The Summer Transition

As you may remember, this year I've given my 'Seasonal Transition' posts a bit of a revamp. Gone are the more generalised suggestions and instead I'm making them a little more product-based, with me giving actual specific recommendations as to what I feel is best suited to updating your makeup bag with for the change in season. If you're a newbie round here, I'll link last year's round-ups here and also the one I did a few months back for Spring this year here - and of course, for today's edition I'll be covering everything to do with good 'ole Summer. It may not be very consistent Summery weather at the moment, but technically it is indeed the season of beaches, barbeques and bikinis so let's jump right in, eh?

I love to really amp up the glow as we head into the (supposedly) warmest months of the year and so while during Spring I was all about that juicy-looking makeup, for Summer that only intensifies. I like to get the glow going as soon as my makeup routine starts and so a primer is essential. Recently, the Collection Reviving and Anti-Fatigue Illuminating Primer is all I've been wanting to use. If I'm honest, it's been that way for a while, but especially as Summer starts to set in, I've been reaching for it even more so. As it is a more glow-giving base, I really enjoy taking this especially over the high points of my face and basically everywhere I like to apply some form of highlighter later on. It gives a nice, healthy sheen but without actually being glitter-laden in any way. Instead, it provides more of a 'lit from within' glow and the more bronzey shade of the two - 'Warm Apricot' - is the nicest for this time of year when you want a bit of a tanned effect. Secondly, as you'll know if you read this post, as of late I am all about the cream products (another trend which tends to run through my makeup preferences as we reach Summertime) - especially for my complexion. One which has been floating my boat for some time now is the Collection Speedy Highlighter in 'Pearl Sheen'. Another good'un from Collection, I know. This handy little cream highlighter comes in stick form, meaning you can quite literally swipe, blend and you're good to go. The formula is super lovely and workable and the shade itself is spot on. Whilst it obviously has some form of glimmer running through it, it is so finely-milled that it looks undetectable on the skin and instead simply translates as a gorgeous, natural glow. For such a bargainous product - that's pretty good going.

Eyes-wise, I feel like for Summer I fully transition myself into the 'barely-there' shades. I like a very simple, but pretty eye look for the warmer months as not only is it very fresh and clean-looking, but it's also so much easier to wear when the humidity really steps up a gear ands your makeup begins to basically melt off your face. I also find that these types of colours are generally 'one wash wonders' and so you can kinda get away with slapping them all over the lid and pairing them with just lashings of mascara. I tend to stick with either champagne-type tones which look like you're wearing hardly anything at all, or if I do fancy going a little more noticeable with it - golds and bronzes work wonderfully (and also go along with the whole bronzed vibe we all like to try to achieve during Summer). Basically, as long as it's fairly light in tone and has some shimmer to it - we're all good. One which I can foresee myself going to a heck of a lot throughout Summer is the Rimmel Magnifi'eyes Mono Shadow in 'Millionaire'. This is quite simply, a beautiful light golden brown with the slightest hint of shimmer. It's not super-glittery, but it's by no means matte - it just falls in that sweet spot in the middle. You can really layer this up to a more opaque, dramatic bronze look - but as I said, I love to just apply it fairly sheer for everyday and it works a treat.

Whilst I love me a matte lip (especially recently), when Summer rolls around I go in with the glossier, more moisturising pout options. They're easier to apply, don't require as high maintenance and generally feel a heck of a lot nicer on the lips when the weather's heating up. One which has been a favourite of mine for a long, long time - and I feel will be so forever more - is the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in 'Peach On The Beach'. I remember this being a proper 'thing' in the whole Blog/YouTube world a few years back - and that was when I first heard about it. You know the deal by now - I saw, I hauled and I loved it. The colour is the most stunning bright, pinky-peach which to me, always screams 'Summer'. Corals are just made for this time of year, eh? It's so uplifting on the complexion and combined with the lovely hydrating, shiny-but-not-sticky formula - it's a winner.

Last but certainly by no means least we come to nails. You may recall last time I said how during Spring I'm all about the pastels and brights for my beds. The former I tend to be more all-over, whereas the latter is something I like to start to eke into my rotation so when it comes to Summer - I'm all ready to whack the bright shades out in full force. Yeah, now's the time. One thing I love about Summer beauty trends is the fact that bright, bold, in-yer-face nails are always a thing. I love 'em, and so do many others and if I had to pick one favourite it would have to be Barry M's Coconut Infusion Nail Paint in 'Laguna'. As you'll know if you've been reading round these parts recently, this is more of a recent addition to my nail polish collection, but I have been all kinds of obsessed with it ever since I picked it up. This, once again, just calls out 'Summer' to me and is just the kind of hue I tend to find myself gravitating towards when it's all warm and sunny outside. I don't often wear blue on my nails, but this falls into the category which I guess is the exception. It's pastel, but not too pastel, and it's got this gorgous bright, almost neon finish to it. And if that wasn't enough, this range supposedly cares for your nails as well as making them look all pretty too. What more could you want?