Summer Makeup Bag Must-Haves: Basics and Why You Need Them

Summertime is for spending as few precious free hours at home as possible. You will be out on dates, going to theme parks or fairs with friends and family, checking out the hottest new restaurants and bars, and spending time in nature. Since you will not be home often, you must ensure that your handbag is stocked with all the essentials: gum, hand wipes, your phone and wallet, and your makeup bag. Picking the essentials that go into your makeup bag is an art form. You need to have enough products to touch up any sweaty and shiny areas and any fading or smudged products without feeling like you’re carrying the kitchen sink! If you want to keep your face fresh and flawless all summer long, these are the makeup products you should always have in your bag of tricks.

23 Summer Makeup Bag Essentials

If you are a “full face” person

 Silky Foundation

If you like full makeup for face at all times, something you can’t be without is an excellent foundation. While you want full coverage, you still want a foundation that treats your skin and allows it to breathe simultaneously. Choose one packed with great ingredients, like niacinamide, to help reduce wrinkles and even your skin tone. Lotus extract will help minimize sebum production (skin oils) so your pores will remain clear, and you will avoid a shiny face. 

Illuminating Concealer

To help highlight the higher areas of your face, choose an illumination concealer. Not only will a concealer like this cover up imperfections and help shape your face, but it will also leave you glowing skin.

Lip Cream and Treatment

Though the summer air is usually a lot kinder to our sensitive lips, taking care of this delicate skin all year round is essential.

Instead of choosing any plain old lipstick, choose a double whammy color and treatment combo. Since this one will live in your handbag, we recommend getting either one color that’s neutral or neutral and one that’s a little more of a statement, like a nice bright red, so that you cover all your bases. Never forget to put the treatment on and let it soak in before you apply the color.

If you’re a “less is more” person

Mineral primer

It is important to use a primer with an SPF before you apply your foundation, so this applies to both kinds of makeup users. That said, applying a primer to your face when you are not planning on wearing full-coverage face makeup is still a helpful way to shield your skin from environmental pollution and the sun’s harsh rays. A primer is there to hold your makeup in place all day. SPF is essential no matter how much makeup you like to wear. Wearing SPF daily helps protect your skin from sun damage and early signs of aging.

Powder foundation

Powder foundation is an excellent makeup bag product because it is easy to apply and touch up throughout the day. It also neutralizes any shine that might grace your skin on a hot summer day. Apply the powder foundation once your mineral primer has settled for a few minutes. Tap it on lightly all over your face, building layers over areas requiring more coverage.

Cheek color

Even if you prefer a light hand when it comes to makeup, a little cheek color will go a long way to completing your look. Pick a color that will go with most of your makeup looks, and choose an easy-application product. A compact, solid gel color and a mirror will be a perfect choice. Several cheek products can double as lip color these days, so you will get more bang for your buck if you choose carefully.

Lip oil

Remember what we said about looking after your lips? Well, that goes for you too. If you do not like the color as solid as lipstick on your lips all day, choose a tinted lip oil. This has the benefit of a light sheen of color finishing off your look, but it also allows a deliciously rich oil to spend the whole day soaking in and treating your lips. Tap onto your lips gently and evenly, and then rub your lips together to spread the color all over.

Extras

Apart from makeup, you should always have a few other things in your makeup bag. Keep a book of oil-blotting leaves on hand. The summer sun is hot and, try as we might, we will probably sweat more than we would like. These leaves will absorb excess oil without dislodging your makeup and keep you looking fresh. You could also keep a pack of deodorant wipes on hand to freshen up if you’re out and about for long periods.

Wrap-up

With all these goodies, your makeup bag is good to go. It will take you from day to night if need be; impress your dates with your magical ability to look flawless and keep you looking and feeling fresh-faced all summer long.