We’re in July, the sun is shining, and the shorts are out from the back of the wardrobe which only means one thing, summer has finally arrived! The past couple of years we haven’t been able to celebrate properly and we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue. I’m sure you’re feeling the same and want to celebrate summer in every way possible from BBQs in the garden with friends, enjoying drinks in a pub garden, attending events that had been postponed, and dancing the night away at festivals. This summer I don’t want to miss out on anything and plan to enjoy it to the fullest!
To help you get inspiration this summer, I’m sharing my ultimate summer skincare routine and festival look. We finally have a summer where life feels normal again, so I’m excited to create more statement looks with my makeup, but also protect my skin to keep it looking fresh throughout the summer months with the help of Boots. If you’re based in the UK then you’ll know that Boots is one of the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailers. It’s one of my go-to stores as I can pick up everything I need all in one place from pharmacy, health, haircare and beauty!
Ultimate Summer Skincare Routine
Cleanse
Your skincare routine should never be overlooked, it’s the most important step as you need to take care of your skin in order for your makeup to be as flawless as possible. I’ve been using the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish for years, it deeply cleanses and gently exfoliates, ensuring your skin is left feeling fresh and smooth. It’s also incredible at removing your makeup at the end of the day too, just rub all over your face (including eyes), then remove with warm water and a soft muslin cloth. I have sensitive skin and it’s very gentle, even on the eyes.
Prep
Afterwards I always apply an SPF to my face, this is something I actually do every day, however I tend to apply more when it’s hot outside for extra protection. The Bondi Sands Factor 50 Sun Cream will keep your skin protected from UVA and UVB rays, as well as hydrate your skin without leaving a greasy feeling.
To ensure you’re fully protected and won’t be left with sunburns half way through the day, you will want to pair this up with the Hawaiian Tropic Protective Sun Lotion and apply all over your body. I always carry this in my bag to top-up throughout the day, as there’s nothing worse than an unsightly sunburn! If you haven’t tried this product before you’re going to love it as it literally smells like summer, all my holiday memories come rushing back when I use this.
Prime
With the summer heat comes oily skin, so you’ll want to create a strong base to ensure your makeup doesn’t budge throughout the day, especially if you’re dancing into the night. The Too Faced Handover 3-in-1 Setting Spray is your best friend, just spray a couple of times before applying your makeup and it will help stop it from budging. You can also use this once your makeup is complete to set it in place, and throughout the day to refresh your skin.
Don’t forget to also prime your eyes using a product such as the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, just glide it onto your eyelids and let it set for a couple of seconds before applying your eyeshadow. Careful preparation of your skin will ensure your fabulous festival makeup stays looking its best all day and night.
Glitter Tears Festival Look
Base
In the summer months I like to wear a light foundation with concealer, in particular the L’Oreal Infallible More Than Concealer is great as it has medium-high coverage that can last up to 24 hrs. It also doesn’t oxidize and turn orange like other concealers I’ve tried in the past.
This is followed by a setting powder to create a flawless base. I enjoy wearing lighter makeup when it’s hot, and you’ll find that it will keep better in the heat. The Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder is translucent and comes in a small enough pot to pop in your bag and touch up throughout the day. With the right base, you can achieve that flawless finish without applying too much makeup and allowing your skin to breathe.
Eyes
The choice is endless when it comes to shimmer and glitter eyeshadows for festival makeup essentials, however, it’s important to use a good eyeshadow primer. As you might be able to tell already, I emphasize the importance of having a good skincare routine and a good base, as it will help your makeup look last throughout the day.
The Makeup Obsession Sunshine Make Me Happy eyeshadow palette has a warm-toned tallow and golden colour story. It contains nine highly pigmented and blendable mattes and shimmers in a mini compact, perfect for your travel makeup bag.
For this particular look I wanted to keep my eyeshadow simple, keeping the focus and emphasis on the jewels and glitter surrounding the eyes, but as always used the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to give my eyelashes that extra oomph!
Glitter & Jewels
Now for the most fun part, glitter and jewels! Barry M have released a variety of face jewels which are beyond beautiful and easy to apply. You don’t need to be a makeup expert to use these, anyone can create a fun and exciting look as you just peel the sections off and place them where you’d like.
Of course I had to add some extra glitter for an even more dramatic effect, so using the NYX Glitter Primer (which keeps the glitter in place all day), I applied the Barry M Biodegradable Pick ‘n’ Glitz Glitter Pot glitter. The shimmer from the purples, blues and silver is beautiful, especially when the sun hits it. It’s very tempting to not go overboard with this as it’s so much fun to apply, and a small amount goes a long way so you’ll have lots left over to use again in the future.
Glitter tears is a huge festival trend at the moment, but what’s great about these products is that you can use them to create a look reflecting your own signature style. You can let your creativity loose and create different looks from statement glitter eyebrows and lips, to glitter freckles. The variety of festival makeup looks you can create is endless!
A few other essentials for the summer include dry shampoo, especially for festivals to keep your hair refreshed, and a lip tint to add a hint of colour to my lips, whilst feeling moisturised and light.
I’m going to enjoy creating a few other festival looks throughout the summer, testing different glitters and jewels, coordinating with my outfits I have planned and the events that are finally back with a boom! Are you attending any festivals or outdoor concerts this summer? I’ve already been to three so far, and have many more planned. Let this be a summer we will always remember!
#AD. This post is in conjunction with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own.
