I have to admit that Summer shades aren't always my natural territory. However even I've managed to make a few changes to my usual neutral lineup for the warmer months, so I thought I'd share my favourite colours to wear this time of year.
Watermelon Reds
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 12* | £18 | This is the perfect product for people who like the look of a glossy lip but don't like that sticky, gloopy feeling. These are very lightweight on the lips and although they obviously wear off within a few hours, it's a very natural fade. The very subtle shimmer makes the formula really multidimensional and means your lips will look nice and full. Although this is a sheer lip colour, the shade 12 is a really pretty watermelon pinky-red.
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Fresh Cream | $26 | I picked this up in New York because I don't really have anything similar in my collection and have been wearing it regularly since. It has a creamy formula that has a bit of a sheen when it's first applied but dries down after half an hour or so. The colour itself is like a wearable bright coral-pink-watermelon shade.
Clinique Ginger Pop Blush | £17 | This is an all-time favourite of mine! The formula is semi-matte but has a bit of a sheen. It's just so easy to apply, has that perfect level of pigmentation and is very long-wearing. I love the reddish-coral tone of Ginger Pop for Summer.
Formula X Nail Polish in Here Comes the Sun | $10.50 | With these watermelon tones on my lips and cheeks, I like to wear this pinky-coral nail shade. It's so gorgeous and vibrant against a tan, plus I really like the opaque, long-wearing formula.
Warm Brown Nudes
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey | £19 | This combines an amazing lip balm formula with a really wearable colour. This is a product I reach for all the time when I'm not quite sure what to wear. Although it's a tinted lip balm, it has quite a creamy formula that's very nourishing and gives more colour payoff than you might think. It's a warm honey-brown nude shade with a glossy sheen.
Nars Audacious Lipstick in Jane | £24 | I've been a fan of the Nars Audacious formula for a while; they are a little pricey but still well worth checking out! They're very creamy and have a slight sheen on the lips (so can transfer a bit) however the formula is so pigmented and opaque that you only need one swipe to get intense colour payoff. This is a gorgeous warm terracotta shade that's kind of like a summer version of my usual warm brown nude shade.
Becca Mineral Blush in Amaretto | £48 for palette | Although you can't get this palette any more, I've linked the new Split Pans which you can get this shade in for £32 (they are released in-store today). This is just that perfect bronzer-blusher shade for a sun-kissed makeup look. It's a warm, peachy brown-toned nude shade that has a very slight sheen. I am a huge fan of this formula because it has such a smooth texture and applies beautifully as well as lasting well throughout the day.
Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paint in Tiki Hut | £3.99 | I'm a huge fan of the new Barry M Coconut Infusion range; the shades are stunning for Summer and the formula is very opaque, chip-resistant and has a gel-look shine. Tiki Hut is a gorgeous warm brown shade that will be the perfect nude for a lot of warm-deep skin tones.
Apologies- I accidentally labelled the last swatch in this image as Ginger Pop when it's actually Flush'd! They're pretty similar in colour though.
Oranges & Corals
Clinique Chubby Stick Balm in Mega Melon* | £17 | This has been such a go-to at the moment because although it's a pinky-coral tone, the sheer formula makes it a wearable everyday shade. I find the Chubby Stick formula nicely hydrating too so I can skip the lip balm and throw this in my bag for a fuss-free all-in-one. It isn't the longest wearing but the formula means it isn't too obvious when it does fade and the crayon means it's really quick to reapply.
MAC Matte Lipstick in Tropic Tonic | £15.50 | This is kind of my staple Summer matte lip because it's pretty bold and really stands out when you have a bit of a tan. It's a gorgeous coral shade and I find the formula to be so nice and creamy (I've sometimes found MAC mattes to be inconsistent in this department, however this is one of the good ones!)
Ofra x Kathleenlights Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Miami Fever | $20 | For a deeper, more burnt orange tone with warm red undertones; Miami Fever is perfect. The formula of this is a little more mousse-like than most liquid lipsticks but goes on smoothly and opaquely. The wear-time is pretty impressive, though sometimes it feels slightly dry on my lips after a few hours of wear. However this is a gorgeous shade for Summer.
ColourPop Cheek Shock Blush in Flush'd | $8 | This is a gorgeous rusty-peach shade with a golden sheen in a cream formula. I often don't go for creams in the Summer because, although they give a very natural finish, they often don't last on my skin. However, I find this applies beautifully, doesn't feel at all greasy and doesn't fade patchily.
Barry M Aquarium Nail Paint in Mediterranean | £3.99 | I'm not sure if this has been discontinued, however the new Molten Metals look to be their replacement if they have. This is a gorgeous red-gold-orange duo chrome shade. It has a metallic finish that looks so multidimensional. I give this two coats and it lasts 4-ish days before chipping.
Vibrant Pinks
Jouer Long-Wear Lip Creme Liquid Lipstick in Framboise | £14 | This goes on a little bit like a lip cream, however does dry down to a more powdery, long-lasting finish. It's a really striking evening shade and the colour itself is almost a muted version of neon pink because it's so vibrant.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Achiote | $28 | This is such an amazing, long-wearing matte formula that's easy to apply and never looks patchy. The shade itself is this gorgeous pinky-coral-watermelon colour. It's pigmented but nothing too over the top, so adds a perfect hint of summer colour to my cheeks.
Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paint in Aloha | £4.99 | Can you tell I'm a Barry M fan? This is another from the amazing Coconut Infusion range. Aloha is a really Summery vibrant coral-toned pink shade.
Purples
Clinique Lip Colour and Primer in Plum Pop | £16 | This is sheeny and hydrating but still pigmented. Although it's a bright shade, it's still a very wearable colour. Plum Pop is a mid-toned muted purple. Though the name might suggest a deeper, Winter colour it's actually a nice level of bright.
Delilah Compact Powder Blush in Opera* | £26 | This is really vibrant but I promise it's a lot less scary when applied to the cheeks than when it's swatched! It actually quite a bit warmer and more of a pinky-purple on my skin tone personally, and it compliments Plum Pop on the lips perfectly. The formula of this really is amazing; it's matte but has such a soft, easy-to-blend texture. Although it's pigmented, it doesn't leave you with clown cheeks after one swipe and it's not difficult to work with like some brighter shades I've tried. It goes on very evenly and doesn't wear away unevenly.
Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Acai Smoothie | £3.99 | The perfect partner to a purple-toned lip and cheek combination is Acai Smoothie, another one from Barry M. This is in their much-loved super-shiny Gelly formula. It's a really pretty pinky-purple colour and stays chip-proof for a good 4 days on my nails.
L-R: Here Comes the Sun, Tiki Hut, Mediterranean, Aloha, Acai Smoothie
What are your favourite summer lip, cheek and nail colours?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS OR PURCHASED WITH GIFTED VOUCHERS.
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