13 must-have summer makeup products you need right now

POV: It’s a hot summer’s day – really hot – and you’ve got a full face of makeup on. Within an hour or so, your makeup begins literally melting off your face. Streaky foundation, smudged mascara and oily lids make for a messy look. Not only does your makeup look patchy, your skin feels heavy, congested and oily. We’ve all been there and it feels horrible.

However, these 13 must-have summer makeup products not only pass the vibe check for warmer weather, they’re lightweight and non-greasy too, meaning your makeup will stay put throughout the day. From tinted moisturisers and multipurpose glosses to colourful eyeshadows and sheer lipsticks, this post has got your summer makeup bag sorted.

Please keep on reading for the best summer makeup products to keep you looking and feeling fresh.

1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

£36

This tinted moisturiser needs no introduction. Hailed for its sheer coverage and dewy and healthy finish, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a must for warmer weather. It lightly conceals any blemishes or ‘imperfections’ while feeling lightweight and non-sticky. I’ve worn this plenty of times when it’s hot outside and I can safely say it doesn’t streak, run or make your skin look greasy within a few hours. Instead, you’ve got an effortless ‘your skin but better’ base with added radiance. I love it. SPF30 gives you some additional sun protection too.

Read my full review of this tinted moisturiser here

2. Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Glaze in Clear

£18

If glossy lids are your thing, you need to check out the Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Glaze in Clear. This versatile glaze can be applied anywhere you want – lips, cheeks, eyelids, brow bone, you name it! It gives you that gorgeous editorial glass skin look. There’s nothing better than wearing this glaze on your lids in the sun because when your they catch the light, you gleam. I actually picked this as one of my favourite makeup products of 2020 because of how easy it is to use.

3. Glossier Generation G

£14

Words cannot describe my love for the Glossier Generation G sheer matte lipstick. This dialled down product stains your lips enough to impart some matte colour without being bold or overpowering. Not only does it make this lipstick very wearable, but it’s also creamy and comfortable. Once applied, you’d hardly know you’re wearing it. I’ve got the shade Zip, which is a beautiful poppy red that’s ideal for summer. It looks great with warm-toned makeup looks.

4. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

£28

The Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer is such a gorgeous formula. It gives you a beautiful, natural and sun-kissed glow. It doesn’t lean too orange and is easy to build and blend. Whether you love very bronzed looks or just a touch of warmth, this Fenty Beauty cream bronzer is so easy to play around with. As the formula is so creamy, it doesn’t disturb any other base products you might be wearing underneath, making it ideal for application over sheerer products.

9 other holy grail Fenty Beauty products you need to check out

5. Colourpop Yes, Please! Pressed Powder Shadow Palette 

Discontinued

I’m saddened to find out that Colourpop has discontinued its legendary Yes, Please! Pressed Powder Shadow Palette because the formula is bomb. This popular warm-toned eyeshadow palette is filled with pigmented shades for a sunset glam look. Each shade is buttery and easy to manipulate across the eyelids so it’s incredibly beginner-friendly. This colour story screams summer to me.

6. NARS Cosmetics Soft Matte Complete Concealer

£24

The NARS Cosmetics Soft Matte Complete Concealer is loved by makeup artists worldwide. Bouncy, flexible and offering a skin-like finish, you can easily brighten under-eye areas, conceal spots and even out skin tone with this unique concealer. It has a soft-focus finish and gives the appearance of poreless skin. In warmer weather, you’ll appreciate how lightweight, airy and buildable this product is. You can actually ditch a base product altogether and lightly apply this to areas of your face that you feel need more attention. The result? A sophisticated and put-together look.

Full review of the concealer here

7. EM Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush in Pink Nectar

$24/£18

If you like dewy blushes, you’ve got to try the EM Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush. This super pigmented blush is glass skin and a healthy flush of colour in a bottle. I’ve got the shade Pink Nectar, which is a stunning watermelon pink and perfect for summer due to the coral undertones. This makeup-meets-skincare blush feels lightweight and melts into the skin seamlessly, so you won’t feel it on your skin, even if it’s hot outside.

See what other products I picked up from EM Cosmetics in my recent haul

8. ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow

£22

This is a key summer makeup product for adding extra radiance to your makeup look, refreshing the skin and keeping your makeup in place. ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow hydrates, refreshes and illuminates the skin in an instant. This setting spray also has extracts of cucumber and chamomile to soothe and hydrate the skin, ideal for when the sun is shining.

9. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

£34

The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is one of my favourite makeup products of all time. This unique glowy liquid formula is unlike anything I’ve tried before. You can mix it in with your moisturiser or foundation for some added luminosity or apply it to the high points of your face for a subtle dewy highlight. It’s not shimmery or glittery but instead gives you a natural and healthy glow. You can even wear this product alone to add some radiance to your skin. It’s ideal for summer because the way this product reflects the light is magical.

10. e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer

£9

This is the primer that broke the internet. This velvety product glides over the skin for a poreless finish and makeup that won’t budge all day. The e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer has enough grip to ensure a perfect canvas for applying foundation but still delivers enough hydration so that your skin doesn’t feel dry.

11. Beauty Bay EYN Bright Matte 42 Colour Palette

£23

This vibrant 42-pan eyeshadow palette offers excellent value for money and all the bright shadows you could possibly need for summer. The Beauty Bay EYN Bright Matte 42 Colour Palette is a great and affordable way to introduce colour to your eye makeup. Purples, oranges, browns, greens, pinks, yellows – you name it, this palette has got the shade. I love using this palette to create monochromatic wings or underneath my eyes for a pop of colour.

Full review and swatches here

12. M.A.C. Pro Longwear Paint Pot

£17.50

So we’ve got some essential summer makeup products on this list to keep your base makeup in place but what about eyeshadow? The M.A.C. Pro Longwear Paint Pot is a must-have for ensuring your eyeshadow doesn’t crease, move around or smudge throughout the day, particularly if you’ve got oily eyelids. This is easily the best eyeshadow primer I’ve ever used and it stays put when the weather’s warm too.

13. EM Cosmetics Daydream Cushion Tinted SPF

$48/£34.50

The final item I want to share in this best summer makeup products round-up is the EM Cosmetics Daydream Cushion Tinted SPF. Marrying the benefits of skincare with the art of makeup, this foundation feels lightweight and comfortable on the skin and provides healthy luminosity. It also does a great job at concealing blemishes and evening out your skin tone. With light coverage, this cushion isn’t going to feel cakey. It feels much more similar to a moisturiser than a typical foundation, which is perfect for warmer weather. It boasts SPF50 too for added protection from the sun.

Final thoughts on these must-have summer makeup products

Warmer weather likely means you’re going to be reaching for more lightweight makeup products. Heavy products can feel horrible in the sun and it’s just more product to melt off and feel oily as the day goes on. This list provides hot-weather-proof makeup goodies that will keep you looking and feeling fresh during the warmer summer months. Plus, there are plenty of colourful products to play around with like the Beauty Bay eyeshadow palette, Glossier lipstick and EM Cosmetics blush.

Spot any of your faves in this list?

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 5 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.