There’s a time and place for a full face of makeup. Summer isn’t one of them. Summer is for letting your SPF double as your base, eating fruit that stains your lips, and pretending your glow is just “natural” (even though we all know you’ve been in our facial rooms).
No-makeup makeup isn’t about wearing nothing. It’s about wearing just enough to look like you’ve done absolutely nothing—strategically. It’s your skin, your features, but slightly more awake, more sun-kissed, more why do they look so well-rested?
here’s our step-by-step to pulling it off without losing that fresh, just-left-sana vibe:
1. Skin First (Always)
Your makeup can only look as good as the skin underneath, and summer is the season to let that hard work show. Start with a hydrating serum or moisturizer, then lock it in with SPF. A lightweight, mineral-based sunscreen with a soft tint is basically your summer foundation—it evens things out, adds a hint of glow, and protects you while you live your best outside life.
sana tip: use your fingers so it melts right in. summer skin is about looking dewy and glazed.
2. Skip the Foundation, Keep the Tint
Heavy base makeup and heat are sworn enemies. Instead of fighting your skin, work with it. A sheer tint offers just enough to even things out without hiding the natural tone, texture, and dimension you’ve built through your skincare routine. This is where your glow from that brightening serum and facial massage actually gets to breathe.
And here’s the secret: if there’s an area that needs a little more coverage — a patch of redness, a stubborn mark — press a bit more tint there with your fingers. Skip the separate concealer. This way, everything blends together seamlessly, and nothing looks caked on.
sana tip: if you feel like you need more coverage in certain areas, just press a little extra tint there instead of layering on concealer. The finish will stay soft and skin-like.
3. Cream Everything
Powders can sit on the skin and scream “I’m wearing makeup.” Cream blush, bronzer, and highlighter melt in so they look like you woke up like this.
Choose colors that mimic what your face naturally does after a day in the sun. For most, that’s a peachy or coral blush, a golden-toned bronzer, and a soft, balmy highlight that catches light without glitter. Applied in the right places, these shades don’t just decorate your skin, they bring it to life.
sana tip: apply where the sun actually hits your face: high points of cheeks, bridge of the nose, a touch on the temples.
4. Brows, But Better
You don’t need perfectly sculpted brows for summer. A brushed-up shape with a little tint or pencil in sparse areas is enough to frame your face without stealing the focus from your skin.
For lashes, think lift over volume. One coat of mascara is plenty to make eyes look more awake without veering into “full glam” territory. And yes, brown mascara instead of black can make all the difference in keeping the look soft.
sana tip: if your brows are unruly, run a clear gel through them after brushing up — it keeps them lifted without that crunchy, stuck-in-place look.
5. Gloss or Balm as Skincare
Lip color in summer should feel more like skincare than makeup. A good balm hydrates, protects, and adds just enough tint or shine to tie the whole look together. If you pick one with a hint of color, it can double as a blush in a pinch, keeping your routine even lighter.
sana tip: apply to lips, then tap the leftover onto the tops of cheeks for an instant hit of moisture and glow.
The Takeaway
When your skincare is dialed in, you don’t have to lean on makeup to feel put together. In summer, let the work you’ve done on your skin take center stage. Makeup becomes a highlight reel, a few touches that enhance what’s already there, instead of covering it up. It’s fresh, breathable, and effortless. The kind of look that turns heads without looking like you tried.
0 comments