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So you’ve mastered your five-minute makeup routine—it’s time for the seasonal remix. A quick summer makeup routine is essential when you need to get ready fast, with products that can withstand sweltering heat and humidity. After all, who doesn’t want to soak up the sunshine after months of gray, dreary skies?
“The epitome of summer makeup encapsulates the spirit of the season—the light, optimistic, and carefree mood we all feel during those sunnier months. In contrast to fall and winter’s deep tones and the elements forcing us stylistically and cosmetically to cover up,’’ celebrity makeup artist Andrew Denton tells Vogue. “Summer makeup is about embracing the playfulness and effortless use of vivid colors and celebrating sun-drenched, bare, healthy skin that radiates, I woke up like this.”
Vogue’s Quick Summer Makeup Essentials
- The SPF: Eighth Day The Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $140
- The Hydrating Skin Tint: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint, $70
- The Spot Coverage Concealer: Tom Ford Beauty Shade and Illuminate Concealer, $95
- The Sun-Kissed Flush: Merit Beauty Flush Balm, $30
- The Brown Mascara: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara, $29
- The Heat-proof Lippie: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme Waterproof Lip Liner, $26
- The Lucious Gloss: Lawless Beauty Forget The Filler Lip-Plumping Line-Smoothing Gloss, $26
- The Precision Brow Pencil: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz, $26
“Less is always more with summer makeup—it’s the season to let the skin breathe, with no need for full coverage thanks to a natural sun kiss,” pro makeup artist Erica Beukelman tells Vogue. “When spending more time in the sun, the last thing we want is a heavy amount of makeup. I tend to keep things simpler yet glowy,” pro makeup artist Kiersten Chambers adds.
Leaning into that less-is-more mindset, pro makeup artist Anastasia Vavina emphasizes streamlining your routine with fewer products—ideally, a handful of essentials that fit into a single makeup bag and travel effortlessly. “Cutting down on the number of products you use is key to achieving a faster look,” Vavina previously told Vogue. When in doubt, editorial makeup artist El DeBratto recommends following the three C’s: a glowy complexion, curled lashes, and a flush of color from your go-to blush.
Step One: Start With SPF
“Never skimp on sunscreen! Even when using a tinted moisturizer, I always encourage using a true sunscreen as a base first,” says Beukelman. “Skin protection is of the utmost importance on sunny days, and your skin will thank you later for being religious with daily application,” adds pro makeup artist Andrew Denton. With that in mind, Eighth Day and Kosas offer mineral sunscreens that double as makeup primers—no white cast in sight. Meanwhile, Coola and Byoma’s featherweight chemical SPF fluids glide on like a serum.
Step Two: Go for Bronzed Glowy Skin
“Hot days call for as little complexion products as possible in my opinion—mostly to avoid the dreaded ‘slip,’ but also because the claustrophobic feeling of a heavy base in high temperatures is an assault to the senses,” says Denton. For a DIY glow, Beukelman suggests mixing bronzing drops with a tinted moisturizer for “a sun-kissed look with lightweight coverage.”
For that barely-there feel, Chanel’s Les Beiges tint isn’t a moisturizer—but its unique gel texture delivers just as much ease and radiance. Prefer a touch more coverage? Jones Road’s tinted formula subtly evens out the complexion without weighing skin down. Looking to take your glow even further? Saie’s Glowy Super Gel will provide a lit-from-within sheen, while Glow Recipe’s Hue Drops are ideal for achieving a warm, bronzy finish.
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Step Three: Follow Up With Spot Coverage
In lieu of full-coverage complexion products, the pros recommend spot concealing to achieve that coveted your-skin-but-better look. “Focus your concealer application on spot coverage of blemishes and the areas of the face prone to discoloration, such as under eyes and around the nose,” Vavina previously told Vogue.
Denton advises opting for a lightweight liquid formula when choosing a summer-appropriate concealer. “Pick a peach-toned concealer if you’re fairer skinned or slightly orange if your complexion is deeper—these tones will banish any blue or purple tones from dark circles and lift the face without the need for layering products on a hot day,” he explains, noting Giorgio Armani’s classic formula as a go-to for clients. Victoria Beckham Beauty and Kosas offer hydrating liquid formulas enriched with skin-loving ingredients like squalane and peptides. Meanwhile, Tom Ford Beauty delivers a humidity-proof option designed to withstand even the hottest days—no slipping, no creasing.
Step Four: Add Sun-Kissed Flush
When curating a 10-minute makeup routine, make your blush work double—or even triple—duty by applying it wherever the sun naturally hits: the high points of your face, like cheeks, temples, and eyelids. Liquid or stick blushes are exceptionally versatile, as cheek color, a soft wash of shadow, and even a subtle lip tint. “Pop some color on your cheeks (I use Merit’s Flush Balm), on your eyes and lips for a monochromatic, fresh-faced look,” says Beukelman. The pros recommend warm tones—soft orange-reds, peach, and terracotta—for a sun-kissed effect. Rhode’s pocket blush is a viral favorite among editors and celebs. Meanwhile, Saie’s liquid blush delivers long-wearing color with a luminous finish. Prefer powder? Westman Atelier’s blush and bronzer duo offers a two-in-one palette that blends seamlessly and builds beautifully.
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Step Five: Swipe on a Brown Mascara and Groom Brows
Curled lashes and a few coats of mascara should never be underestimated in a beauty look. “Curling your lashes will make you look instantly more awake,” says DeBratto. For summer, consider swapping your go-to black mascara for something softer. “Swap out your black mascara for a clear or brown one,” says Beukelman, noting that brown formulas create a more natural effect and pair seamlessly with lightweight coverage. “You still get that long lash look, just in a softer shade,” Ilia founder Sasha Plavsic previously told Vogue, speaking on the brand’s popular brown mascara launch.Prefer an ultra-natural finish? Ere Perez’s clear formula, infused with aloe, pulls double duty as mascara and brow gel. For the finishing touch, using a precision brow pen to fill in any gaps in your arches pulls the whole look together—Anastasia Beverly Hill’s Brow Whiz is a classic choice.
Step Six: Set, Spray, and Go!
For the ultimate summer makeup look, always think dewy not oily. “To maintain a dewy look in the heat, I like to place a little loose translucent powder with a makeup puff wherever a little extra oil control is needed, and then, instead of blending it out with a brush, I like to melt it into the skin with a setting spray or face mist,” says Beukelman. “It gives the makeup the most beautiful finish, keeping the skin fresh and dewy.” Westman Atelier’s translucent pressed powder delivers a clean-ingredient formula in a sleek compact for shine control that won’t dull your glow. Prefer loose powder? Ami Colé’s talc-free version offers a lightweight, blur-effect finish. When it comes to setting mists with skin-care benefits, Ilia’s formula locks in your look while protecting against pollution. For an extra hit of hydration, Tatcha’s cult-favorite dewy mist refreshes with hyaluronic acid, red algae, Japanese camellia oil, and biomimetic squalane.
Step Seven: Dealer’s Choice—Finish with A Juicy Lip!
Elevate your look with a juicy lip that actually stays put. The pros recommend waterproof lip liner pencils or long-wear lip tints used as a liner for a smudge-proof pout. “You can apply lip stains as liner where you would usually apply your lip liner, following the highest points of volume on the lip, from the cupid’s bow to the base of your bottom lip,” DeBratto previously told Vogue. For added shine, layer on your favorite balm or gloss—think of it as a glazed top coat. Your lip stain or waterproof liner stays locked underneath. Make Up For Ever’s waterproof version of the Artist Pencil (a Bella Hadid favorite) delivers a bold, lasting definition. Otherwise, Billie Eilish swears by Sacheu’s lip stain for just-bitten color. For a more hydrating finish, Chanel’s baume adds sheer tint and a satin finish, while Lawless Beauty’s plumping gloss delivers high shine and plumping volume in a single swipe.
Meet The Experts
- Erica Beukelman is a professional hair stylist and makeup artist with over 15 years of experience based between California and Tennessee.
- Kiersten Chambers is hair and makeup artist based in Nashville, with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry.
- El DeBratto is a non-binary New York-based editorial makeup artist whose clients include Coco Rocha, Flower Beauty, Kristin Ess, and Glamour Magazine.
- Andrew Denton is a London based celebrity makeup artist. Denton’sclients include Cate Blanchett, Claudia Schiffer, Adriana Lima and Phoebe Dynevor, Amanda Harlech, and Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.
- Anastasia Vavina is a professional makeup artist and hairstylist based in New York. In addition to working closely with major model agencies, Vavina s work has been featured in Numero Netherlands, Elle, and more.
