Sunkissed Summer Glow In 3 Easy Steps!

Hello Readers! I apologize for the delay, but for those of you in the Chicagoland area you understand that I have been soaking up the sun! Including today's 84 degree day :) For those of my readers who are not in Chicago: fear not! Spring is coming your way and from this post you will be ahead of the game for your warm weather essentials.

One of the paramount things about my Spring/Summer's is I don't have to use foundation, period. Once I give my skin a nice healthy glow - I just dust on some bronzer and gloss (shadow for special occasions of course), and I'm out the door.  Who can resist this look?

Think of it as a makeup shortcut that's fairly simple. No color coordinating outfits with eye shadows or lipsticks & glosses, just letting your skin shine for days on end. How do you ask? I like to buy products using these rules of thumb:

• Step 1: Bronzer: Think of bronzer to your skin as highlighter is to a paper. It's to target those area's you need to see/remember right? Same with your face. Pick a bronzer with undertones of your skin and a shade or two lighter than your complexion. Or to go a fancier route, pick the bronzer the same color as your completion but boosted with glitter; both types of products give you the shine you are looking for. Also remember these key areas: 

• Steps 2&3: Lips-  You can either choose another neutral tone here, or for fun, jazz it up with bronzier products. I like to use Lip Liner that is on the opposite end of the color spectrum of the complexion. In my case, I use Peach. Then I blend it in with a bronze Lipstick or Lipgloss. The only trick here is, you can't use clear. Ever. You have to use some sort of color, otherwise your lips will disappear within with the general tone of your face and you unfortunately loose that Sunkissed look. Try colors a step above (lighter) than your complexion to complete the look.

Last but not least I cannot forget the golden rule in this look (pun intended): Skin Care! I know that technically you aren't wearing makeup you may not feel the need to wash your face. No, no, no. It's still makeup, taking host on your pores and you need to cleanse it every night. This look is bare minimum and foundations and powders typically hide the look of blemishes, but bronzer does not. So listen to Olay, and "Love the skin you're in" - Cleanse it! :)

Here are a few of my go to products:

Tarte Cheek Stain in Natural Beauty

I know "stain" typically has a negative connotation, but here it is the best thing about this product. It stays all day long, and the product gives your skin enough shine so you know it's there, but isn't heavy or cause build up the way some foundations do. You just apply to the apples of your cheeks, forehead, and chin and rub in.
It's featured in 8 different shades and you can buy online at Tarte Cosmetics or visit Sephora online & in store.

Mac Powder Blush in Format

This is the other kind of blush I use in a night time look. It's in a shade not to different from the color of powder I wear, but has the glimmer effect that I was telling you about above. Once bronzed by the sun, I get this Rose colored effect that works exceptionally when paired with a shimmer gloss and shadow. This product comes in 37 shades and is available anywhere MAC products are sold.

Rimmel London 1000 Kisses Stay On Lip Liner in Spice

Another product with the Color Stay factor. This product blends very easily with lip colors as well as glosses, doesn't smudge or budge, and is my Pop of Color for the Summer. It comes in 9 shades and sold at local drugstores.

MAC Lipstick in Cosmo

Like I said in my NYE Megapost: It's Never Too Late I am truly a MAC fan and I don't think that will ever change. Aside from their quality products, this lipstick is in essence the perfect shade. It's described as "Pink Coco" which is exactly my description for a warm weather lip color. It matches my skin, with light undertones you still look and feel like you are wearing a lip color. To check out the other shades of lip gloss, and other fabulous lip products check out  MAC  online :)

Last but not least:

This has recently become part of my daily skin regime and I could not be happier. It doubles as a face wash and a face mask that tingles below pores to cleanse your skin. It leaves me with a refreshed feeling and also helps combat oil - a foe you cannot escape in the tropical weather.

That's all for now! Enjoy the weather and be FAB!


-TLW

Photo Credit: MAC, Neutrogena.com, Rimmel London Online, Google Images, Tarte Cosmetics