We’re saying toodle-do to muted colours, darker shades and heavy formulations, because it’s officially summer! Bring on the coral-y blushes, glowy highlighters, coloured eyeliners, pop lip balms, and more. We’re also super excited that Indian beauty brands have left us spoilt for choice when it comes to makeup, what with one bestselling launch after another – some even going viral! So, we talked to the experts to get their take on all the makeup must-haves and tips for your summer beauty arsenal!
Celebrity MUA and founder of Simply Nam, Namrata Soni starts off by saying, “Summer beauty for me is all about feeling light, fresh, and easy. Nothing heavy on the skin. So, beautiful skin prep with just a moisturizer and sunscreen, followed by a lovely blush, curled lashes with waterproof mascara, and a tinted balm.”
If you’re ready to stray from your love for jet-black kajal and mascara and take the plunge with colours this season, Soni recommends a soft brown eyeliner for the summer. “A lovely green or blue looks beautiful too. Coloured mascaras, like browns and blues, look stunning on the eyes in the summer. And for your cheeks, I would say keep it peachy or pink. When it comes to lips, keep it more tinted, balmy, and moist like pinks and peaches.”
But wondering what formulation of makeup you should use for the summer - powders, creams, or liquids? Soni advises that this would depend on your skin type. “If you are someone who has oily skin, I would recommend using powder or liquid in the summer because they are lighter and sit better on the skin. If you have dry skin, make sure to use creamy formulations for your skin as they will allow your skin to look beautiful and hydrated instead of dry. Combination skin types can try a mix of the above.”
In fact, Bindya Devi Talluri, Beauty Influencer and Founder of Bindt Beauty, prefers using both. She says, “In the sweltering heat, I recommend opting for cream products layered with powders for longer-lasting makeup. Creams blend seamlessly into the skin and provide a natural finish, while powders help set the makeup in place. This combination ensures your makeup stays put despite the heat and humidity.”
Sharing her summer go-tos, Talluri says “My top summer beauty essentials are sunscreen, a light foundation or concealer, and a cream tint from Bindt beauty. Sunscreen is non-negotiable to protect against harmful UV rays.” For a fresh-faced look, she opts for a light foundation or concealer to even out her skin tone without feeling heavy. The cream tint from Bindt beauty adds a natural flush of colour to her cheeks for a healthy glow while adding a bit of sheen with its natural ingredients. “Additionally, I always carry setting powder and bronzer to keep my makeup in place and enhance my sun-kissed complexion. Lastly, a nourishing lip oil or balm is essential to keep my lips hydrated and protected from the summer sun. These products ensure a radiant and protected look throughout the sunny season.”
The key for summer beauty looks is to keep it minimal and lightweight to withstand the heat, says Talluri. “During the day, stick to a light foundation or tinted moisturizer, a touch of blush, and a swipe of waterproof mascara. For evenings, add a pop of colour with a summer red lip and a subtle winged eyeliner, while keeping the rest of the face minimal to let your natural glow shine through,” she says.
Dos and don'ts for summer makeup
- In the sweltering heat, you want to keep things light and airy. “For summer makeup, avoid heavy foundations and opt for lighter formulas to let your skin breathe,” says Talluri.
- Replace thick, rich moisturisers with lightweight gel-based moisturizers instead.
- “If you have any spots or acne, use concealers just on those areas instead of the entire face,” says Soni. So, you don’t have to swipe foundation or concealers over your entire face in the summer. Avoid layers by just targeted application of your product to conceal any blemishes or redness.
- For lips and cheeks, opt for lighter shades like peach, corals, pinks for a fresh, summery look.
- “If you have very oily skin with large pores, you may opt for pore minimisers before you start with foundation or concealer application,” says Soni.
- Waterproof mascara and long-lasting formulas are your best bet to prevent smudging or melting in the heat.
- If you don’t want a heavy mascara look, swap darker mascara with a clear, transparent one for that no-makeup makeup look that also fits perfectly with the trending clean girl makeup look.
- Haven’t gone on your beach vacay yet? Try glowy blushes and bronzers for a sunkissed look.
- When it comes to sun protection, use sunblock with UVA/UVB protection instead of sunscreen, Soni advises.
- Keep blotting papers handy in your bag to sweat-proof your makeup and keep excess oil at bay.
- Swap drying matte lipsticks for creamy ones or tinted balms.
- Use a lip balm with SPF to protect delicate skin of the lips from sun damage.
- Spritz on rose water or other hydrating mists to refresh and revitalise your skin and makeup.
10 summer makeup picks from homegrown beauty brands
1. Kay Beauty Multitexture Eyeshadow Palette in Sunkissed
Beautiful summery browns, nudes and bronzes – this palette, with different textures including mattes and shimmers, is a winner.
2. La Mior Peptide Glaze Lip Balm
Want juicy, glossy lips? Then try this lip glaze balm that’s caught everyone’s attention and comes in a range of pretty summer-friendly shades.
3. Praush Beauty Crème Gel Kajal Liner: Jade Green & Sapphire Blue
Take a break from black - think ocean blues and forest greens for your eyes this summer.
4. O&O Beauty Glow Blush Dome
With pretty colours and multi-use benefits, these domes are not only cute but pack quite the punch!
5. amág Beauty 'blip' Suntastic Tinted Sunscreen Gel
A new lightweight sunscreen gel is non-sticky, comes with SPF50++ and has a subtle tint that blends to suits all skin tones leaving no white cast.
6. SimplyNam The Ultimate Kajal – Metallic Bronze
As pointed out by the expert, Namrata Soni, opt for brown and bronze kajals for a soft look for the eyes this season.
7. Colorbar 24Hrs Wear Concealer Pots
Foundation feels too heavy in the heat? Give it a skip and simply opt for concealers like this new long-wear range from Colorbar that’ll do the trick.
8. Bindt Beauty Multiuse Tints
Great for on-the-go use and all your summer vacays and trips, these creamy multi-use tints are pigmented and buildable.
9. Lakmē Facelift MultiSlayer Sticks
Can you tell multipurpose products are our current faves? This new range of contour, blush and highlighter sticks are perfect for the summer and beyond!
10. Type Beauty Setting Sprays
Weatherproof your makeup with a good setting spray like these, which (and we love this!) come with SPF.