Summertime calls for a great number of changes – we shed our trench coats and make room for light and breezy tops, dresses, skirts and on-the-go tees. We also switch up our skincare routine to suit the season and pick lightweight products that will give us that perfect complexion and healthy summer skin. Then, of course, comes a time to go through our makeup cases and vanities and carefully curate our makeup collection. Certain items may be expired and others are simply too heavy for the light summer mood and the looks that go with the season. Then, when all these ‘sweeping’ chores are done, it’s time to look into some of the hottest summer beauty trends, and as the title says – get ready to slay.

What to expect in this year’s summer beauty trends

Take care

Aside from taking care of your basics – scouting for that perfect makeup cleanser, toner, light but nourishing moisturizer as well as a great facial serum, there is one item that you simply can’t let slip your mind – sunblock. Although using sunblock throughout the entire year is highly recommended, summer is a time when the beams are stronger and our skin’s more exposed. As gorgeous as a great tan is, more and more emphasis has been placed on protection, so make sure you use the best products – broad spectrum are foolproof. There are tons of great, non-sticky and even shimmery options, and as body glow has come back in style, perhaps a product with a sheen to it might just be the one for you.

The pillar of every makeup look

We are always on the hunt for that Holy Grail foundation that will give us that ‘your skin but better’ look. Now, as we’ve seen from the runways, and heard from numerous makeup artists and experts, this year’s summer beauty trends all about that healthy glow, even complexion, and natural radiance – essentially, the no-makeup makeup look. This type of look calls for a lightweight foundation that won’t only give you that sheer glowing coverage but actually nourish the skin thanks to its numerous beneficial ingredients. If you’re not a fan of foundation, tinted moisturizers are even better as they tend to be packed with antioxidants – all for the purpose of giving us that perfect JLO glow.

Warm up

Bronzers have always been a staple of almost every makeup collection, but the current craze for them is almost impossible to describe. Virtually every makeup company is launching great varieties of new bronzers, but the ones that are getting the most love are the shimmery ones. In case you haven’t noticed, this year, the makeup world is all about shimmer and glow – mattes are out, shimmers are in. Milani Baked Bronzer is the most coveted drugstore gem, and if you’re in the market for something high-end, then you’ll love the Becca Sunlit Bronzer. It’s time to get that sun-kissed glow.

A dose of color

For some reason, blushes had been on the backburner for a quite a long time, but in this years’ summer beauty trends, they’re back and more packed with pigment than ever. Cream blushes such as the raved about Fenty Beauty shimmer skin sticks are getting a lot of love because they provide the perfect pop of color to the cheeks without looking powdery or cakey, and of course, they all have a hint of shimmer – just as everything else this season.

Make way, coming through

Another almost forgotten product is stepping back onto the stage – the lip gloss. We have been cheating on the gloss with the mattes for long enough, and now the glosses are coming back to give us a lesson on the perfect kissable pout. When it comes to gloss trends, it seems that more is more – and by this, we mean more glitter. The ‘90s girls remember this trend well, but these new formulas aren’t as sticky as they used to be. The gloss has gone through quite a transformation, so even though it’s glitter-packed, don’t worry, your hair won’t be sticking to it.

The mermaid look

One makeup company after another has been releasing shimmery, glittery and bright color-filled eyeshadow palettes, so it’s safe to assume that we’re done with warm earthy tones for the time being. Instead, we have the ‘mermaid palettes’ full of foiled silver, gold, bright pink and even emerald and turquoise tones, and blue eyeshadow is the talk of the town. After all the safe warm tones, perhaps it’s time to shake things up and try something more daring, and if you’re not one to experiment with rainbow colors, at least give liquid glittery shadows in neutral hues a try – they will do wonders to brighten the eyes and make you look radiant and well-rested.

The best in the show

So many new highlighters have been launched this season, it’s had to keep track. From soft champagne and light pink hues, pressed, baked and stick highlighters, and even those with some serious dose of color – the amounts are blinding – both figuratively and literally. Now, in the spirit of the coveted JLO glow, pick one that suits your skin type best, and as far as the ‘blinding’ factor goes, you can go either way as both subtle natural-looking and ‘can be seen from space’ glow are welcome this season, so just take your pick.

With these summer beauty trends, it’s truly a time to play. Some of us will be slaying with old but revamped faves, others will show their blending skills by snagging bold eyeshadow palettes, and some of us will choose to slay in the natural way – with a hint of highlight and a light foundation. The most important thing is to feel confident and own your look – that’s all it really takes to slay.

About the Author

Amy Mia Goldsmith is a lifestyle blogger at highstylife.com and lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her greatest passion is fashion, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle. When she is not shopping, she loves to spend her free time reading and traveling.