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Here are a few of my favorite makeup base faves to give you the perfect summer glow!
Note: This is not a paid or sponsored post. These are products I've found that work best for me.
I've always struggled with my skin. When I started wearing makeup, my skin sensitivities became even more pronounced. Too much primer or the wrong combination of primer/foundation and I was fighting breakouts for weeks. And thanks to my melasma and a not-yellow-but-not-pink skin undertone, finding the perfect foundation + color was nearly impossible...until now.
Below are some of my favorite base makeup essentials. From primer to foundation and bronzer and blush, these products help me feel and look my best without the side effect of causing serious breakouts or looking too overdone.
Primer
What: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 (get it at Sephora or Supergoop!)
Cost: $36; This multi-tasking primer is definitely worth the price!
Why I Love It: I have so many reasons to love this primer, not the least of which is that it doesn't cause me to break out! Before finding Supergoop! Glowscreen, I had tried a lot of primers under my foundation. Unfortunately, most of them made my skin too oily so I'd fight breakouts for a week or more trying to get my skin back to "normal." I nearly gave up on wearing primer under my foundation—until I found this gem.
This primer has a pearlescent tint to give you an instant, luminous glow. When used alone, Glowscreen is like a BB cream. The tint of this product is so perfect. It truly can be used alone or as a base to other makeup, which makes the price totally worth the spend. Plus, you can feel good knowing that this primer is designed to keep your skin safe and protected from sun damage.
Bottom line: This powerhouse product in my makeup bag won't be replaced any time soon.
Foundation
What: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation (get it at Sephora, Ulta Beauty or Estée Lauder)
Cost: $43; I know this foundation may be a little pricey, but trust me when I tell you it's totally worth the price. It's hands-down the best foundation I've ever used. It's a natural, matte foundation to even out your skin without looking cakey or overdone.
Why I Love It: Finding the right tone + color foundation has always been a chore for me. Most products are too pink or too yellow in their undertones, which doesn't work on me. The color spectrum from Estée Lauder is simply unmatched. Because I tan easily, my color is totally different in the summer than it is in the winter. For example, I am currently blending a 3N1 with a 3W1.5, but in the winter I was using a 1N1! Estée Lauder offers shades that match me all year round. And during the hard-to-match spring and fall transition periods, I simply blend shades together.
Not only is the color spectrum unmatched, but the wear is unrivaled. This makeup delivers on the Stay-in-Place value prop! It's touted as 24-hour wear, and while I wouldn't recommend sleeping in makeup, my guess is with this stuff, you probably could.
Bottom line: Foundation sets the base for your makeup, so it's worth investing in a high-quality product like Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation.
Powder
What: bareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 (Light) (get it at Sephora, Ulta Beauty or bareMinerals)
Cost: $32
Why I Have It: Honestly, I tried to use this alone as my foundation for a more natural look, but I could never get it just right. There was something about the formula that never quite looked like the infomercial promises (my love for infomercials is a story for another day!). I bought a giant size of this stuff during a great holiday sale, so I have a LOT left to use. I read one blogger who loves to use it as a setting powder, so I decided to give it a try. She was right—it works great as a setting powder! I probably don't need the extra color + coverage that's in the formula, but it definitely doesn't hurt either (especially during the winter when my skin is a little duller).
Bottom line: Once this stuff is out, I will probably try a sheer setting powder like Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, but this stuff definitely works well to set my makeup and give me extra coverage on days when my skin decides to break out.
Bronzer (Option 1)
What: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Bronzer (Beach) (get it at Sephora, Ulta Beauty or It Cosmetics)
Cost: $32
Why I Love It: This is a great buildable bronzer. I use this stuff every season except summer when my complexion is a little too dark for it to be noticeable. Bonus—This stuff smells like summer! It has a beachy coconut smell that honestly puts me in a good mood first thing in the morning when I'm doing my makeup.
Bottom line: I love everything about this bronzer!
Bronzer (Option 2)
What: Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer (Hotel Heiress) (get it at Sephora, Ulta Beauty or Tarte)
Cost: $30
Why I Love It: This stuff actually shows up on my summer skin! I've read really great things about Park Ave Princess (the lighter shade), too, so check that out if you don't need a hyper-pigmented bronzer. I use a light touch with this bronzer so as not to look too overdone. The first time I used it, I was a little heavy-handed and found it difficult to blend into a natural shade. After starting light and building as needed, I've found this to be the perfect summer bronzer (not too orange, not too red—just right!)
Bottom line: This stuff is very pigmented, so you don't need a lot, but it's perfect for summer skin when you need a little extra "oomph" from a bronzer.
Blush
What: Tarte Limited-Edition Amazonian Clay Blush (Birthday Bae) (get it at Tarte)
Cost: $29
Why I Love It: It gives your cheeks the most healthy, natural-looking glow. Plus, hello, it comes in a pink glitter case! Seriously though, the color works all year round on my skin and is definitely buildable for when you need a little extra color (me...all.winter.long.).
Bottom line: As long as this limited edition is in stock, I will be buying it!
Scroll below for a recap of my fave products.
For reference, I get almost all of my beauty products at Ulta Beauty or Sephora to capitalize on rewards and use them to discover other great products!
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