If your makeup suddenly feels heavier, cakier, patchier, or yikes, makes you feel like you’re looking older than you should, in the summer heat… It’s probably not in your head! The first day of summer officially begins on June 21st. Although here in Georgia, it definitely feels like it’s already here!
And if we are being honest with ourselves, as we age past 40+, the hormones are shifting, hydration levels drop, and the texture on our faces becomes more noticeable. And that summer heat makes everything feel more amplified!
That foundation you swore by five years ago? It may or may not be the problem—you may just need to wear it differently now, or switch to a different product for your current stage (face) of life.
The biggest mistake I see women make in summer is trying to “fix” makeup by piling on more of it. More powder, more coverage, and more concealer. But mature summer skin usually wants less.
So if your makeup hasn’t been hitting the same lately in the summer heat, here are some products and little tweaks that can help your skin—and makeup—look fresher, smoother, and more effortless! Just the summer skin vibe we all long for.
Shop the Post
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
Exfoliating Toner
Start with a gentle EXFOLIATING TONER. Look for a toner containing glycolic acid for this. It helps gently remove buildup of dead skin cells so that your makeup applies more smoothly, sits better on the skin, and is less likely to cling to dry patches or texture.
Summer Exfoliant suggestion: The affordable cult-favorite Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic, $18, is an exfoliating toner formulated with 5% Glycolic Acid to gently accelerate surface cell turnover for smoother, brighter, more radiant-looking skin. It’s also designed for daily use and suitable for all skin types. You can use it morning or night by soaking a cotton pad in it and rubbing it over clean skin. I’ve used this for over 5+ years now.
Hydration
HYDRATION, not heaviness. Dry or dehydrated skin with no pre work behind it, can actually make your foundation cling and separate faster. And yes, oily skin can also still be dehydrated, and stripping it often leads to rebound oil production.
Summer Hydration suggestion: Colleen Rothschild Moisture Veil Silk Emulsion, $48 for normal to dry skin. Now I already featured this in last week’s Pretty Powerful May Products post, but it’s worth talking about again! This moisturizing cream wraps water droplets inside nourishing oils and butter to give the deepest hydration! It makes my flat dry skin literally look so plump, healthy, and dewy after applying! A little goes a long way.
And you ladies are in luck! Anyone who wants to try this moisturizer or any other Colleen Rothschild skincare product until the end of the year can get 20% off their entire FIRST TIME order by using my code: JENNYSUE20 at checkout! Other personal suggestions would be their Illuminating Tinted Eye cream and the Glycolic Acid peel pads (another alternative to step 1 mentioned above!).
And if you fall into the super oily skin category, look into this highly acclaimed La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face moisturizer, $27.
Shop the Post
Makeup Primer
Next, grab yourself a MAKEUP PRIMER. This is because makeup primers give foundations and skin tints something to hold onto, while also keeping skin looking fresh instead of flat.
And again, I’d like it to be a hydrating primer which can help makeup sit smoother and stay put without feeling thick. But is it too much to ask that it has SPF in it too?? Not at all, I have a solution for that, so keep reading.
Summer Makeup Primer suggestion: Since sun damage and dehydration are major culprits behind dull, tired-looking skin, this Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydra Prime with SPF 50, $48, is the perfect solution. A lightweight SPF and primer under makeup makes a bigger difference than most people realize.
This one is shown to reduce fine lines, boost moisture, and smooth texture with no white cast. Powered by niacinamide, ectoin, and beet root to defend skin and prep it – some say makeup is optional when wearing this! And you’ll notice that I like to apply a skin primer with a synthetic bristle brush like this one from e.l.f., $6, instead of my fingers.
Skin Tint
Now consider swapping full-coverage foundation for A SKIN TINT or a lightweight serum formula. In summer, lighter-weight products often make skin appear younger. A skin tint lets real skin show through while evening things out enough to still feel polished.
Summer Skin Tint suggestion: I was just gifted this Versed Skin Solutions Multi Serum Skin Tint with SPF 40, $20, which I’ve been using for a couple of weeks now before sharing. It is a clean, vegan, cruelty-free, ultra-hydrating tinted serum with lightweight, buildable coverage and a skin-like finish. I squirt just a couple drops onto the back of my hand, then warm it up with my finger, dot it onto my skin, then buff it in with a brush like their Face Diffuser brush here, $15.
I have been very interested in this brand because it has had quite a buzz around it. That’s because it was developed as a clean beauty brand, very skincare friendly, but without the clean beauty luxury markup price tags!
Concealer
No mature skin ever looks “finished” until the dark circles are taken care of. So I suggest a CONCEALER formula that only requires a touch of it to work wonders, so that you don’t have to keep piling it on.
Summer Concealer suggestion: The Nars Soft Matte Complete concealer, $36, is my concealer of choice for this because of its high-coverage, matte concealer with a blurring, soft-focus effect. I’m wearing shade light 2.5 “creme brulee” here. I warm this up from the jar with my middle finger, then tap it under my eyes, then buff it in with my go-to viral hit kitten paw concealer brush, $24 from BK Beauty.
Shop the Post
Final Summer Look Details
I applied a finely milled loose powder like this L’Oreal Infallible Blurfection, $15, one that will lock things in without emphasizing texture or fine lines. I only tap it over my concealer and in the T- zone. // A liquid blush with a touch of highlighter included gives a colorful glow in one product, like this Juvia’s Place Blushlighter, $18, wearing shade “Barbie Rose Glow.” It sinks in and stains the cheeks beautifully. //
My lightweight summer sweater maxi dress, $45, with cap sleeves and leg slits from Amazon, is super cute and comes in 16+ other striped color combos. I’m wearing a size small. // I just bought a pair of these tortoiseshell sunglasses with blue lenses, $25, and they are so chic! They look great with my summer skin, wink wink. // My Buxom lip gloss in shade “Hot Toddy”, $26, is THE best warm tawny nude plumping gloss for summer. Makes lips appear healthy without being overly colorful. // Did you notice my nail art orange nails?? They’re press-ons, of course, this “Sea Bloom” style from imPress nails, $9.
Closing Thoughts – Summer Makeup for Mature Skin
The truth? Your makeup isn’t “looking worse” this summer. Your skin is or has been changing—and your routine simply deserves to evolve with it. It’s about wearing makeup in a way that still looks like you, just fresher! Now, is there any summer makeup must-have that you are currently enjoying that we should all know about?? If so, leave it in the comment section!
LEAVE A COMMENT