Summer’s Secret Weapons

It’s the season when we dare to go bare(er). But there are a few products in our beauty toolkit that we still won't leave home without. Three of our home-team makeup artists share their versatile summer must-haves.


LIZZY BILASANO, Director, Digital Education
I’m normally pretty dry, so one upside to humid summer months is how dewy my skin looks (thanks, Mother Nature!). I like to lean into that summer glow by minimizing the amount of makeup I wear so you can really see my skin. All my summer secret weapons are multi-functional and easy to apply on the go. Even though I’m a makeup artist and love my makeup brushes, I prefer effortless products I can apply with my fingertips in the summertime.

Real Skin+: Walking around in 90-degree weather with a full face of makeup can feel sticky and uncomfortable. I switch from wearing Future Skin all over my face to using Real Skin+ on spots as-needed in the summertime. I like its naturally matte finish because it really stays put! I swipe it onto any redness around my nose, dark circles under my eyes, and blend it all out with my fingertips. If I happen to throw on an eyeshadow that day, Real Skin+ doubles as my eyeshadow primer to help prolong its wear through the end of the night.

Cheek Gelée: I like my skin to look as natural as possible in the summertime, so I try to avoid powder. To add a pop of color to my cheeks I switch over from our Philanthropy Cheek Shades to Cheek Gelée. Cheek Gelée’s hydrating gel-cream formula melts beautifully along my cheeks, giving me that natural summer flush I long for. It’s not made for the eyes, but one of my secret tricks is popping a little bit of the Cheek Gelée into the crease of my eyes for an easy one-and-done monochromatic makeup look.

Radiance Gel Bronzer + Rose de Mai Face Oil: I’m all about the safe way to tan: getting a faux-glow with bronzer. I use Radiance Gel Bronzer in the summertime because of its natural, luminous finish. I softly sculpt my cheekbones, nose, and jawline by mixing 1 drop of Radiance Gel Bronzer with 2 drops of our Rose de Mai Face Oil and blending with my Sculpting Brush. If I’ve gotten too tan for my foundation, I also like to blend Radiance Gel Bronzer into my moisturizer for an all-over bronzed look that’s perfect for summer.

CONNIE MALLOTT, Education Executive
I’ve developed drier skin through the years, so the one thing I love about our summer humidity here in Atlanta is how it enhances that dewy look I prefer. Generally I’m all about anti-aging skincare. However, I’m wearing less makeup these days, so my skincare “go to’s” are about fighting the aging process every step of the way.

Bio Lifting Travel Collection: Usually I take a summer trip to celebrate my anniversary and don’t leave home without my basic skincare needs, which are included in our travel collection. I use 3 daily drops of Bio Lifting Serum+, our anti-aging powerhouse that helps plump, hydrate and soothe my skin. It also helps keep my rosacea in check with Raspberry Stem Cells Extract, an amazing antioxidant that’s very soothing to my skin. I haven’t had a flare up in 9 years! Then I use Stress Repair Concentrate+ around my eyes and lips to soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Bio Lifting Cream+ is my “everything” cream that feels so luxurious during application. At night, I sleep in our Bio Lifting Mask for a more intensive treatment. All of these contain my favorite anti-wrinkle ingredient that I call my needle-free version of Botox!

My summer makeup application is lighter, with a touch of Future Skin Foundation in Aura mixed with Radiance Elixir to smooth out my skin tone and boost my glow. A little dot of Happy Cheek Gelée, my favorite Lip Chic of the day (currently, Coral Bell) and of course Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara. A Southern girl never leaves home without her lipstick and mascara!

And I never go very long without a refreshing spritz of our Pure Rosewater! Its aromatherapy gives me the feeling of being loved, so I indulge myself with many spritzes throughout the day!

← Back to Le Magazine