I have a love/hate relationship with makeup in the summer. When the temps warm up my face gets more oily and less likely to hold on to product throughout the day. Ideally I’d love to bare all and let my sun kissed skin shine through with a little highlighting/eye makeup but that requires a few extra steps to ensure that my skin be in tip top shape.

Since getting pregnant I’ve noticed serious changes in my skin: dryness {especially around my eyes/T-zone}, discoloration, and uneven surfaces. Because of this I’ve really tried to make the most out of my routine to enhance my natural look which ultimately requires less makeup throughout the day. I know most of us don’t have a ton of time to spend on our skincare routine so I’ve created a 5 step guide to glowing summer skin that is quick, easy, and the full routine only needs to be done 3 times a week to accomplish a gorgeous complexion.

1. Cane Austin Miracle Pad. I rely heavily on exfoliating pads. They are the easiest way to smooth your skin, even skin tone, and exfoliate. This step opens your pores and ensures that all of your products do their job!

2. Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. I only do this 2-3 days a week and usually at night when I have more time. I like this mask because it only takes 5-10 minutes {rather than your typical 20} and promises to pull out toxins, replenish your skin, and clarify for a radiant complexion.

3. Caudalie Radiance Serum. This is strictly meant for those looking to boost the radiance of their skin tone {aren’t we all?}. It moisturizes and increases your skin’s clarity by making your skin look smoother and brighter. I’m a huge fan of the entire Caudalie line, such a luxury at a fraction of typical prices.

4. Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream. There are so many eye creams out there and truth be told I use a different serum every night. BUT, for the price, this is a no brainer. This stuff is thick and a little goes a long way but I leave this in my bag and apply throughout the day when I feel my eyes getting droopy. It immediately brightens and provides more than enough moisture to combat dry skin throughout the day.

5. Skin II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. This brand is new-to-me since February when I learned about their products in NYC. It’s a blogger favorite and the perfect finale to this routine. After going through all of these steps the last thing I want is a thick face lotion that leaves my skin feeling caked with product {especially in the morning when I finish with makeup}. This clear lotion works double duty by moisturizing and still working too exfoliate and leave your skin feeling fresh and clean. I use a cotton ball and concentrate this on only my T-zone. On days when I need some extra moisture I use Bobbi Brown’s Protective Face Lotion and at night I like to use Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Cream.

image via Vogue

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