How to go makeup-free in summer

In summer, we all crave low-maintenance beauty routines. When you’re spending your summer days chilling at the beach, sneaking in a swim whenever possible, and battling the heat, a full face of makeup is often the last thing you want to wear.

It’s the perfect time of year to let your skin breathe and its natural radiance shine through.

Unsurprisingly, great skin goes a long way in boosting your confidence to go makeup-free. Follow these tips to ensure your base is ready to face the world without an ounce of makeup on this summer. 

Master your cleansing game

Cleanser is the key to clear skin that you’re proud to show off without a mask of makeup. Even though you may not need it to remove your foundation at the end of every day, it still plays a vital role in clearing away sweat, sunscreen, pollution, dead skin cells and excess oil that can wreak havoc on your complexion if not properly removed. Consistency is super important when it comes to cleansing. You need to do it every single night without fail.

We like Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser and Bare Skinfood’s Purifying Mousse for all skin types. 

Use a brightening eye cream 

Darkness under the eyes is one of the top concerns that we rely on our makeup to cover up. If you’re going makeup-free this summer, then add a brightening or illuminating eye cream to your morning skincare routine. Try Becca Anti-Fatigue Under Eye Primer - its cooling formula will help combat puffy eyes, while the smoothing texture softens fine lines, cucumber, matcha green tea and caffeine treat the delicate skin around the eyes and the aqua tint helps counteract discolouration so your eyes look instantly brighter.

Invest in your eyebrows

When your brows are on point, they frame your whole face and instantly make you look more ‘done’. Rather than fussing with applying brow products every day, focus on getting the shape right. Book in to see a brow artist who can help shape your brows and advise you on areas where you might need to try and grow them out. Once you have the shape and fullness sorted, get your brows tinted for wake-up-and-go brows.

If you’ve overplucked your brows and they’re just not growing back, you may want to look into a more permanent solution like microblading, which involves tattooing tiny little hairs into gaps. Or, if that sounds too daunting, brow lamination is a non-invasive and temporary alternative that uses a chemical solution to straighten your existing brow hairs to create a fuller look.

"...let your skin breathe and its natural radiance shine through."

 

Tackle any signs of redness 

Keeping your skin cool, calm and collected in summer is no easy feat. From the hot, humid conditions that leave skin parched to sweat settling on the skin and causing irritation, you’re literally left looking like a hot mess. If your skin is prone to redness in summer, you probably dread the thought of forgoing foundation. Focussing on keeping your skin well-hydrated is the first step. Skincare that contains watermelon is great for this - it can reduce redness and calm inflammation, hydrate skin, and it’s rich in rejuvenating vitamin E as well as vitamins A and C, which both help repair damaged skin. Try a watermelon-enriched serum like Samson & Charlie Hydrating Watermelon B3+B5 Facial Serum in the morning to prep and protect your skin for the day ahead.

Throughout the day, if you start to feel your skin flare up, reach for a calming mist like Jurlique Calendula Redness Rescue Calming Mist to instantly soothe irritation and cool down skin. Bonus: It will also top up your hydration levels on a hot day. 

Create a sun-kissed base with self-tanner 

Who needs foundation when your skin is already sporting a bronzed glow?! A face self-tanner will help even out your skin tone and give your complexion a radiant glow that’s good to go as soon as you wake up in the morning, all without the need for any makeup. Try Bali Body Face Tan Water and Beauty Dept. Summer Natural Gradual Tan.

Top tip: Just remember, you’ll probably need to reapply your face self-tanner every time you exfoliate. 

"Focussing on keeping your skin well-hydrated is the first step."

 

Apply a face mask in the morning 

We tend to reserve our face mask sessions for Self-Care Sundays but the truth is, that glorious glow they instantly leave skin with never gets to see the light of day. Applying a face mask first thing in the AM will wake up your skin and douse it in a concentration of vital hydrating ingredients that will leave your complexion looking luminous from morning to night. We recommend The Unnamed Hydrating & Anti-Aging Sheet Mask.

Top tip: When it comes to morning masks, pick ones that boost hydration. Save your targeted masks like clarifying or firming formulas for before bed.