No Foundation Summer Makeup
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First: almost all of the photos I took of this tutorial got corrupted while backing them up to my external hard drive so I need to reshoot it! HOWEVER, there is an IGTV video tutorial here with the complete tutorial for anyone interested and I wanted to get the step-by-step words and products listed here for anyone who wanted them!
True story: Once I started really getting into makeup, I used to feel SO insecure to go out without foundation because I hated how uneven my skin looked. I have a few patches of discoloration on my cheeks that powders have a hard time sticking to and without an even base, it looked like I had no clue what I was doing when I put on bronzer. However, when the heat of summer hit, I wanted to have a quick routine to go to that didn’t involve layers of foundation or powders, especially if I was going to be out and about in the heat running errands. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than feeling your foundation melt off your face. So, I decided to get over my insecurities about my uneven skin and figure out a quick and easy makeup routine to go to when I had a day that called for light makeup.
It took a few tries, but I finally figured out a quick summer makeup routine that doesn’t require any foundation and you know what? I’m OBSESSED with it. It’s quickly become my go-to routine when I want to look put together in a few minutes and when I want to let my skin breathe or heal from a breakout. Even though we’re 2/3rd of the way through with Summer (and I’m already burning my fall candles, TBH) I know we still have a bunch of hot days ahead. I also know I’m still going to be using this quick makeup routine a few more times before fall hits us and, truth be told, whenever I’m feeling too lazy to do my full face of makeup or running late.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me a full face of makeup, but being able to give my skin a break from foundation consistently has helped it improve in the long run and it’s given me newfound confidence to rock my skin as is! Plus, this routine is a really great place for anyone to start who’s new to makeup or who has sensitive skin and doesn’t want to deal with foundation!
Click here if you want to watch the IGTV video tutorial of this look.
No Foundation Summer Makeup Routine:
First things first: moisturize and prime my skin. I use the Pixi Rose Flash Balm because it’s a fantastic two for one. It adds moisture and brightness to my skin and has a bit of tackiness to it to help my makeup stay put. No matter what kind of makeup look I’m using, I always start with some form of moisturizer to make sure that the products I put on top of it don’t dry my skin out. This also helps my skin look more youthful and young!
Next, I go in with the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. This is a spendy product but 100% worth the money. It’s labeled as a “complexion booster” and basically is a slightly tinted highlighter. I love to put this on the tops of my cheekbones and forehead and then blend out with a damp beauty blender. This helps even out my skin tone and gives my skin such a youthful and healthy glow and it helps reduce the appearance of pores. This is the only base product I use and I skip over foundation and cream contour and go straight to my Too Faced Born This Way Concealer. Even though I don’t want to use foundation, I still want to cover my dark circles, so concealer is a must for me. I use a little more than normal because I want to be able to blend the concealer out on my face so it fades perfectly into my skin. Using a damp beauty blender, I blend the concealer into the sides of my nose, under my eyes, and out towards my cheeks until I can’t see where the concealer stops and my real skin starts. I use any excess product up on my eyelids to even out my skin there and prime it for light eyeshadow look I do later.
After these face products have been applied and blended out, I set everything with my tried and true ItCosmetics ByeBye Pores Translucent Powder.I use a fluffy brush and press this powder under my eyes and then use any excess product and swirl it lightly all over my face. This will prevent my concealer from creasing along with making it easier for my other face powders to blend out!
Next is brows. I have microbladed brows so I don’t need to do a lot to my brows but I always use an angled brush and my Bodyography Eyebrow Trio to fill in any gaps and lengthen my tails! This powder is easy to use and does a great job staying in place. After using the powder, I follow through with the Benefit Gimme Brow Tinted Brow Gel to add volume to my sparse eyebrow hairs (chemo problems) and to keep everything locked into place.
Time to complete my face. To add some dimension and warmth to my skin, I use my Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Sunkissed Bronzer to bronze up my cheekbones and along my jawline and hairline. I don’t worry about contouring or being super precise as this is more a way to add warmth to my skin! I follow this with a little flush of color by using Physician’s Formula Butter Blush in Vintage Rouge on the apples of my cheeks. This is a subtle color that adds just the right amount of rosiness and breaks up the warmth of the bronzer. And since this is a summer look, I am all about making sure I glow! I mix all three powder colors from the Sleek Cosmetics Solstice Highlighting Palette and pat them on the tops of my cheekbones for my highlight.
Now, using the bronzer and highlighting palette, I go back and do a quick eye look! I take a big fluffy blending brush and swirl it into my bronzer to get a fair amount of product on the brush. Then, in windshield wiper motions, I use the bronzer as an eyeshadow and apply it to the crease of my eye! I don’t worry about being super specific in the placement of the product as I’m just using the bronzer to add a bit of depth and definition to my eyes. Then, I dip my finger into one of the highlighting powders from the Sleek palette and pat it on my lid to add just a bit of glimmer and light! And that’s it! It’s just enough to give my eyes a bit of dimension without having to do any major blending of eyeshadows.
On to lashes: I first curl them and then go in with a good coat of my L’Oreal Lash Paradise Primer. After letting that dry for 10 seconds, I follow it with two coats of the Tarte Cosmetics Big Ego Mascara. I’ve been using this mascara for a few months now and have been pleasantly surprised with it. It makes my lashes look fluffy and thick and I don’t deal with any flaking when combined with the primer!
Finally, I set my face with the Pixi Rose Makeup Setting Mist to lock everything into place and to make sure that the powders melt into my skin. I finish off with a touch of my Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry to make sure my lips stay moisturized and look juicy without having to worry about color transfer or touching it up through the day!
Ta-da! All finished! I love love love this look and this routine because it’s really quick to do and it makes my skin look super healthy and fresh while allowing it to breathe. Let me know if you have any questions about the products in this look and if you haven’t already, check out my IGTV tutorial of this look!
If this post was helpful to you, I’d so appreciate it if you saved the image below to Pinterest! <3
