Make-Up Summer Loving

Easy Summer Make-Up♥

My Summer Make-Up Staples

The Summer has been just glorious here in Monaco and on the French Riviera. One thing I just love about living here is that during the summer months you can just wake up, happily knowing that the weather shall not dictate your day, like what to wear, shoes, hair, something us women know only too well. You can simply throw on something summery, make your hair look effortless and create a simple but radiant, glowing make-up look.

For the days where I am not really doing anything special I still like to make myself look presentable, as anyone who knows me shall know as I am rarely spotted without some type of make-up on, so especially during the summer months I use a few key products that transform me within minutes making me look and feel 'summer ready' and literally takes minutes to do.

I often get asked what products I use when I just want a simple summer day look but this does change when I want a stronger, evening look (post to follow soon) I have quite a collection of make-up to choose from so I like to change it up from time to time.

My Summer Make-up Loves

All easy, simple yet effective make-up products that work wonders and my personal summer staples that have seen me through yet another beautiful summer here on the French Riviera.

1) Tinted Moisturiser & Concealer

Chantecaille Just Skin spf 15 (Shade Bliss)
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser spf 20 (shade fawn)
Concealer, By Terry Touche Veloutee (No2)

Chantecaille Just Skin, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser,
Concealer: By Terry Touche Veloutee

Chantecaille Just Skin works absolute wonders and is by far my favourite tinted moisturiser out there as I always get complimented on how good my skin looks when I am wearing this. Its so lightweight but gives enough coverage to even out your skin tone. I love the fact that its also anti-smog with an Spf15 giving you environmental protection aswell as glowing skin.
I also like the Laura Mercier hydrating tinted moisturiser so I alternate between the two for another option but this one does give slightly more coverage. They both leave a lovely natural radiance to the skin without being shimmery or shiny and both contain an spf although I still use my La Prairie moisturiser which has an Spf30. These products are so effortless to apply, just blend out with your fingertips or foundation brush and they melt into your skin, so within seconds your base is done!

By Terry Touche Veloutee has been my concealer savior for 4 years now with no others coming close to it. By Terry made the famous 'Touche Eclat for YSL' until she created her own which is a million times better in my opinion! Her entire make-line is fabulous and I always tell people about it. I swear by this concealer as not only is it an unbelievable under eye corrector it also conceals any blemish, scar, imperfection you may have on the rest of your face, giving you one universal product. It looks incredibly natural, it doesn't dry into lines like some others do and lasts a lifetime as only a small amount is needed, so value for money is certainly granted.

2) FACE & CHEEKS - Skin shimmers (a few choices)

Stila all over shimmer powder in kitten

Swatch: Stila All Over Shimmer in Kitten

Stila kitten can be used on eyes, cheeks, face and décolleté! I use this as a highlight on my cheekbones, under the browbone and sometimes the bronze shade as a subtle eyeshadow. As you can see from above, the pale iresdecsent pink and bronze powder enhances your complexion with a natural, illuminating glow. It makes my skin look so fresh and bright which shall last all day, even in 30deg heat!

MAC Mineralize Blush in Rhapsody in Two

MAC Mineralize Blush in Rhapsody in Two

Now this was a limited edition MAC mineralize blusher from a few years ago but it has lasted so long it never seems to look used! I adore this and wear it as a cheek highlight or as a cheek color as the pink shade is really strong in this duo swirled powder of pink and gold. Looks stunning on the skin and flatters all skintones. MAC always get me hooked with their Limited Edition products!

Jemma KiddDewy Glow All Over Radiance Cream in 01 Ice Gold

Jemma kidd Dewy Radiance All Over Glow, Ice Gold
Available from here

The Jemma Kidd dewy glow is an amazing cream highlighter that makes my skin look naturally glowing, like 'this is my skin' not 'I am wearing make-up'. Its so creamy that it just melts into the skin. I apply this with either my fingers or my buffing brush on top of the cheekbones and under the brow bone. If you want a really natural glow that is not too over the top with shimmer and glitter then this is one for you! Your skin shall look super healthy and radiant.

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie

Illamasqua, Cream blusher in Dixie

I have a love affair with Illamasqua blushers, they are super pigmented, have a great choice of colours and come presented in such gorgeous packaging. I love to wear cream blushers in the Summer as they keep my skin looking radiant and dewy and keep in with the 'cream' theme and I always seem to reach for this one. This shade is the perfect coral for me and goes with everything. It instantly makes me look sunkissed and awake and sometimes I use it as a lip colour too. A little goes a long way with this. The best tip I find is to pat a little onto the cheek lightly with your fingers then blend out with a stippling or buffing brush to give a natural flush of color. Simply gorgeous and again effortless!

3) BROWS

HD Brow powder palette in Vamp & MAC Brow gel in Beguile

HD Brow Palette in Vamp & MAC Brow Gel in Beguile

The HD Brow palette is the only thing I use on my brows as this stays put all day long and doubles up as an eyeshadow and liner too. I wrote a full review of it here so go check that out for more information about this and where to buy.

I then go over the top of my brows with a MAC brow gel in beguile as this just sets the brow hairs in place and makes the brow look more 3D and natural with the hairs being more prominent. I prefer the coloured gel as I like my brows dark.

4) EYES

Make-Up Forever Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara in Black & Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Flax.

Make-up Forever Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara &
Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Flax

I swear by Make-Up Forever smoky lash mascara and I prefer the waterproof version not only because its obviously waterproof so it wont smudge in the heat or if your at the beach but it holds a curl like a dream! I have quite straight lashes so this flicks them up to the sky! It adds volume, length and makes them look luscious. It can be stubborn to remove so you have to use a good eye make-up remover with this.
I then wear Laura Mercier Eye Basics alone as this one in particular (Flax) brightens up my eyes, evens out any redness and gives a slight shimmer to the eyelid. It is an eyeshadow base that helps to ensure your shadow stays put and intensifies the shadow color but you can wear this alone as I do. Again, so easy to apply, I just dot a little onto my eyelid and blend all over the lid using my ring finger, or alternatively use a synthetic eyeshadow brush.

5) LIPS

MAC lipstick in Vegas Volt & Costa Chic & Clarins Instant Light Lipgloss 01

MAC lipsticks in Costa Chic & Vegas Volt,
Clarins Light Expert lipgloss in 01, available here

My favorite summer lip combo has been MAC Vegas Volt or MAC Costa Chic lipstick mixed with the Clarins Instant Light Pink lipgloss as I have been loving corals and orange shades on my lips all summer. I am a huge MAC lipstick fan as they last so well and are really opaque. I add a little of my favorite baby pink Clarins Instant Light lipgloss over the top then my easy summer make-up look is complete.

6) MY ESSENTIAL TOOL!

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Shu Uemura Gold Plated Eyelash Curler

One thing I cannot live without is my eyelash curler. The world famous Shu Uemura curler has been a make-up bag staple of mine for years and I adore my limited edition gold plated one. If you are spending more time on your make-up another amazing curler is the Eyecurl heated curler as I reviewed here. Worth investing in ladies.

So these are some of my favorite quick, multi-tasking make-up products that give you a healthy summer glow in a instant so you can spend longer enjoying your Summer ;-D