There’s a very specific kind of makeup that makes you look like you’ve just come back from vacation. Not tanned into a completely different person. Not covered in highlighter. Just warmer, fresher and slightly glowy – like you spent the weekend somewhere with better weather.
That’s the idea behind a sun-kissed makeup look.
What Makes Makeup Look Sun-Kissed?
A good sun-kissed look usually has three things: warmth, a natural flush and a little light.
Bronzer adds warmth.
Blush brings back the pink or rosy tone you naturally get after spending time outside.
And a little shimmer or highlighter gives the skin that fresh, light-catching finish.
The important part is that none of them should look completely separate.
Instead of bronzer here, blush there and a stripe of highlighter on top, think of the whole cheek as one soft gradient of color. That’s also why cream and liquid makeup products work so well for this look. They’re easy to blend together and create a softer, more skin-like finish.
Step 1: Start With Liquid Bronzer
For a believable summer glow, place bronzer where the sun would naturally hit your face – around the temples, along the cheekbones and lightly around the edges of the forehead.
A liquid bronzer works especially well because you can build it gradually and blend it out without creating harsh edges. For this look, don’t make the placement too precise.
Blend the bronzer well and leave some room on the cheeks for blush to melt into it.
You can also mix a small amount of liquid bronzer into your foundation if you want your entire complexion to look slightly warmer rather than obviously contoured.
Step 2: Let Your Blush Blend Into the Bronzer
This is probably the easiest way to make a sun-kissed makeup look feel natural.
Apply your blush slightly higher and farther out than you normally would, then blend it into the edge of the bronzer instead of keeping the two products separate.
The LAMEL Pop Drop Liquid Blush works especially well for this because the liquid texture is easy to diffuse and build gradually.
You can even mix a tiny amount of blush and bronzer together before applying.
The goal is to create one warm, flushed area rather than two obvious blocks of color.
Step 3: Add the Glow – But Keep It Soft
Sun-kissed skin should catch the light, but it doesn’t need to look metallic.
Use a liquid highlighter on the high points of the face – the tops of the cheekbones, a little on the bridge of the nose and anywhere else light naturally hits.
The LAMEL Cloud Color Lightweight Liquid Highlighter works well for this kind of look because a liquid formula can melt into the blush and bronzer instead of sitting on top of them.
For the most natural result, tap the highlighter into the edge of your blush rather than applying it as one sharp line.
You can also mix a small amount into foundation if you want the glow to come from the whole complexion instead of one specific area.
The Best Products to Achieve the Sun-Kissed Look
You don’t need a complicated routine to create the effect.
A few well-blended products are enough:
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LAMEL Pop Drop Liquid Bronzer for warmth and a soft bronzed effect
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LAMEL Pop Drop Liquid Blush for a fresh, natural-looking flush
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LAMEL Cloud Color Lightweight Liquid Highlighter for a light-catching glow
Liquid and cream textures are especially useful here because they’re easier to blend into each other.
That matters more than using a huge amount of product.
How to Make Sun-Kissed Makeup Look More Natural
Keep your base relatively light. The more skin you can still see underneath, the more believable the bronzer and blush will look. Don’t stop your blush exactly where your bronzer begins. Let the two shades overlap slightly.
And don’t put shimmer everywhere. A little glow on the highest points of the face usually looks fresher than covering the entire cheek in highlighter. You can also take whatever blush is left on your brush or sponge and tap it lightly across the bridge of your nose.
It gives the face that subtle just-got-back-from-vacation effect without needing actual sun exposure.
Sun-Kissed Makeup Is Really About the Blend
The easiest mistake is thinking you need a lot of bronzer to look more sun-kissed.
You don’t.
The look works when everything blends together – warm bronzer, a soft flush of blush and a little glow catching the light.
The products should just make your skin look warmer, fresher and slightly more luminous.
Like you had a very good weekend somewhere sunny.
