With the heat and humidity in full swing here in North Carolina, I have a tried and true summer beauty routine working nicely for my skin. I tend to get splotchy quickly and have sensitive skin, so it has been important to me to find something that works with my skin and keeps me from experiencing breakouts and clogged skin.
I’m sharing my summer beauty routine that I use to keep my skin as clear and hydrated as possible while protecting it from sun exposure and, of course, is relatively low maintenance.
My Beauty Routine for Summer
Summer Beauty Routine – Morning
Morning Face Wash
I am a huge Indie Lee fan and her Brightening Cleanser Gel is my go-to. I even have this in travel size because it is my favorite to use during the warmer months. This bestselling cleanser washes away impurities to leave skin soft, refreshed, and luminous. A blend of ingredients- including lycopene (from tomatoes) and hydrolyzed wheat protein – make it ideal for cleansing, hydrating, tightening, firming, and complexion control.
Toning Spray
Another one of my favorite clean beauty brands is Ursa Major and their Essential Face Tonic is so delightful for my morning routine. It is their most versatile product, the 4-in-1 face tonic cleans, exfoliates, soothes, and hydrates – leaving your skin feeling refreshed, firm, and alive. Used daily it will deliver clearer, brighter, calmer-looking skin.
Eye Cream
I love a good eye cream with caffeine in it and this one from Alpyn Beauty is so good. A little goes a long way thanks to its creaminess and thickness. This innovative eye cream applies like a cream but behaves like a balm, quickly improving the appearance of fine lines for a visibly smoother under-eye area. Vitamin C, licorice root, and bearberry leaf brighten the look of dark circles while bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, visibly smooths and firms for a more youthful-looking texture. Caffeine kicks in by reducing the appearance of puffiness for a well-rested look.
Vitamin C Serum
A few years ago, I made a point of incorporating Vitamin C serum into my daily routine and noticed a huge change. While there are a lot of options, especially expensive ones, this one is my go-to. A serum combining natural forms of vitamins C and E and marine algae-derived peptides to visibly increase radiance while improving and evening out the appearance of skin tone.
Serum
There are few things I enjoy more than a good face serum and OSEA Dayglow Face Oil is a current favorite. This nourishing formula illuminates with a dewy, glazed finish. A concentrated daily dose of Omegas 6 & 9 supports a healthy moisture barrier.
Moisturizer
Rounding out my morning routine, I use Indie Lee’s Brightening Moisturizer and it is hydrating without being heavy, which is exactly what I need during summer. Strawberry Leaf Extract combines with Centella Asiatica for a radiance-enhancing boost of antioxidants. Sodium Hyaluronate and Squalane lock in moisture for plump-looking skin.
Tinted Sunscreen
I never leave home without putting sunscreen on and this has been my go-to for the past year or so. I have both the Sunrise and the Golden Hour tints depending on how much color I have on my face. It’s a hydrating, makeup-gripping primer with SPF 40 and blue-light protection that has a pearlescent finish to leave skin luminous with an instant glow.
Summer Beauty Routine – Make-Up
Primer
This primer is so great for summer! It is so light and hydrating and another product I have in a travel size as well. I keep it in my make-up bag year-round. The product is a clean, silicone-free dewy makeup primer with hyaluronic acid that grips makeup for up to 12 hours and hydrates skin to prevent meltdown and caking.
Highlighter
When I tell you this is a holy grail product for me, I mean I truly do not know what I would use if this was ever discontinued. This is a three-in-one tinted complexion balm that warms and nourishes with sheer coverage to even out the appearance of skin tone. I wear the light shade, even in summer.
Loose Setting and Finishing Powder
I use this loose setting and finishing powder with a Kabuki brush. This particular product combines four unique colors—two for correction and two for radiance. The fan-favorite ‘magic dust’ powder locks in makeup while reducing the appearance of pores & minimizing texture. The result is a more even complexion with a weightless and transparent finish. I wear shade 2.
Eye Shadow for Occasions
Now listen, while I will wear a heavier eye shadow in the fall and winter, I am obsessed with this eyeshadow for warm weather. The shimmer is great and this eye shadow primer is the best for making it last longer. This 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow gives you maximum sparkle, supercharged color, and a long-lasting shimmery finish that lasts up to 16 hours. It can be applied with a finger or blended with a brush for a diffused glow and radiant eye look. I am obsessed with Space Cowboy.
Eyebrow Gel
One thing that I do whether I am putting on a full face of make-up or just wearing a light covering is add this eyebrow gel. It makes me feel so much more put together and is so long-lasting. A clean, long-wear, tinted mousse-gel for airy, feathery brows, boosted by hair care actives that condition and support full brow health. I wear shade medium brown.
Eyeliner
I mostly only wear brown eyeliner these days and I am obsessed with this smudge stick. Stila’s bestselling Smudge Sticks are available in an array of shades that stay—not stray—for a reliable color payoff that’s second to none. They feature a cocktail of moisturizing ingredients that ensures color glides on smoothly (no tugging or pulling) and the waterproof formula won’t budge or fade. I wear Lionfish!
Mascara
One of my other holy grail beauty products is Ilia Mascara. I have sensitive eyes and was going through a period of having allergies related to my mascara. I switched to Ilia Mascara in 2019 and I have not looked back. It is a clean, award-winning, cult-favorite mascara that lifts, lengthens, holds curl, and separates with precision. This is my go-to in black!
Lip Color
While I wish I was a lipstick girl, I am sadly not. This Dior lip oil is hydrating and gives just the right amount of color for me. Lip Glow Oil’s non-sticky, non-greasy, rich, and balmy texture combines the mirror shine of a lip gloss with the comfort of intense lip care. It’s enriched with cherry oil for a pampering formula. Featuring a minty-vanilla scent, it nurtures the lips with an immediate and lasting effect. My color is Rosewood.
Setting Spray
I received this spray in a gift set from David and I have loved it since. I have been using it in the summer to set my make-up, even if it is just a light version of what I normally wear. Its synergetic herbal profile delivers all the hydration the skin craves and also has the ability to act as an advanced delivery system, supporting the absorption of any actives applied on top of it.
Summer Beauty Routine – Evening
Remove Makeup
I am all about a double-cleanse and this Indie Lee Cleansing Balm is my favorite during the warm months. It feels so good on my skin and does a great job removing all of my makeup. I use it even if I have not applied make-up that day. I also am a fan of these cloths to wash my face in the evenings especially.
Wash Face
For my second wash, I use this Biossance face wash with Squalane, a personal favorite for my skin. This cleanser is a soothing, gentle, foaming gel cleanser that visibly minimizes pores while removing impurities and makeup without drying skin.
Toner
At night, I use a gentle exfoliating toner to help maintain my skin. This Alpyn Beauty one is a leave-on liquid exfoliator with 2% salicylic acid that helps minimize pores, improve clarity, and reveal brighter skin, without stripping or drying. I have dry, sensitive skin and this one works great for me.
Eye Cream
While I generally would not use retinol every day on my face during the summer, I have been using this retinol eye cream stick and it has made a huge improvement for my under eyes. Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick is a serum balm made with Encapsulated Retinol to help target fine lines & dark circles around the eyes, now with an even smoother glide.
Serum
I love to use a night serum and this Osea Hyaluronic Acid one is my current go-to. I can absolutely tell if I miss a night with it. This fast-absorbing, concentrated serum smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Our newly upgraded formula, powered by two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, seaweed, and snow mushroom, works to restore and maintain optimal moisture levels, keeping your skin hydrated any time of day.
Night Cream
One of the products I started using this summer is this overnight mask and it has been a huge game changer for me in keeping my skin hydrated. Another tried and true for me is this overnight mask as well. Another lightweight overnight mask that I use after being in the sun is this one.
Lip Mask
I do not miss a night of applying this lip mask. ILIA’s Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment is a twice-daily treatment mask with clean ingredients that helps reveal your smoothest, softest lips. This treatment mask wraps lips in active levels of exfoliating and hydrating ingredients. The dual-action formula works like a facial, sweeping away dry, flaky skin while drawing in moisture to visibly renew and revitalize. Hyaluronic Acid helps to attract and bind moisture to the lips, while Papaya Enzymes gently buff away dead skin, allowing other ingredients to penetrate deeper. Salicornia Herbacea Extract (Sea Succulent) helps to improve hydration by up to 6000% for smoother, more supple lips.
Shop My Summer Beauty Routine Here
