Top 5 Summer Products

I was one of the many complaining about the Polar Vortex that took over Chicago this winter and gave us the nickname "Chiberia." It made my commute a terror, and with threats of frostbite after being exposed to the cold for more than a minute, I was holed up in my apartment all season long. Now, I write this sitting, and sweating on my couch. I am being stubborn and refusing to use my AC until I can no longer sleep due to the heat.

Hot weather brings new challenges to makeup application. Where I am typically very dry in the winter, summer hits and I can get oily pretty quickly. I love the dewy look for summer (where I want to be dewy of course), and my makeup choices tends to reflect that. Here are 5 of my favorite summer beauty products that help me achieve that glowy look!

1) BB CREAM

I have never been a full coverage foundation girl. If my skin is broken out, then I will reach for a heavy duty concealer. Otherwise, I like a lighter, more natural coverage. For me, BB creams are the perfect option for the summer months (heck, and winter too.) 2 of my favorites are the iT Cosmetics CC Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream, and the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfecter. What I love about the iT Cosmetics CC cream is that it provides pretty great coverage, while also being SPF 50. It doesn't break me out, and it has anti-aging properties. It also keeps my skin moisturized. The Garnier BB cream is great for days when I may be a little oily, as it is the version for Combo/Oily skin. It keeps me matte, and has a SPF of 20. Both provide good coverage, and in the summer months, I opt for these over my normal foundation.

Garnier BB Cream

iT Cosmetics CC  Cream (with a messed up bottle!)

2) BRONZER

I feel as if a good bronzer should be a staple in every girl (or boy's) summer makeup wardrobe. I am a pretty frequent self tanner, but I never do my face....something about it grosses me out. Bronzer helps warm up my face, and helps it match with the rest of my body. I love a matte, darker bronzer to give my face some contour, and my current favorite is the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Medium/Deep. #1 it smells like chocolate #2 it gives the perfect contour, without pulling too orange on my skin tone. It is easy to apply, and blends like a dream. For an all over bronze glow, I like a bronzer with a little sheen to it. My favorite is Tarte's Park Avenue Princess. It is a beautiful shade, with just a hint of sheen. It is not too dark, so I love to apply it all over my face for a subtle glow.

Tarte Park Avenue Princess

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Deep/Matte 

3) BLUSH 

Summer (for me) is the best time to play with different colors and finishes of blush. My go-to shades for summer are corals, peaches, and bright pinks. I love a blush with a little shimmer for the summer months, to give some glow. However, if I'm doing a bronzer with sheen, then I will go for a matte blush, and vice versa. The Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Peach Beach is a beaaaautiful peachy apricot, with a sheen to it. I like to apply it a little higher on my cheeks, and it doubles as a highlight. It looks great with a tan, but suits all skin tones as well. Hourglass Radiant Magenta is a glowy hot pink, laced with a golden shimmer. It is the perfect pink for summer. I apply this towards the back of my cheeks, and it gives me a kissed by the sun flush.

Hourglass Radiant Magenta 

Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Peach Beach 

4) PIGMENTS

I was never a big fan of pigments, because to me, they were overly messy, and took a lot of time to work with. Plus, they ended up all over my face when I tried to apply them. However, I have recently purchased 2 MAC pigments, and I am OBSESSED WITH THEM!!!! Seriously. The 2 colors I have are the most beautiful shades for the summer. The first pigment I love is Melon. It is the perfect golden/peachy shade, that changes in the light. It is so shimmery and pigmented (ha!) The 2nd pigment is Rose. It is the perfect darker pink color with a coppery sparkle to it. Both of these pigments are stunners on their own, so I don't feel the need to wear any other eyeshadows with them. I apply a sticky base, and then pack these on with a synthetic flat shader brush. I then blend the colors up into the crease. No liner necessary, I just pop some mascara on, and am good to go. Very low maintenance, and that is what I love about these shades!

Left: Melon    Right: Rose

5) WATERPROOF LINER

Day at the beach? Swimming in a pool? Sweating your a$$ off just going about your daily life (coughMEcough)? Then you need some waterproof eyeliner in your life. I don't know about you, but my liner tends to smudge on me in the summer months. Regular liner just doesn't cut it. So I reach for my waterproof liner. My all time favorite is the Sephora Waterproof Smoky Cream Liner in Statue Bronze. It is the perfect shimmery bronze, and gives me a more put together look, without being too harsh. It is creamy, and easy to apply, and when it sets, this bad boy ain't moving. It is seriously awesome. Another favorite of mine is the Givenchy Ombre Couture liner in Taupe Velours. This may be cheating, but I love to use this liner on my eyebrows. It is the perfect universal taupe shade for my brows, and it does not budge once I apply it. It is really creamy, and looks extremely natural.

Left: Sephora Statue Bronze   Right: Givenchy Taupe Velours

What are some of your summer must haves?