5 Beauty Editors Share Their Summer Makeup Routines
May 24, 2021
As beauty editors, it’s our job to test, swatch, review and be in the know on all of the best products on the market. We find plenty that we like and some that we don't, but only a select few make it into our daily makeup routines. Whether it’s a foundation that stands up to its longwear claim, the perfect shade of red lipstick or an eyeliner that helps create our signature wing, these makeup products are some of the best around. Now that COVID-19 restrictions are loosening and we’re starting to go out more, we’ve been refreshing our arsenal with new and exciting formulas. Ahead, we’re sharing our latest must-haves and how we’ll be using them this summer.
Sarah, Associate Content Director
During the summer, I prefer natural, lightweight coverage. The Maybelline New York Fit Me Tinted Moisturizer is the perfect formula. It helps hydrate and conceals any spots or discoloration, while letting my complexion show through. If I need a bit more coverage and a radiance boost, I’ll buff on the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder. Even when I don’t feel like wearing a ton of makeup, a bold brow can really transform my look. The IT Cosmetics Brow Power Filler helps me fill, shape and thicken up my brows in one swipe for a microbladed effect. For my eyes, a new fave is the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick in Pop Off, a rose gold shade that’s subtle enough to wear during the day and shimmery enough to swipe on at night. For an everyday mascara, I’m loving the Lancôme Lash Idôle. The innovative curved brush helps lift my straight lashes and gives me volume and length without clumps. To make my lips look fuller and more defined, my latest go-to is the NYX Professional Makeup Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick in Warm Up, a rosy neutral.
Alanna, Assistant Managing Editor
My daily routine always includes a few staple products (read: my cult-fave winged liner, blush, and of course mascara), but swapping in different formulas is my favorite way to play. After my skincare routine, SPF and primer, I start with the Dermablend Continuous Correction CC Cream SPF 50 all over my face to minimize discoloration, acne marks and provide extra sun protection. Next, I add concealer on any areas I really want to cover and set it all with the L’Oréal Paris Up to 24HR Fresh Wear in a Powder Foundation. If I’m feeling extra, I’ll add a little eyeshadow (looking at you, Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Solstice), but my next step is typically the eyeliner wing. The line I create usually reflects my mood: I always use the Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner for a thicker or thinner finish depending on how dramatic I want to go. Then comes mascara — lately I’ve been reaching for the Kosas The Big Clean Mascara to lift, lengthen and volumize. For my face, I like to pop on the NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Luminous Cheek Serum in Terracotta Bronze for blush and the Tower 28 Bronzino in Gold Coast for glow. To complete the look, I add a swipe of the NYX Professional Makeup XXL Lip Lingerie Matte Liquid Lipstick in Undress’d, and I’m ready to rock (and roll!).
Ariel, Associate Editor
I sing the praises of the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24H Foundation to every makeup-wearer I come across. Seriously, it’s so lightweight, but it offers serious coverage and lasting power, making it my go-to for everyday makeup. After I apply my foundation, I’ll dab on a drop or two of the Milani Cheek Kiss Blush in Pink Flirt, which looks intimidatingly neon when you first squeeze it out of the tube but blends into a natural-looking flush. Next it’s time for the eyes — I love the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara because it makes my lashes look super long and thick, and it never flakes on me like most mascaras do. My eyebrows are naturally thick, so I don’t need to fill them in, but I do need a brow gel that sets them in place, which is where the NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue comes into play. I switch up my lip color a lot depending on my outfit and mood, but I can never go wrong with a shimmery neutral gloss. My current favorite is the Maybelline New York Lip Lifter Gloss in Moon — it’s flecked with iridescent glitter and tastes like a piña colada.
Mary, Associate Editor
Even before no-makeup makeup was a trend, I would typically skip foundation and instead dot the NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer under my eyes, along my chin and over any red spots. It’s what I’ll still do to seamlessly cover my dark circles and even out my skin tone. Next, I fill in my ultra-light eyebrows with the Maybelline New York Eye Studio Precise Micro EyeBrow Pencil. It’s been difficult to find a brow pencil that complements my copper hair, but the Auburn shade matches perfectly. The most important step for me is applying mascara, and no matter what look I’m going for, I always swipe the Maybelline New York Sky High Mascara across my lashes. Infused with bamboo extract, the lightweight formula fully volumizes and lengthens each lash from root to tip, and it never fails to make it look like I’m wearing a pair of unassuming falsies. For a little shine, I apply Haus Laboratories Le Riot Lip Gloss in Blaze, a rosy nude, to my lips, and finish off the look with a few spritzes of the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray to ensure my makeup stays intact through hours of Zoom meetings and my daily HIIT workout.
Caitlyn, Assistant Editor
My daily routine typically follows the same steps, but to keep things fun, I love adding new products into the mix. I start off with a primer, like the NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmellow Smoothing Primer to prep my skin and make sure I’m working with a silky, smooth canvas. Because summer is just around the corner, I recently swapped out my heavy foundations for light and airy options. One of my favorites at the moment is the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50, which feels lightweight without sacrificing coverage. This all-in-one product camouflages my acne scars while simultaneously protecting my skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Next, I get my glow on by dipping the EM Cosmetics Moonbeam Cushion Highlighterapplicator puff into the pearly highlighter serum and dabbing it onto the high points of my cheeks for an ethereal glow. For a wash of color on my lips, I swipe on the ILIA Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil, which keeps them plump and hydrated throughout the day. To complete the look, I finish up with the L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara to instantly puff up my short and stubby lashes and fan ’em out.
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