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By Sophie Joaman • June 25, 2024 • 8 mins read
As summer graces us with its presence, now is the perfect time to get your glow on! This season is all about embracing luminous, radiant skin that captures the essence of a post-holiday, sun-kissed look.
The great thing about using makeup to replicate that gorgeous glow is that you can achieve it even if the summer weather is a total disappointment. It’s easy to do at home, and the results are incredibly natural.
Moreover, creating glowy, dewy skin with makeup is much safer than exposing your skin to excessive UV rays. We really can’t think of a reason not to embrace glowy makeup this summer.
Whatever your plans are, a glowy makeup look can enhance your natural beauty and give you an enviable, sun-kissed appearance.
Keep reading to discover the best techniques and tips to help you achieve the perfect summer glow, ensuring you stay effortlessly radiant all season long (and beyond). Get ready to glow up your makeup with confidence!
Achieving a glowy makeup look has never been easier. With a good amount of skin prepping and priming, and by using your everyday makeup products, you will achieve the summery look of dreams.
It doesn’t even matter how much experience you have with makeup either; simply follow our step-by-step guide for instant results.
Creating a smooth, glowy makeup look starts with ensuring your skin is completely clean before applying any makeup products. Removing impurities, leftover makeup residue, and dirt from the skin is the most crucial step in this routine.
Without thoroughly clean skin, you risk breakouts, flaky skin, and dull makeup that doesn’t go the distance. Quite the opposite of what you want for a summer glowy look.
To begin, ensure your face is completely clean. Use a gentle cleanser to rid your skin of any impurities and wash your face well with warm water. Your skin will instantly feel much more comfortable, and your makeup will sit better on your skin.
After washing your face, apply a moisturizer and let it absorb for a minute or two. Moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated, which is essential for achieving that glowy look. It also helps your skin breathe better under your makeup, so don’t miss it out.
Just like your skincare routine, priming your face is essential for a flawless glowy look. Primer helps your makeup to stay put and look fresher for longer. It’s also just as important to use the right primer for your particular skin type and concerns.
If you have dry and/or flaky skin, look for a hydrating primer. This will prevent your makeup from settling into fine lines and caking.
On the other hand, if your skin is oily and your makeup often ends up looking shiny, opt for a silicone-based or mattifying primer that will blur pores and fine lines and prevent your makeup from slipping.
Once you’ve chosen the right primer for your skin, apply a small amount all over your face and allow it to fully absorb for a few minutes before moving on to your base.
Now is where you can start working on the base of your makeup by applying your foundation and concealer to your clean and primed skin.
If your skin is on the drier side, consider choosing a hydrating foundation or one with a dewy finish for luminous and radiant results.
Likewise, if you have oily skin, opt for a mattifying and long-lasting foundation to keep the oil at bay and your makeup intact from day-to-night.
The goal with a glow makeup look is to make your base look radiant and silky. Start with a small amount of foundation on your brush or beauty blender and blend it well and evenly into the skin. You can build up coverage as needed, so start light.
After applying your foundation, use a concealer that is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. Apply a small amount to the under-eye area and any other areas of concern as well as blemishes. Make sure to blend it well to tie your base together and keep your look flawless.
Your base will be looking mighty radiant already at this point, so now is the time to start replicating that natural, summer vibe by warming up your skin.
This will give you the appearance of being naturally sun-kissed and add dimension to your face. To achieve this, take a warm bronzer shade and pick up a little product with your brush.
To get the very best results with this, sweep the bronzer across the hollows of your cheekbones, down the sides of your nose, and dust it across your temples.
Apply to any other area that the sun would naturally hit your face and blend out to avoid any harsh lines. You’ll see that your makeup is really coming to life now.
Once you’ve bronzed your face, go in with your blush shade on your brush and apply a little to the apples of your cheeks. Be sure to blend it in to tie your look together. You can also apply just a touch of blush to the bridge of your nose for a natural ‘flush’.
After you have laid down your base and added in that warmth, the next step is to secure your makeup with a setting powder and setting spray. While we recommend using both for extra hold, you can use one or the other depending on your skin concerns.
If you have dry skin and want to avoid powder, use a hydrating setting spray on its own. This will continue to replenish the moisture in your skin throughout the day, avoiding that dried-out, cakey look.
For oily skin and when you’d rather avoid using a setting spray, use a powder only to set your makeup in place. A good, long-lasting powder in either a pressed or loose form will help to keep your skin from becoming oily, which in turn can make it melt, transfer, or slip from the skin.
For combination types, you can use both. Of course, there are countless sprays and powders available out there for all skin types too, so don’t be afraid to try them out.
If you are using both in this case, start by applying a small amount of powder with your brush or sponge to the areas that need it the most, such as the T-zone, under the eyes, and the chin—areas that become oilier faster.
Blend the powder in well so that it becomes invisible on the skin. Next, spritz your setting spray all over your face and wait a few seconds for it to absorb into your skin.
For the fun and final part of this entire look, add some extra sparkle and glam by applying lip gloss and highlighter. This will complete your makeup and give you that glowy look you see all the influencers and celebs sporting on social media.
You can use a liquid or powder highlighter, but consider the shades of the highlighter you’re using. For an out-of-this-world shimmer, choose a highlighter with a cool, bright undertone. For a bronzed goddess look, opt for a highlighter with a warm, golden undertone.
Once you’ve chosen your highlighter, apply a small amount to the highest points of your face, including the cheekbones and down the center of the nose. This stunning contrast between the light and shadow of your makeup will really make your skin look glowy and enhance your features.
To finish off the entire look, apply a clear or tinted lip gloss all over your lips. Both your highlighter and lip gloss will make the entire look pop, giving you that radiant, sun-kissed appearance.
Glowy makeup is well within reach this summer. You can achieve this look at home in just a few minutes and easy steps. The best thing is, you really don’t need to go out of your way and buy extra products.
You can certainly use your day-to-day essentials to complete the look. The real key is to ensure your skin is prepped and primed and to put in those thoughtful touches to keep your makeup looking glowy and beautiful all day long.
