Summer Favorites

Hopefully it’s not too late to write a post about my current favorite summer products, but I figured I’d give it a go anyway. Here, in Texas, August and September are intensely hot and humid so I thought there would be others out there who can benefit from this post! But believe me – I’m anxious for fall.

Summer time – to me – means less effort. It also means simplifying and being a minimalist, so it’s a good time to really get into the natural look without overdoing it. I like the light, easy look of summer because it can be so beautiful – light, tossed and glossy hair; jeans shorts and a tank top; bright nails; and, easy and effortless looking makeup – lashes, fun lip colors, and the statement blush.

I’m featuring: Shiseido Sun Protection Compact Foundation, L’oreal Voluminous Full Definition mascara, Essie nail polish in “Blanc,” and Benefit boxed blush in “Dandelion.”

Here’s my current summer time favorites. I know that the stash is quite modest, but I feel the stash embodies what I just stated above. It’s fun, quick, and easy to do. And, when it’s hot outside, I don’t want to put so much effort into meticulously making myself look like I planned the whole look. Please check the previous post for a more in-depth review on the Sun Protection Compact Foundation by Shiseido (shade SP20).

I have always passed up Benefit’s boxed blushes because it didn’t seem like anything special. I stumbled across it at Sephora while casually browsing (as usual) and gave it a curious swatch. On a whim, I bought it, fell in love with it, and couldn’t believe this whole time I was without this staple item.

I like that Benefit re-did the packaging so the lid is attached. I’m not that thrilled about the cardboard box, but it’s sturdy and cute and the product is still good. To me, the price is a bit high for something housed in paper; I would feel better paying $28 if it were in fancier packaging (in my opinion).

The pink shade is really lightly pigmented. It’s also very powdery as you can see from the photos. The “soft pink” shade, according to Sephora, is “Benefit’s ballerina-pink pressed highlighting powder.” It’s designed to achieve the “fake awake” look with its “shimmery, satiny, radiant, perk-me-up finish.” The product “takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant,” and I would most definitely agree with its claims.

The color is very faint but layers easily and is very blendable. It’s a light, soft pink that is natural and has a subtle brightening effect – which is strange since it’s not glittery or a bright color. The muted pink creates a good flush in a healthy way, and doesn’t come across as a “baby doll” kind of color (much to my relief).

More views of the brush here. I don’t use this and use a regular blush brush instead. To me, the brush is a bit stratchy and is too thin. I’m afraid that the color will apply in a thin streak if applied with this. However, if in a pinch, I suppose you could turn this brush on its side and apply the blush in a “wider” fashion.

Essie polish in “Blanc” is the most perfect white nail polish. There’s no shimmer or glimmer; it’s just a good ol’ sold white that applies smooth and opaque after two coats. It isn’t streaky and sheer like some white polishes can be. It looks so pretty on the fingers and toes in the summer.

I’ve been trying the L’oreal Voluminous Full Definition mascara after hearing MakeupByTiffanyD talk about it on YouTube. I love the formula for layering and am very happy with it. It doesn’t smudge and it isn’t too wet or dry – it’s just right. It also separates the lashes perfectly, which is great since it creates the illusion of having more lashes!

Here’s a quick face shot so you can get an idea of what all this looks like. My favorite out of all the products is the Shiseido Sun Protection Compact Foundation in shade SP20. The coverage is amazing and its ability to withstand heat, sweat, humidity, and oil is amazing.

It’s highly resistant against all the elements, which makes it ideal for summer time wear. The finely-milled powder offers optimal coverage while feeling light. Despite the super long-wear capabilities and built in sun protection, it’s light and doesn’t feel/look cakey. However, I suggest removing this with cleansing oil at the end of the day just in case.

What are you current summer favorites? Do you change your makeup routine seasonally?

*Quotes extracted from http://www.sephora.com