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Lightweight Summer Makeup You Can Wear To The Pool & Beach

It’s fucking hard to look good in the summer. You’re expected to flaunt a taut tummy amidst beer bloat, a sleek and frizz-free blowout in 98% humidity, and hardest of all, just look good af at the pool or beach without looking like you’re trying to look good. Like, it always makes me wonder, why would any sane woman voluntarily go on Bachelor in Paradise??? Oh, right, cause they’re not sane. Shout-out to those girls for getting wasted and attempting to find love while their eyelash extensions are falling out. Fortunately, in my wise 24 years on Earth, I’ve discovered a few tricks and key essential products that can help you maintain a flawless face in the unforgiving daylight and grueling summer heat. 

1. BB Cream/Tinted Moisturizer

BB Creams/tinted moisturizers are ideal when you want a touch of coverage without looking like you’re wearing a thick foundation. Ever since discovering this particularly amazzzzinggg Tarte BB cream, my life has never been the same. I actually first tried it when I received it as one of those dollhouse-size samples with my Sephora order. And, well, I guess their marketing strategy worked, because I’ve been hooked ever since. This shit is the perfect product for providing lightweight coverage and an overall blurring of imperfections, all without looking like your face is caked.

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer

2. Tinted Lip Balm

I’m sure we’ve all seen someone try to wear a nude lipstick to the beach, thinking they’re slick, when really they just come off looking extra af. If you’re like me and you feel naked when you show the world your actual lip color, you’ll need to invest in a tinted balm to give you a little color that isn’t over-the-top. This balm from Winky Lux has pH-activated ingredients that literally change colors upon application based on your natural pH, so the color is going to automatically look good on you and be unique. As an added upside, it smells like watermelon, which is sooo summery.

Winky Lux Watermelon Jelly Balm

Winky Lux Watermelon Jelly Balm

3. Waterproof Mascara

Every girl needs a good mascara, and this mascara is legit the best thing you can get at the drugstore. I use the non-waterproof version in my everyday life, so it makes sense I’d naturally switch to the waterproof one when I’m trying to not look like a gremlin maintain a level of effortless beauty at the pool. You obvi don’t want your lashes to appear thick and chunky when you’re going for a natural look. This mascara perfectly fans out and elongates your lashes to naturally wake up your eyes, and consequently, your whole face.

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara

4. Brow Gel

Plucked off all your eyebrows in the 7th grade?! Don’t go off the edge yet, this may help you. This stuff is AMAZING for not only pool or beach life, but also for legit everyday life. This brow gel contains microfibers that attach to your existing brow hairs to help voluminize the overall brow. And, of course, it’s water resistant. So, as long as you don’t go scuba diving in the pool, you can expect your brows to stay intact. 

Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel

5. Self-Tanner

Self-tanner makes you look good without any other makeup necessary. Like, legit, add a little self-tanner and suddenly cellulite is minimized, skin tone looks more even, and you all-around look leaner and more toned. My favorite self-tanner right now is this mousse by Isle of Paradise because it provides the most natural-looking, yet deep tan that goes on smoothly and doesn’t smell gross. True story, one time I went to See You Next Tuesday and the only thing James Kennedy said to me was, “Your spray tan smells nice.” Don’t get called out by the White Kanye like I did, and instead get yourself a self-tanner that doesn’t smell like one. Pro tip: Make sure you apply your self-tanner 24 hours in advance to allow the tan to set and to provide enough time for you to rinse off the excess layer before hitting the pool or beach.

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Mousse (in Dark – Bronzed Glow)

6. Setting Spray

Alright, so this setting mist in particular is like crack—addictive and expensive. Tbh, I’ve never actually done crack or tried to buy it, but I imagine it can’t be cheap. But hey, this luminous spray isn’t crack so, like, worth the splurge??? Not only is this magnificent product a fav of yours truly, but it’s also a go-to of slightly-less-famous-than-me person Kim Kardashian West. This “mist” will give your skin a luminous dewy glow (if that wasn’t obvious enough from its name) and give your face a refreshed, clean highlight, unlike actual highlighter which tends to look overly aggressive in broad daylight. It’s also amazing for your skin, so throw it in your bag and use it to refresh your glow throughout the day!

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

Basically, to avoid having your face melt off at a pool party, keep your makeup minimal by using these essential products and I promise you’ll still look good even without your signature smokey eye.

Images: @chrisjoelcampbell / Unsplash; Sephora (4); CVS; Winky Lux
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Shannon McCormick
Shannon McCormick (previously under the alias of 'Betch Dressed') is a self-proclaimed fashion expert with a sick obsession for all things Bravo. She primarily writes about everything fashion, but also dabbles in other areas because she's a talented overachieving Virgo. Follow her on Insta (@shanmccormick) and comment/DM topics you want to hear her incredible take on next!