Summer is a time for lighter clothes, sunglasses, long days under the sun, and—of course—a change of fragrance. It’s time to tuck away your spicy, woodsy winter perfume and reach for something a little lighter and playful. That’s why we’re sharing our picks for the perfect summer perfume.
Marc Jacobs DOT is as energetic-smelling as its packaging. It looks like a lady bug and smells upbeat, lively, and full of fun. With notes of red berries, dragonfruit, honeysuckle, jasmine, coconut water, orange blossom, vanilla, driftwood, and musk—this perfume is a fabulous choice for anyone seeking a chic, energetic and upbeat mood.
Stella McCartney brings you Stella Summer, a simple perfume that’s fresh and warm. Inspired by warm, summery days, Stella Summer offers up notes of frosted lemon, green apple, dades rose, Bulgarian rose, peony, and amber accord. It’s the perfect choice for anyone looking to smell like a summer-fresh bouquet of roses.
Poppy by Coach is a youthful and flirty fragrance. It’s full of cucumber flower petals, mandarin, baby freesia buds, jasmine, pink water lily, southern gardenia, rose petals, creme brulee accord, cedarwood, bleached sandalwood, vanilla, and whipper marshmallow. It’s a light, fruity-meets-floral perfume for both the young and young at heart.
Prada Candy is a sophisticated yet carefree perfume. We love its simple notes of caramel, musk, vanilla, and benjoin and think it’s the perfect fragrance for both at work and on a night out. Plus, the hot pink and gold bottle makes for a nice addition to any vanity or dresser!
La Vie Est Belle by Lancome is described as a free, happy, and deep fragrance. The description, to us, sounds a little contradictory—but once you smell it, you get it. The fragrance is simple with 3 main notes—iris, patchouli, and gourmand. It’s juicy and fruity without being too sweet, and great for women of all ages.
Everyone knows what I’m talking about when I refer to the “no makeup” look. Of course, a lot of people aren’t sure how to achieve this ultra-natural look without going accidentally overboard. The no makeup, or natural makeup look, is all about letting natural beauty shine through and only really evening out the complexion, hiding blemishes, and emphasizing the eyes.
Natural-looking makeup starts with a good base. For the “no makeup” look, I would recommend going with a light but build-able coverage—something like NARS Sheer Glow. This will allow you to let natural beauty marks like freckles show through while being able to build up the coverage to cover any imperfections—like a minor breakout, scar, or dark circles. Apply with a dampened sponge (I love the Beauty Blender sponge!) for a line-free, flawless finish. Working with a slightly dampened sponge will also help you use less product and blend more evenly.
To hide any imperfections that you weren’t able to conceal with foundation, grab a creamy concealer like MAC’s Studio Fix palette. Apply a little and build when necessary. For the under-eye, try using the salmon-colored concealer and only targeting the darkest area—typically right near in inner corner of the eye. This will break up the darkness and make the eyes look more awake, refreshed, and avoid too much product from being used on the face. Be sure to set the product with a light dusting of powder or setting spray!
As for the eyes, you have a few options. You can apply a matte champagne shadow, dark brown kohl liner, and finish with a swipe of mascara—or you can just go with mascara. If your client has darkened lids from lack of sleep or genetics, you’ll likely want to use a matte shadow to add some brightness without looking overdone. The dark brown liner will draw further emphasis to the eyelashes and the mascara will provide a finished effect.
Opt for a soft, peachy blush like NARS Sex Appeal or grab a bronzer like the Shimmer Brick from Bobbi Brown. For lips, we love a neutral gloss or balm. If your client’s lips are a little chapped, like the model above, recommend a sugar lip scrub like the ones available at LUSH. They’ll help slough away dry, dead skin while infusing the lip with peppermint oil and moisturizing at the same time.
Et voila, you now have the “no makeup” makeup look. This is a great look for every day, weekend, or when you’re headed to the beach and want to feel confident but not look overdone. There are plenty of waterproof mascara and cream blush options out there that will help keep you looking gorgeous and natural all day long, too!
