The Light Base

A quick mention to my skincare of choice right now and for the past 4 months, which is the incredible AlumierMD. I have religiously been using the under eye brightening cream, the ultimate serum, recovery balm moisturiser along with their SPF 40 on a daily basis too. The combination of products after having my complexion analysed by one of their experts, has my skin feeling the best it has in forever and I’ll go into more detail soon! However, for my base I have been loving the Vita Liberata Beauty Blur – if there’s one product from this post I’d love you to try out, it just has to be this one. Discovering Beauty Blur is what spurred on my makeup change around and I’ve been so happy with the results and I feel like my skin can breathe. This complexion corrector evens out your skin tone and leaves your skin with a luminous, radiant base that lets your own skin shine through while prepping your skin for any other products you choose for your look. My ideal shade is latte light.

The Extra Coverage

Although I am loving a much lighter and natural base there are still times when I need a little extra coverage in certain areas. Perhaps a breakout has reared its ugly head or those dark circles are just a little too heavy and in that case I reach for my favourite combination of NARS Soft Matte concealer and Bare Minerals BarePRO concealer. Soft Matte in Cannelle is a favourite of mine for brightening the under eyes and adding a little radiance to dark circles. The formula is creamy, long lasting and doesn’t crease which I find is ideal for the warmer months – it also sets really well with a finely milled matte powder if you prefer an even more under eye matte look. BarePRO concealer in fair light is very full coverage so is great for covering break outs and blemishes. I tend to use my fingers to warm it up and press it into my skin in any areas I find need a little extra help. And if I do decide I want some more coverage all over, I can choose to use Beauty Blur as my primer and reach for Armani Luminous Silk in shade 04 – perfect! Or, I must admit the new Dior Face and Body Foundation has become a new, very lightweight, dewy favourite.

The Light Bronze

With this lighter base I’ve definitely been favouring a paler bronzer too. Bronzer doesn’t have to be three shades of orange anymore and there are so many more colours to choose from that really suit your particular skin tone. My current preference is definitely a cooler toned bronzer washed all over the face and then often used a little heavier for a subtle contour. I rediscovered Benefit Hoola Lite recently on my trip to the Maldives and it’s been a staple in my makeup bag since, especially in warmer climates. Just like it’s original sister, Hoola Lite is smooth to apply, super buildable but still natural on paler skin tones. Similarly, a newer discovery of mine is Guerlain’s classic Terracotta but in Light Cool that I use alone or alongside Hoola Lite. It’s slightly more coral tones are perfect to buff into the cheeks and across the forehead to give a more sun-kissed glow without being too heavy on top of a cream base. PS – Both of these look great washed over the eyelids for a simple, uncomplicated Summer look.

The ‘Lit From Within’ Highlight

Definitely no prizes for guessing which cream product is still top of my list when it comes to highlight, no matter what the occasion. That’s right, the RMS Living Luminizer is still taking top place for a glow you can see from space. Because this look focuses on the glow rather than the shapes or colours, (no heavy contour or smoked out eyes) you can bet I finish this look off with this pot of gold every single time. I love to take my finger and pat this product on the high points of my cheeks, nose and brow bones to give any look that almost ‘wet’ highlight. Alongside the luminizer my newest highlight discovery is the Mac Hyper Real palette. When I posted this look on my Instastories the amount of DMs I received asking what highlight I was wearing almost broke my phone! This palette is no joke when it comes to glow and used with the RMS Luminizer this really is a dream team. I’ve been using this palette for my inner corner highlight as well as layered on my cheekbones and I just can’t get enough.

The ‘Pop Of Colour’ Eyes

One of the best additions to my makeup bag over the past year was unexpectedly the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Summer Look Palette for 2017. This palette has saved the day for me numerous times, when I’ve travelled and forgotten one or two items (it’s inevitable I won’t remember everything every single time) and every time it does I remember just what a great palette it is. Unfortunately it’s no longer available to buy, but the new 2018 palette looks just as amazing and also contains that signature blue shade that makes me swoon. Apply it with a wet brush to intensify the colour and use it to line your under eye for a pop of Summer colour. To let the colour shine I keep my eyes just as simple as my complexion and sweep my lid with layers of bronzer or I use the beautiful matte shades in my favourite Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance palette.

The Signature Lip

I will always love a nude lip, preferably a darker shade to the outer and lighter to the inner to create an ombre effect and something that will last all day and/or evening. My current favourite untouchable trio are pretty much the only lip products, bar my beloved La Mer lip balm of course, that I’ve had to hand in my handbag recently. The first is my one and only Rimmel Lip Liner in Cappuccino to ensure no bleeding, the second is the Huda Beauty Liquid Lip in Sugar Mama for a dark nude base that is long lasting and the third is the Laura Mercier Velour Lipstick in Respect for a lighter matte look to the inner lip. The ideal nude lip look for me no matter what the occasion.

I am always on the hunt to discover new makeup releases to up my beauty game, so let me know below if there’s anything you truly can’t put down this Summer that you think I might love too. Share the Summer beauty love!