a tinted gel instead of a pencil or pomade to keep the brows looking natural and not drawn in. This adds dimension to your brows, and makes them look a little fuller in case you feel naked without them drawn on.
STEP 6. BRONZER
I’m always alternating what kind of bronzer I use with this look – sometimes I use a matte one and sometimes I use one with a hint of shimmer. I use a matte bronzer when my skin is looking a little bumpy because I don’t want to bring attention to texture on my skin. I use a one with shimmer when I want to be extra glowy or when I’m going to be out in the sun (because who doesn’t want to glow under the sun, duh). For both of these I use a big fluffy brush to make it look you’re more tan than contoured.
Step 7. BLUSH
Blush definitely has an important place in this look. I always use a lighter, brighter color so I can bring color back into my face and give it a healthy look; a darker blush can accentuate any dark spots on your face and make you look dull. I apply it on the apples of my cheeks and blend it slightly with my bronzer with a really fluffy tapered blush brush.
STEP 8. HIGHLIGHT
Ok, I don’t allllways use a highlighter because my skin can have some pretty rough days… but I usually do because I like looking like a disco ball. lol. But for this look I lean more towards a highlight that doesn’t have any type of sparkle. I feel like highlighters that are more bright and glowing go more with a natural look. Instead of using a super dense brush like I usually do, I use a little medium density brush and blend it in on the tops of my cheekbones. Then I also use a little bit on a small pencil brush on the arches of the brows and inner corners of the eyes.
STEP 9. MASCARA
When I’m trying to be ~less extra~ I don’t use any mascara, but when I do, I use a lengthening mascara and apply it pretty lightly. My absolute favorite one is the E.L.F. cosmetics lengthening and defining mascara. I got it for free when I ordered online from them and it is SO amazing and NEVER clumpy.
STEP 10. SETTING SPRAY
Last, but absolutely not least, is setting spray. Use whichever one is your fav – it helps everything look flawless on the skin, takes away any powdery areas, and makes your makeup last significantly longer. I always keep an extra setting spray in my purse to spritz my face throughout incase it’s getting a little dull.
XX, Mia
MIA ROD MAKEUP 