Through hard times, beauty — specifically makeup — can provide us with a space to feel empowered and express our individuality [1]. (So yes, we encourage you to break out the neon eyeliner [2] for yet another weekend pizza night indoors.)
It's important for your well-being to take time for yourself to recharge and sometimes the best way to do it is by painting your nails, or practicing a new heatless hairstyle [3], or just applying a coat of your favourite lipstick in the morning. In other words: do more of whatever it is that makes you happy.
As we look ahead to what the summer season has in store for us, there's no question that it's going to look different than years past — but "different" doesn't mean there isn't something to get excited about. Ahead, our editors are sharing the best summer makeup products that they're playing with right now in hopes that they'll spark some joy for you [4], too.
Freck Beauty Lid Lick
"Way back when I used to draw on my freckles (OK, I still do sometimes), Freck was the under-the-radar brand more people should've been paying attention to. My proof: they recently launched a collection of new products including colour cosmetics and skin care. Of course my latest obsession includes these Freck Beauty Lid Lick Eyeliners [5] ($16). Blame the "Rain on Me" music video for getting me hooked on bold liquid formulas like this. But hurry — they keep selling out!" — Samantha Sasso, associate beauty editor, native
Tarte Cosmetics Hydrocealer Concealer
"Whenever I go foundation-less, I can see the difference in my skin's appearance — it doesn't look as even — though the Tarte Cosmetics Hydrocealer Concealer [6] ($24) proved to be a perfect replacement for me, minus the slightly heavier feeling my foundation often leaves me with. It's also weightless to the point where I feel like I'm barely wearing anything but still powerful enough to provide coverage that lasts for hours. Even though I haven't been wearing much makeup these days, I turn to this whenever I want to look presentable for a virtual meeting but don't feel like putting on a full face." — Danielle Jackson, assistant beauty editor
Armani Beauty Ecstasy Mirror Lip Gloss
"The Lip Maestro Liquid Lipsticks are arguable one of the best on the planet — or at least they are in my opinion — which is why it really should come as no surprise that I'm completely head-over-heels into the new Armani Beauty Ecstasy Mirror Lip Gloss [7] ($37). They deliver the same rich pigment of the liquid lipsticks but with a shine that isn't sticky and stays put on your lips. I'll be wearing this one all summer long — after all, summer is offically lip gloss season. " — Jessica Harrington, associate beauty editor
Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer
"During the summer, I like transitioning my makeup products to creamy formulas to achieve a lit-from-within glow that looks like I've been laying out on a beach all day, even if I've just been hanging at home. I love this Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer [8] ($20) in West Coast because it gives me a luminous sunkissed look while adding warmth and dimension to my face. Normally, illuminating bronzers intimidate me because the included shimmers can be too overwhelming, but this blendable formula is super natural-looking offering more of a dewy sheen than a sparkly finish." — Genesis Rivas, assistant editor, Makeup.com
Venics Organic Diamond Glow Melted Highlighter in Wedding Ring
"My dream summer makeup look is glowy without being sweaty, but as a chronic over-heater I have to fake it with highlighter and powder. This season I'll be using Venics Organic Diamond Glow Melted Highlighter in Wedding Ring [9] ($35) because it looks pretty and natural, hydrates with a ton of beautiful oils (like coconut and camellia seed), and stays put when I inevitably start to perspire." — Dawn Davis, senior beauty editorial director, Group Nine Media
Lano Baby Rose Gold 101 Ointment Balm & Tint
"If my makeup products could talk they would say, "Do you really need another multi-use tinted balm?" The answer is yes, I do. My makeup routine looks different these days; it's all about getting the most out of fewer products and the Lano Baby Rose Gold 101 Ointment Balm & Tint [10] ($17) helps me do just that. It adds a dewy pink flush of colour to my cheeks, lips, eyelids, and anywhere else I dab it on. With it, achieving a rosy glow from my living room is possible." — JH
Tarte SEA Set & Protect Mineral Sunscreen Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 30
"I love a multipurpose product even more so now that I'm spending 98.9 percent of my days lounging at home, and the Tarte Cosmetics Set & Protect SPF 30 [11] ($28) gives me everything I need in one: a powder that subtly mattifies and lends the just-right coverage I need for my Zoom meetings, plus protection against those sneaky UVA rays that are still peeking through my window. A win-win." — Kelsey Castañon, senior beauty editor
Saie Really Great Gloss
"I'm not much of a lipstick or lip gloss person; normally, a swipe of balm is all I need or want. That is, until I got my hands on the new offering from clean beauty brand Saie: the Really Great Gloss [12] ($20). Let me tell you something — it really is really great. Each shade is subtle and not over-the-top glossy, and adds a healthy sheen without being sticky. My favourite aspect, though, is that it's a two-in-one gloss plus exfoliator. Malic acid sloughs away dead, flaky skin so the hyaluronic acid, coconut milk, and grape seed oil can plump and hydrate. All five shades are worth a try, but "Cute" and "Easy" are my new go-to gals for the summer." — Aviel Kanter, senior native living editor
"I'm a tinted lip balm person, but sometimes I want a little more colour and a little more shine. Saie Really Great Gloss is exactly that — and Chill is that perfect "my lips but better" colour. Plus, it contains an apple-based exfoliator to smooth lips over time and hyaluronic acid for hydration, making it so much more than a basic lip gloss, or tinted balm for that matter." — DD
Lancôme Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss
"This quote from Lady Gaga [13] never felt so relevant as it did on the day I found out the Lancôme Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss [14] ($20) were launching again. See: "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before . . ." If you're old enough to remember the originals, you'll know how worth it this purchase is." — SS
Bodyography Forever Summer Cheek Palettes
"In the summer, I'm all about getting an easy sun-kissed glow. That said, the sun is my worst enemy (instant sunburn, you guys), so my sun-kissed glow relies heavily on the use of a carefully curated combo of bronzer, blush and highlighter. My go-to this summer is the Bodyography Forever Summer Cheek Palettes [15] ($33). Not only is everything I need to get my glow on in one place, but the powder formulas are super soft, blendable and natural looking. A swipe of each makes me feel bronzed and glowy in an instant." — Samantha Holender, assistant editor, Makeup.com
Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum
"These days I'm skipping makeup primer completely because I don't really need another step in my routine, but I do miss the blurring benefits of them. Enter: the
Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum [16] ($32). It's a serum-primer hybrid that keeps skin moisturised while also extending the wear of your makeup by providing it with a nice, smooth base. Diamond mineral powder in the formula also gives my skin a healthy dose of glow, which I can never have too much of. Sometimes, if I'm going for a super pared-down look, I'll just wear this and sunscreen, and the result is magic." — JH
Beautyblender Besties Makeup Sponge and Cleanser Set
"Lately, I've been doing my makeup more and more — just for fun — which means my makeup tools are suddenly very dirty. I thought now is the opportune time to stock up on cleansers and nothing compares to Beautyblender's Brush Cleanser. With just a few swirls underneath running warm water and a quick scrub against the textured silicone mat, my sponges and brushes are just like new. Now, I can find everything I need in the compact Beautyblender Besties Makeup Sponge and Cleanser Set [17] ($20), which you bet I'll be forcing my friends to buy, too (I've seen what their makeup bags look like)." — SS
Huda Beauty Legit Lashes Double-Ended Volumizing Mascara
"In the spirit of transparency, I didn't know how I felt about the Huda Beauty Legit Lashes Double-Ended Volumizing Mascara [18] ($27) the first few times I tried it. The formula slicked on wet and seemed to clump when I'd add my usual 1,000 coats, but the more I used it, the better it got. Now I know you don't need as much; in fact, it's all about strategically applying the mascara [19] on each end — two layers of the Volume side, which provides the bulk, then one coat of Lengthen side to separate any clumps — for maximum eye impact." — KC
Chantecaille Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo
"This limited-edition highlighter supports WildAid [20] and its mission to reduce global consumption of wildlife products so right there, I'm sold. But the formula of the Chantecaille Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo [21] ($84) holds its own, too. It has a smooth, velvety texture that gives skin a natural flush of colour and light. The shade Coral Manta Ray is my favourite and embodies summer perfectly." — JH
KIKO Milano Tuscan Sunshine Shiny Lip Stylo
"It's only fitting that around the same time as the fifth anniversary of me studying abroad — and officially still being that person who gloats about it — that Kiko Milano launched at Ulta Beauty. When I was 20 and living off of my writing tutor paychecks in Paris, this brand was the only makeup brand I could afford. Turns out, it's amazing. I never went anywhere without these creamy pigments, like the KIKO Milano Tuscan Sunshine Shiny Lip Stylo [22] ($14)." — SS