What to Keep in a Summer Beauty Bag

Summer Makeup Looks

What does summer mean for my beauty routine? Living in Florida, my summer makeup looks have to account for three main things: sunshine, humidity, and higher temperatures. While I generally stick to lighter makeup anyway, my summer beauty essentials take that to the next level. I stick with lightweight, non-irritating products that hydrate and protect my skin, especially from the sun. Here, I’m sharing my best summer makeup recommendations, the beauty products that I’ll be keeping at hand through the warmer months.

What I Keep in My Summer Beauty Bag

I keep my makeup look pretty minimal. This is both because I prefer a more natural look and because I don’t want to spend too much time getting ready. Roughly speaking, I’ve organized these images by theme. The first deals with foundations and face sunscreens, while the second covers eye makeup and miscellany. Keep them in a drawer or a cute beauty bag (like this cute Beis cosmetic bag) for easy reach!

My daily-wear products boil down to four things, really. That is: sunscreen, powder foundation, blush or highlight, and eyebrows. When I am looking for a more robust look (or am wearing my contacts), I add in eyeshadow and mascara.

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Summer Beauty Essentials: Sunscreen, Foundations, & Face Makeup

As far as non-tinted sunscreens go, I highly recommend the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen. It has a great texture and is long-lasting under makeup. For all over, I opt for their Play Everyday sunscreen. If I opt for a tinted SPF, I have a few favorites that I rotate through, which are detailed here. For more active days, I opt for this ISDIN tinted mineral sunscreen (it helps repair existing sun damage, too!). If I need a bit more of a moisturizing option, I reach for my EltaMD tinted SPF or their new color correcting green tinted SPF — both are great and super affordable!

If I feel I need the coverage, I’ll add a bit of the Sephora Collection Matte Perfection Powder Foundation on top of the sunscreen or tinted moisturizer. For blush, I am really enjoying the Rosa Emotion color of this Valentino powder. It’s easy to use, long lasting, and efficient for packing since it’s a three-in-one. For extra highlight, I love this Saie lightweight gel highlighter and this powder option from Dibs.

As for lip color, I have been loving Charlotte Tilbury’s lipsticks lately. The colors are bolder, great for a date night look. In my experience, if I pair them with a nourishing lip balm, they last even longer. I also came across these Charlotte Tilbury dupes (including for their signature lip color) that I’m interested in trying.

Eye Makeup & Eyebrow Summer Beauty Bag Essentials

I always feel more put together when I’ve done my eyebrows. However, the last thing I want in summer is for them to smudge or cake throughout the day. That’s why I love the Kosas Tinted Air Brow Gel. It doesn’t offer as much coverage as an eyebrow pencil, but it also doesn’t smudge like a pencil can. For more coverage, this is my go-to brow pencil.

Closing out the eyes, while I do love a fun eyeshadow palette (I bought this one from the Sephora sale and love it), the Urban Decay Mini Naked2 Eyeshadow Palette is really the best staple palette out there. It’s a good deal, and it has some great daily wear shadow colors. Pair it with this volumizing mascara from Sweed Beauty, a new favorite of mine, and you’re good to go.

Moisturizers & Miscellany Summer Beauty Essentials

Beyond traditional makeup, though, I’ve included a few miscellaneous summer beauty essentials I like to keep on hand. First and foremost, the Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream is a must-carry for me. I generally keep one in my purse and in my car, so I can apply it throughout the day. The same goes for a good SPF lip balm. Pair the lip balm with your favorite lip color (I’m loving these Clinique Black Honey dupes!) and you are good to go for the day!

I’ve included the Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder Dry Shampoo because I find I use it more in the summer. When I’m wearing my hair up more often, I can get away with relying a bit more on dry shampoo than I otherwise would. The Lulu Organics dry shampoo has long been a favorite of mine, and a little goes a long way, so it’s well worth the money.

Last but not least: hydration products. Even if it’s humid here in Florida, it’s still important to use a good moisturizer. Lately, I’ve been loving Alastin’s Ultra Light Moisturizer — it’s super hydrating without feeling heavy. If you are looking for even more hydration, they have a great eye cream and hyaluronic acid serum that you might like, as well. And, just for fun, I included my favorite Mario Badescu Facial Sprays. These are great as makeup setting sprays, or just as a little refresher after being out in the sun!

Shop My Summer Beauty Bag

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What products do you keep in your summer beauty bag?
Are there any special products you reserve for the warmer months?

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• The 6 Best Water Based Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

*This post was originally published on May 16, 2022. It was most recently updated on April 1, 2026.