8 Steps to Easy Summer Makeup

I love summertime! It’s my favorite season and I love all the outside activities and adventures that come with it. However, I’ve always had oily skin so my makeup doesn’t agree with summer so much. My oily skin has turned into combination skin in recent years, but in the summer, it rears it’s ugly head! So I like to keep my makeup fairly simple, lightweight and easy! These 8 steps to easy summer makeup are my go-to steps to achieve a fresh and effortless summer makeup look!

Does anybody else cringe at the feeling of sweating off layers and layers of heavy makeup? I hate that feeling when your face is just heavy with products and you can’t wait to wash everything off.  I live in Indiana where the summers are HOT and the humidity is no joke! If you live anywhere with summer humidity, you know my pain! That’s why it’s extra important that I wear makeup that will last through the heat and humidity but not feel heavy and thick. I want my skin to breathe but look put together at the same time. (Isn’t that the goal of every girl everywhere though?! 🤔)

I was thinking about my absolute must-have products that I need in the heat and humidity and came up with 8 steps to easy summer makeup! Of course, you can add in other steps and products to bump up your look and make it more glam but I think these 8 steps are really the only ones I NEED for everyday summer makeup.

Let’s dive into these 8 steps for easy summer makeup – pun intended 🙂 ha!

Step 1 – BB Cream

Now if you read my last post, The Best Drugstore BB Creams For Summer, then you know all about BB creams and why I’m such a fan! I talk about what BB creams are and why you need one so go check out that post if you haven’t already. BB creams are made for the summer because they combine so many great benefits into one product. SPF and moisturizer are 2 non-negotiables that you need on your face every day, especially in the summertime. Almost all BB creams include these ingredients which means less layers on your face and steps in your routine!

BB creams provide coverage to even out your skin tone so it can replace your foundation step giving you a lightweight feel but added moisture and protection for a breathable base! The BB cream I chose for this step is Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream. It comes in a few different shades and Maybelline also has a skin-clearing formula option if your skin is acne-prone!

Step 2 – Concealer

This step may not be necessary for some but I prefer to add a little concealer under my eyes even if I’m wearing a light base. I think it brightens my eyes and makes me look more awake and youthful! It also covers my eyelid discoloration. However, I skip the full coverage concealer and go with a lightweight option. Trust me, I look like a crazy person when I use a sheer coverage BB cream then add a full coverage concealer under my eyes….not a good look! The concealer I highly recommend is Maybelline New York Fit Me! Concealer! The formula is extremely lightweight but the coverage is great! It doesn’t leave my under eyes looking cakey or dry so I think it’s a perfect concealer for summer. They have lots of shades to choose from.

Step 3 – Setting Powder

Again, this may not be a necessary step for some (jealous!) but giiiiirl, if I don’t set my face with powder in the summer, it’s not a pretty sight. I don’t even want to know what I would look like because I still get oily even when I set everything. Even if you have normal/dry skin, setting your face is a good idea in summer because it helps to lock your look in place and make it sweat-proof. Regardless of skin type, we all sweat and having a barrier of powder on your skin will help to keep your makeup in place for longer!

My new favorite setting powder is Coty AirSpun Loose Face Powder. I purchased the “extra coverage” shade option. I don’t really notice any extra coverage but it does a great job at providing normal coverage. This powder is so affordable and you get a TON! It’s going to last me months and months. Some people can’t stand the scent of this powder because it smells equal parts floral + old lady. Half of me likes the smell and half of me doesn’t – I can’t decide one way or another but even if I didn’t care for the smell, I would still use the product!

Step 4 – Bronzer

Ohh this is a fun step! I love bringing color and life back into my complexion! Bronzer is a MUST during the summer and if I want to go a little ham on the application, I don’t feel bad about it! Bronzey sun-kissed skin is so gorgeous so don’t feel guilty if you want to dip back in a couple extra times 🙂 I also put a little bronzer in the creases of my eyes or all over my lids if I want a little dimension but don’t want to add full on eyeshadow to the mix or create a full eye look.

Now, is there not a more PERFECT summer bronzer than Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer?! If this isn’t summer in powder form, I don’t know what is! I’ve been using Physicians Formula bronzers for a looooong time, probably over a decade and this one is hands down the best one I’ve used! If the product alone doesn’t hook you, the smell will! It really applies like butter and blends out like a dream. It’s the perfect bronzer shade – not too orangey but not too cool-toned. Do yourself a favor and buy this now! You won’t regret it.

Step 5 – Highlighter

I can’t talk about summer makeup without including highlighter. It’s the icing on the cake! I love adding some glow and summer makeup is all about the glowy skin! In the summer, I personally stick to powder highlighters but if you prefer liquid highlighters and illuminators – you go for it! I like to highlight the tops of my cheeks, inner corners of my eyes and brow bones!

The summer is a great time to skip blush and just go for bronzed and highlighted skin. My skin tends to have a natural flush in the summer anyways so that’s why I skip it.

A new drugstore highlighter that I just picked up and am loving is Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter. This product just recently came out and it’s absolutely stunning! The powder is so reflective and just glistens on the skin.

Step  6- Mascara

To me, an easy simple makeup look in the summer only requires mascara for the eyes! I love a fresh eye look with big curled lashed and bare lids. I personally recommend waterproof mascara in the summer. Because I have stick straight lashes, I actually wear waterproof mascara all year round because it helps my lashes stay curled all day. Waterproof mascara has been a game-changer! As long as you use a good eye makeup remover, you should have no issues!

Waterproof mascara stays put all day and is resistant to sweat and water (duh). It keeps your lashes looking big and curled for a feminine look. One of my absolute favorite mascaras for curl and volume is Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara.

Side note – I’m noticing there are a lot of Maybelline products that I’ve included but I’m ok with that! They are a fantastic brand with great products, quality, and prices!

Step 7 – Lip Color

Because my eye makeup is just mascara, I like to play around with fun and bold summer lip colors! This allows my lips and skin to be the focal points of my look. Knowing that I need my makeup to be heat and sweatproof, I usually choose a lip formula that’s hydrating and glossy. I don’t like upper lip sweat paired with matte lipsticks….gross! But I also don’t love creamy lipsticks that can melt and smear all over my mouth.

So colored lip balms have become my best friends in the summer! There are some amazing balms with great color payoff. Balms also keep your lips hydrated which is key for hot weather and sun. The only down side is that the color won’t last all day long but I don’t mind reapplying when needed. My go-to lip balm at the moment is Maybelline New York Baby Lips Color Balm Crayon, Creamy coral is my favorite shade and the ultimate summer color! I have blonde hair and fair skin so this shade compliments my complexion so well. However, they have 8 fun shades to choose from so something for everybody.

For more affordable coral lip products, check out my Top 12 Coral Drugstore Lip Products post!

Step 8 – Setting Spray

Last but certainly not least is setting spray. We’ve come all this way and have been so strategic with the products to put on for an easy summer look, it wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t lock our look in place and set it to last all day! This is KEY for me. Setting spray not only sets my look all day but it helps to melt the powders and products on my face together so I have a natural-skin appearance.

I’ve talked about this several times and for good reason because this stuff is liquid magic. My favorite setting spray is Milani Make It Last Setting Spray! Not only is the formula amazing but the mist is so fine so it won’t mess up your makeup! Milani also has a dewy setting spray for my dry-skinned ladies 🙂

And now you have a flawless face that’s fresh-looking and prepped to last all day through heat and sweat! Seriously these 8 steps to easy summer makeup are my everyday routine. From start to finish, this routine takes me 15 minutes tops. And if I’m wanting a little more glam, these steps pretty much stay the same and I just add in a few extra products to take it up a notch.

Now the pool is calling my name…..!

Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links. View my full disclosure policy for more details.