Glass skin, blurred lips, boyfriend blush—there are loads of beauty trends to inspire your look. But with so many different vibes to choose from, how does one pin down the ultimate summer makeup routine? Well, celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner help coin these trends so I thought, why not turn to the source to determine the makeup look of the summer? Luckily, pro makeup artist Mary Phillips (the pro behind some of Bieber and Jenner’s most memorable beats) was ready to share her insights with Vogue—giving us a peak at the routine she’s using on some of our favorite stars.
What’s the summer 2024 makeup vibe, I ask her? Dewy, fresh, and blush-y. “I’ve been doing a lot of fresh skin, lots of blush, and really curled lashes with a thin coat of mascara,” Phillips says. This kind of look is timeless and looks great on everyone.” A sun-kissed, radiant glow is appreciated each year as the temperatures heat up, but this year—Phillips says is all about vibrant colors and unique finishes. “I feel that this year is all about the blush, faux freckles, tinted balmy lips and even a pop of color on the eyes,” she says. As for specific hues, lean into peaches and pinks on the lips and cheeks. Or, play with pastels instead. All in all, Phillips its about effortless makeup that enhances natural beauty. “That’s the essence of summer makeup.”
Phillips bids that Make Up For Ever’s HD Skin Face Essentials palette has everything you need for your summer makeup routine base because it has contour, highlighter, blush, and concealers. (I agree, it’s my desert-island makeup pick and a mainstay in my primary makeup bag.) “I would lightly contour the cheekbones, jawline and hairline and highlight the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, under the eyes and on the sides of the nose,” she says. Or you could reach for the classics like Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate. Both are favorites of Bieber who used them in her last Beauty Secrets video to create a date night look.
Fresh Skin
The pro who brought the underpainting technique to the forefront of course recommends contour before complexion. “I’d blend contour and highlight together then add a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer on top,” she instructs. I’m still saying the gel-cream is the optimal tinted moisturizer of 2024, and BareMinerals’ formula never lets me down—it’s incredibly hydrating and even has SPF. As for summer-friendly foundations, Chanel Les Beiges is incredible—weightless, dewy, and composed of 40% water, it has all the makings of a warm weather complexion hero.
Cream Blush
“Then, add a pop of cream blush to the apples of the cheeks, forehead, nose, and even on the eyelids to create that blush-y ”in the sun look” without actually being in the sun,” Phillips details. For the ocassion, we’d highly recommend Saie’s Dew Blush—a collection of nine creamy, water-based gels that blend like a dream. Someone partial to a stick blush, however, should look no further than Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks. I’ve been hearing lots of buzz about it because it has incredible staying powder; reach for shade Poppet for a sunrise-sunset effect.