Makeup Madness: My Summer Base

It is already starting to rain, which means summer will be ending in no time. I predict that we will have a few more hot days though, so until then, I'll be making the most out of the makeup base I've been using all summer.

When summer hit, I had to change bases quickly. I don't wear too much makeup in the summer because it feels stuffy and it just melts off my face. I wanted a light base with SPF that I could just dab on and pair with a swipe of eyeliner or eyeshadow plus a dash of lipstick. Luckily, I chanced upon a good combination of products. These were a part of my Summer Beauty post, but I figured these warranted a proper TLDR, makeup geek-out entry too.

L'Oreal True Match Skin Idealizing BB Cream, Essence Mattifying Compact Powder, Elf Professional Total Face Brush 

The Products

L'Oreal True Match Skin Idealizing BB Cream

I have never tried a BB cream that agreed with my skin -- until now. All the BB creams I've tried before this gave me little dotty breakouts on my forehead, but the L'Oreal BB cream doesn't do anything like that to my skin. 

The formula is really sheer, which lets my skin breathe in the heat. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly, and doesn't look cakey or thick. Like most BB creams, it doesn't offer much coverage but it does flatter my skin and gives it that no-makeup makeup look. 

The L'Oreal Skin Idealizing BB Cream has SPF 35 PA+++ and moisturizes skin for 24 hours after application, which makes it perfect for summer. Like I said in my summer entry, the more SPF the better, and even though I use a moisturizer, I appreciate this BB cream's moisturizing properties. It gives my skin  a dewy finish. Sometimes though it can be too dewy when I'm sweating from the heat, so I remedy this tiny problem by finishing it off with powder.

Essence Mattifying Compact Powder in Perfect Beige

I picked this up on a whim because I have never tried anything from the UK drugstore brand Essence. I had no idea it would work so great with the BB cream! It's pretty much an invisible powder that helps keep my face matte, which is especially important in the summer when I usually find my face glistening with sweat. 

When I started using it I thought it looked a little chalky in the compact. The texture the brush made didn't look ideal, but it was surprisingly smooth on my skin. It doesn't do much, but it does what it is made to do, which is to set my makeup and keep my face matte. 

Elf Professional Total Face Brush

This is the latest in my collection of Elf brushes that I'm using for practice until I feel like investing in higher end brushes. I got it because I needed a brush to help apply the mattifying powder. 

It's great because it's humongous! Its size helps spread the powder evenly on my face. I just wish the bristles were softer though. Once in a while I get a little prick from a rogue bristle. 

The Mugshot

These products work so well on days when I'm hating how icky makeup feels in the heat. I usually turn to this set when I want to go out barefaced, so I just do minimal eye makeup (or none at all) and my non-negotiable, lipstick.

  

My Thoughts

This makeup combination is getting me through the summer. I get sufficient sun protection and hydration for my skin from it, and I don't have to suffer through the stuffy feeling that a full-on face of makeup in the heat gives me. Application is quick and fuss-free, and I get a polished, natural look without needing too many products. Win!

Do you switch bases as the seasons change? What products do you use in the summer? Let's talk in the comments.