wearing lately: summer glow skincare routine

Much as there's the cliche about having a pregnancy glow, I'm not sure I buy it... especially with the insomnia I've got going over here. But I think a summer glow is in the realm of possibility to attain: a bit of a tan and a few well-placed skincare products, and my current quick and affordable routine is making for glowy skin - even with super minimal makeup. (Which is even better when it's really hot and you don't feel like caking your face with makeup, or having it melt off.)

Skincare

I've had a simple night skincare routine down for a while that has been working well for me, but not much of a morning one, aside from putting on a bit of makeup. When I had the chance to try out some products from Maelove, I decided it was time to really get a morning skincare routine going, and a bonus is that it has come with some glowing... These products are super light feeling on the skin, which is great in the hot summer when you just want that light fresh feeling, nothing heavy, and I'm liking the results after a few weeks of use. One of which is feeling the need to do use less makeup to feel polished!

Quick cleanser: I kind of hate washing my face, so my compromise is to use a washable microfiber pad + Simple micellar water (no rinsing required) or sometimes a micellar face wipe if I'm feeling like I need a bit more cleaning up.

Vitamin C serum: I have been loving this type of product for the way it brightens skin tone; I used to use BeautyCounter's version and now am liking Maelove's The Glow Maker (though admittedly I don't enjoy the smell - of either product, actually), which feels nice going on and is even more affordable, a big plus. Another perk is the anti-aging benefits of sun protection in this product, a good thing for summer. And for being one of "advanced maternal age", ha! (And yes, vitamin C is pregnancy-safe.) First I let my skin dry - an important step to avoid any potential skin irritation from a vitamin C serum, I've learned, along with lots of other great things about it - and then I apply this all over face and neck.

Moisturizer: key step to seal in that vitamin C serum, since it is an oil-free product, is adding a cream or oil next. For summer, having something super lightweight feels great, because I'm not as dry as in winter but also because when it's hot you just want that light and airy feel - and Maelove's The One Cream has such a perfect barely-there yet still moisturizing feel. Great everyday product.

Facial oil: if I'm feeling extra fancy I'll use the Love 31 oil for some extra hydrating and nourishing. It smells like an essential oils product, so I also kind of like it for night time hydration + aromatherapy and use it in the PM instead on some days.

Sunscreen: important any time of year, but a serious must for starting out a summer day! Again this is where I've used BeautyCounter's version in the past, but I'm liking the similar clean ingredients and light + non-greasy feel of Maelove's Sun Protector with SPF 30 (if not the scent, again), and again its good price point. This particular product absorbs nicely, compared to some sunscreens, and also doubles as a makeup primer - handy because in my minimalist approach to such things, I don't usually use one!

Makeup

I'm a fairly minimal makeup person in the first place (no more than 5 minutes to my routine), but in the summer it can feel nice to use even less of it, when you're all hot and sweaty, plus the way the products above help me feel like my skin tone is a bit more evened and and brightened also mean I feel like I can look polished without having to do much more. So I've not often been using my CC cream base; instead  here are the few products I've been sticking to:

Highlighter: this Saie product can be used as a targeted highlighter, but it can also be used as a full-face dewy addition that nicely accentuates the glowiness of the above skincare routine, without being overly sparkly or shimmery. So I've been doing a quick all-over application of this lightweight gel once my face products dry.

Concealer: even with all the glow, sometimes I do need some concealer in the under-eye region, especially with the lack of sleep lately...

Brow tint/gel: just a couple of quick swipes of Brow Wow and my brows look SO much more satisfying. It tints to fill in my sparse areas, has gel to hold the nice shape, AND it's $4. No brainer.

Mascara: admittedly I've never found my holy grail of mascaras, despite trying out a whole range of ones that others have declared their holy grails, so this Saie version is just my current one. It's working well enough - doesn't smear in the summer heat so far, at least.

Cheek/lip stain: a dual product is always handy for a quick routine, especially one that doesn't need a brush for application. Usually I quick add a bit of this Tarte cream blush on the apples of my cheeks, and now that there's less mask-wearing, sometimes even on my lips for a finishing touch!

When I write it all out, it seems like a lot, but this is under 10 minutes for some pretty good payoff. Adding vitamin C to my routine especially has made me feel like a grown-up and in-the-know lady... have you tried it?

Post sponsored by Maelove, but all opinions are my own.