Summer Beauty Favourites

Summer, we’ve had some warmer weather, we’re actually allowed to leave the house and I’m sure many people are wearing makeup regularly for the first time in over a year. For me, it’s been a good time to pull out some of my old favourites and rotate in some stuff I haven’t used in a while…and try and use up some of my project pan stuff because that task seems never-ending. My summer beauty favourites this year contains very little makeup, but also not a lot of skincare.  

I know it doesn’t sound like it makes sense, but you’ll see.  

And despite talking about the lack of makeup, I’m starting off with a makeup product I’ve had a complete change of heart about since I bought it.  

Summer Beauty Favourites 2021

Colourpop No Filter Foundation Stix 

Shop: Coloupop No Filter Stix ($10)

I had the Benefit cream contour stick in my project pan pile this year. And I’ve grown to enjoy using it a lot more than I thought I was going to, so I started shopping my stash to see if I had a CF alternative now that product is nearing an end. 

I bought this in a deeper shade to contour with when I first purchased this foundation. But it was a lot warmer than I thought it was going to be and I ended up putting it to one side. However, warmer means it works as a bronzer, but I had trouble figuring out the best way to use it without it being too heavy/ dark etc. As it’s a stick foundation, it’s not supposed to be super sheer, I didn’t want to blend it to the point of being streaky, but didn’t want the full pigment because it’s too dark for that (on my skin). Well, I was stuck for quite a while. 

Enter the next product. 

By Beauty Bay Contour Queen  

Shop: By Beauty Bay Contour Queen Brush (£6)

I picked up this brush around Christmas time and I hated it. I still don’t like it with powders, and I definitely wouldn’t contour with it, but it’s my new favourite brush for cream bronzer products. The domed synthetic bristles make it perfect for picking up a light layer of product and softly stippling it in, which is exactly what I do with my Coloupop stick. Just a few taps of the brush directly on the stick, then lightly stippled in gives the perfect sheer finish that I want, but the light layers are easy to build on if you want more.  

Benefit Gold Rush 

Shop: Benefit Gold Rush Blush – Mini (£12)

Yes, this is on my project pan and I don’t have a lot of choice other than this being a favourite this year, but the lightly sheer formula is a perfect two in one for lighter makeup days. It’s soft and glowy with a nice fresh finish. 

Bali Body Face Tan Water 

Shop: Bali Body Face Tan Water (£26)

I’ve mentioned before that I love this but not actually as a tanning product. I don’t know how this works the way it does but it’s magical. The water leaves your skin look so fresh and healthy, beautifully glowy and just…perfect. Like the ultimate ‘no makeup’ makeup if you already have nice skin. And the tan doesn’t develop straight away, so I find that if I’m applying it on a morning and take it off and exfoliate within 10 hours or less, I’m still my naturally pale self. So, I get that fresh glow as if I’m wearing makeup, but it’s just skin and there are no products to melt/ slide around my face. Genius.  

But you do have to be thorough with the evening skincare for it not to develop overnight if you don’t want to be tanned!  

Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Toner Essence  

Shop: Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Essence (£9)

Now, I’m not that into essence style products. Any toners that I own/ use are typically exfoliating or some sort of astringent (like Serozinc). But when I picked up the cleanser from this line when I was working on my best budget cleansers for dry skin post, I actually picked up a set rather than just the cleanser to test the brand out.  

The set included this essence, a moisturiser and the cleanser. I wasn’t in love with the moisturiser, but I was surprised by how much I liked this product. As someone with very sensitive and easily irritated skin, this essence was a lovely freshen up style product. It doesn’t irritate, or leave residue, and leaves skin feeling fresh, calm and comfortable.   

Have you tried any of these products? What have you been loving this summer?

Until next time,

Sophie

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