Low-Effort Beauty Tips for the Girls who Just Want to Enjoy Summer

Photography by: Hien Nguyen

There’s nothing we love more than healthy, glowing skin all year long, and with Summer officially in the air, it’s easy for our skincare and beauty routines to take a little vacation of their own. Let’s face it, our attention spans are pulled every which way during the high-heat months. Be it camping, family vacations, sitting poolside or an island getaway – these extracurriculars can distract you from your daily routines.

Like clockwork, every year our timelines are inundated with *new* beauty trends that are tempting, time-consuming and stunning nevertheless. The pull from every direction to hop on these trends to have “the best Summer skin yet” seems promising and almost attainable because we have all the tools right? But what if you just want to enjoy your summer vacation, carefree, effortless and still beautiful nonetheless?

To answer this question, we had to phone a friend. In comes Daja Herrera, Pro Makeup Artist and Licensed Esthetician of Daja Vu Makeup and lead makeup artist for Color of Fashion, who clued us in with helpful tools and tips for an effortless glow all Summer long – or however long you please.

Sun-Kissed Blush

Arguably one of the most versatile beauty products on the market, blush of all colors, consistencies and formulas can elevate your look while making it seem like you have a full face of makeup on.

To maximize your time for a quick ten-minute makeup look, Herrera opts for a cream blush as a multi-use product. “Mix your moisturizer with your foundation for a light coverage, use your cream bronzer for both your eyes and face, add a pop of cream blush at the high points, dab or line the same blush on your lips, blend gently, followed by some juicy gloss,” she said.

Blush allows you to get that sun-kissed appeal even before you dedicate multiple hours to being outside for some extra rays. If you do find yourself out and about while navigating the heat, layering a cream blush under a powder formula will help you keep a long-lasting, dewy and flushed look.

SPF: Say it with us – “SPF, Saves *your* Pretty Face”

Did we just make that up? Yes. Does it make sense? Absolutely.

What excites Herrera the most about Summer makeup trends is that SPF is in. SPF universally is widely being included more and more in our everyday beauty products, right where it should be. Sunscreen should be applied to your face every day throughout the year, yes, even in the colder months! According to Herrera, an easy way to include SPF into your routine is to opt for a tinted moisturizer or lip product that includes sunscreen ingredients in the formula.

“I love that SPF is in; it’s the best anti-aging product we can get,” she said. Although to reap the benefits of this skin-loving ingredient, consistency is key. For the avid foundation fanatics, don’t skip out on the nourishing and anti-aging skin benefits for the sake of your makeup look, when with a tinted moisturizer, you can truly have it all.

Low-Maintenance Routines

Who else is guilty of packing their whole makeup collection while going on vacation? Us too. No matter how you want to execute your beauty routine this Summer, save some space in your luggage and opt for a few products that keep you looking chic and put together.

For an effortless look, Herrera says it’s all about the brows, “Clear Brow Gels, Waterproof Brow/Eye Pencils, minimizes the amount of makeup you apply to your skin. If you don’t want to sweat from your face at all, grab Alcone Company’s “Stop the Sweat.”

This season is also a great time to refresh your makeup bag and maybe dip into a few new items you’ve been wanting to try. We’ve all had those moments of walking into a Sephora or Ulta and not knowing where to start. For those who like to play it safe, beelining it to the brands you love and know is ideal if you need to restock on a few items. But for those who are more beauty-centric and adventurous, trying new products and brands is almost like a necessity for their collection. Whichever coin you land on, Herrera advises starting with what you know. Which products do you know you need? Which products do you know you want to try?

“Always start with the makeup you know you’ll use most often. If you love a good blush, find one that will suit your summer look, don’t overbuy or purchase things you aren’t sure about yet, you’ll feel so overwhelmed,” she said.

Despite all the new microtrends and products that pop up almost every day, now is the perfect time to personalize your routine based on how you feel and what your needs are. For her clients, Herrera starts by asking questions and getting a sense of what feels authentic to them. “I always ask what they love about their features and use those to find trends they might love, using products according to their skin type or tone. If my clients are not feeling any of the hot trends, we keep it classic and create a signature look together,” she said.

Maybe this year’s trend is allowing yourself to lean back and step away from all the noise. Feeling good in your skin and balancing all your summer plans doesn’t have to rely on what’s trending.

If you loved Daja Herrera’s advice as much as we did, good news for you! She is hosting her first-ever live makeup masterclass on July 12 designed to help attendees refine their everyday routines with confidence and ease. Spots are limited, and we know you wouldn’t want to miss out. To secure your spot and sign up, follow the link here.