It’s no secret that last July was a very tumultuous time in my life. But it finally feels like the dust from many major life changes is finally settling, and I can feel myself coming out of the fog. One thing that’s really helped me to feel anchored in the present is making the time to get dressed and ready for the day. When I start my morning with a shower, a cute outfit and a little makeup, I can’t help but glow and feel ready to take on whatever comes my way!
In the summer months, when the heat is intense and the humidity is high, I like to keep my makeup routine minimal. I want my skin to look bright and dewy with the help of just a few products. Here’s how I amplify my summer glow:
No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil
I generally don’t wear foundation. I tend to have smooth, unblemished skin that I chalk up to staying well hydrated, using safer, effective skincare and good genes, I guess. So, as the base of this simple summer makeup look, I reach for my No.1 Brightening Facial Oil.
Some days I’ll use the No. 1 Brightening Oil in addition to my daily Countermatch Adaptive Moisturizer. Other days, I’ll just apply the Oil on its own. It massages into my skin quickly and amplifies my natural glow without leaving any greasiness behind. Plus, it smells like oranges which is such an invigorating scent to start the day with!
I’m often asked which personal care products to prioritize when switching to safer, and I always recommend swapping out the products used on the most surface area first. Skincare and foundation are great places to start. And the peace of mind I get from knowing that Beautycounter NEVER uses more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals as ingredients in our products is priceless. You can check out the safety ratings of your conventional personal care products by searching for them in the Environmental Working Group’s database. Beautycounter products range from 1 to 3, which are the safest scores that can be awarded.
Color Pinch Cream Blusher in Hibiscus
This Cream Blusher in Hibiscus has become a staple in my summer makeup routine! I’ll dot a few spots of Hibiscus color onto my cheeks, and I’ll rub it in with my fingers. It gives my skin an extra rosiness that makes me look like I’m glowing from within. And it doesn’t look too intense even once I’m flushed from the Texas heat. I also love that this blusher triples as an eyeshadow AND lip stain. Using the blusher three ways creates a beautiful monochromatic pink look.
Illuminating Cream Highlighter in Pearl Glow
Arguably the star of this simple makeup routine in the Illuminating Cream Highlighter in Pearl Glow. I swipe it above my blush, in the inner corners of my eyes, down my nose and in my cupid’s bow for a subtle dewy shimmer. It catches the sunlight beautifully and highlights my cheekbones making for beautiful pictures.
Color Intense Lipstick in Sunset
To finish the look, I’ll pop on my Color Intense Lipstick in the shade Sunset. It’s a warm, pigmented pink that moisturizes my lips with a satin finish. I also love the refreshing minty tingle that our Color Intense Lipsticks have thanks to natural peppermint oil (you won’t find any synthetic fragrance in any Beautycounter products.)
Lip products are also at the top of my list for switching to safer. I mean, think about it, lip products are easily ingested because they’re worn so close to our mouths. It’s important to choose lip glosses, lip balms and lipsticks that don’t contain ingredients that pose a health risk.
The FDA says that “Although most cosmetics on the market in the United States generally already contain less than 10 ppm of lead, a small number contained higher amounts, and we are aware that some cosmetics from other countries contain lead at higher levels. This makes guidance on recommended maximum lead levels all the more important as more products are imported into this country.” And currently, the FDA merely *recommends* that “cosmetic lip products and externally applied cosmetics not contain more than 10 ppm lead as an impurity.” And at this point, the FDA does NOT *require* personal care products to be tested for human safety before they’re sold.
That means it’s up to us to our due diligence as consumers to make sure we’re bringing safer products into our homes. If you’d like personalized recommendations for how you can switch to safer, just shoot me an email!
Join the conversation: what are THREE of your summer must-have items?
