Summer has been in full swing and I am definitely enjoying the laid back vibe. Here are the beauty products I have been reaching for the most, if not the majority of the summer. I use a variety of products ranging from higher end, as well as more budget friendly options.
I adore perfume, but I am really weirdly picky about smells. Confusing right? When choosing a perfume, I want something that smells good, but isn’t over-powering that’s going to give me a headache all day and remind me of one of my great-aunts. During the fall/winter months, I reach for a more simple, but pretty feminine scent. My all time favorite is Marc Jacobs Daisy. In the Spring/Summer, I tend to reach more for fruity and floral. My go-to every time is the Juicy Couture Oui. A sales associate at Sephora was the person who recommended it to me. It was one of her favorites and she informed me that she received a lot of compliments anytime she wore it, and it had long lasting staying power, but wasn’t overpowering. So, obviously I had to try it out for myself. I paid the price tag of $85 for 1.7 oz. In true Juicy Couture fashion, the bottle was adorable! It is bright pink and red with gold adornments, and a beautiful jewel-like top. I mean, honestly you could use the bottle merely for decoration on your beauty counter. I was hooked after one spray! It has such a beautiful smell. In my opinion, it’s a good combination of both fruity and floral, with notes of watermelon and jasmine. It definitely isn’t overpowering, but has good staying power. A little goes a long way. I always receive compliments anytime I wear it.
Okay so, I may be somewhat obsessed with lipstick and lip liners. Confession time, I have two or three drawer organizers filled with lip products. It’s kinda out of control, but a girl needs options, right? Lipstick and lip liners can elevate your look, even if you are rocking a more natural look. I feel naked if I don’t have anything on my lips. My love of lipstick comes from my Nana. She is my beauty icon. There has never been a day that Nana hasn’t gone without her lipstick. Some of my fondest memories as a little girl was watching my Nana put her makeup on. She would even let me try some of her lipstick, and that’s when my love of makeup began. Typically, I line my lips first with a lip liner, then I go in and apply lipstick. I like to use a slightly different color for my lip liner than my lipstick color. Now, I don’t get too crazy with it. It is maybe a shade or two different. My lipstick tends to be in the neutral or pink neutral family, and my lip liners follow suit as well. So, this summer, while shopping at Sephora with my sister-in-law, I purchased the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil in Muted Pink (retailed at $19), and the Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick in Buttercup (retailed at $25). Both items are available at Sephora or the Huda Beauty website. So, let’s start with the lip liner. It is creamy and easy to apply, and will dry down to a matte finish. The color pay off is nice. The color I chose is definitely muted pink, hence the name. The reasons I reach for this lip liner the most are: the cream formula is easy to apply, the retractable tip makes it so easy to use (you twist it from the bottom), and it also has a sharpener attached to the very bottom making it super convenient when needing to sharpen. Matte is my go-to when choosing lipstick, but in the summer I reach more for creams and glosses. The Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick definitely has a creamy consistency. The color Buttercup is a light pink nude. I really like this lipstick because of the way it makes your lips look hydrated, it definitely has a high shine finish. It is super easy to apply. Overall, the combination of the lip liner and the lipstick gives a soft nude pink. For me, it’s a great everyday lip combo.
For a drugstore brand, this mascara is legit! I purchased the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara a few years ago at Ulta. It is retailed at $4.99. Yes girl, I said $4.99! I have seen it at Ulta, Target (online), Amazon, and the Essence website. For such a bargain price, this mascara packs a punch. The product is supposed to give you the false lash effect. When I first purchased it, I was definitely skeptical because of the price point, but I was pleasantly surprised. I would say my lashes tend to be average for the most part. They aren’t short or long. When I applied the mascara from the root of my lashes to the tip of my lashes, I instantly noticed volume and length. I was shook! Even my husband noticed. He asked me if I did something new with my lashes. For $5 dollars, it gave me the same effect that some of the pricier high-end products do. Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not going to give you the appearance that you just went and got lash extensions done, but for those who need a good go-to budget friendly product for everyday use, this would be a good product to try. Side note and some helpful tips: with any mascara, I always take off excess product before I apply to help prevent clumping. For an added effect, you can always add an eyelash primer to give some extra oomph.
Last, but certainly not least, the bronzer I have been vibing all summer is the Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer. The color I use is Deep Bronzer. It is retailed at $15.99. I purchased mine at Target, but I have also seen it at Ulta and most drugstores. There are quite a few things I really enjoy about this product. It has a soft texture that melts into your skin, like butter. The color isn’t too overpowering or muddy. It is quite buildable and gives a healthy bronzy glow. It comes with a sponge-like applicator in the compact. I don’t use this applicator when applying. I prefer to use an angled contour brush to apply. The product is easy to blend. It has a subtle coconut scent that reminds me of the beach, but you only notice the scent when opening the compact. It doesn’t linger and you can’t smell it after application. The achieved natural bronzy glow is a must have for any summer look.
Hopefully, you get a chance to try out some of these products. Who knows? Maybe they can become staples in your beauty routine. What are some of your favorite summer beauty products? Leave your go-to summer beauty suggestions in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!