Imagine walking through a warm marketplace, feeling the gentle sun rays on your skin as you dream about a brilliant, beach-ready glow. Getting that sun-kissed, just-back-from-the-beach look is on in good earnest come summer, and the right beauty tools can make it simple. From bronzers that bestow on you golden-hour perfection to brightening and hydrating serums, these tiny doohickeys turn your routine into a sunny celebration. Whether you’re prepping for a beach day or a city soirée, this lineup promises to make your skin the star of every summer moment.
Picture your vanity adorned with bottles and compacts, each one a ticket to a dewy, sun-kissed complexion that turns heads. These 18 products, carefully chosen for their glow-giving magic, blend luxury with practicality, offering results that feel both natural and extraordinary. I’ve tested them for effectiveness, ease of use, and value, ensuring they deliver that coveted summer radiance. From lightweight foundations to shimmering highlighters, this collection is your guide to a flawless, glowing season.
Imagine going into the town with skin that shines like a sunset on warm afternoons, with the compliments to follow. These essentials, cult-classics to little-known secrets, are designed to moisturize, tan, and radiate, turning the everyday into a holiday. Join us on this shine quest through the summer’s best beauty bargains, with expert hacks on how to get the most from their magic. Your glow-up is underway now, get ready to shine brighter than the sun itself!
1. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Step into a world of carefree radiance with Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream, $60 at Chanel, a social media darling for good reason. Its dense, blendable texture melts into your skin, leaving behind an indoors-out sun-kissed glow that resembles a day spent by the sea. The high-end texture glides on easily, creating a healthy-looking sheen that is never streaky or too heavy. This bronzer is your ticket to easy, beachy chic.
Envision using this cream on your cheeks, the buildable texture ready to turn up the bronze to whatever the situation dictates. It’s perfect for subtle day glow or dramatic evening effect, blending easily with your foundation. Its sheer finish is so comfortable, even on sweltering summer days, and it ought to be a part of every beauty lover’s arsenal. Use it with a dewy highlighter for a radiant, beachy finish.
- Natural Finish: Reproduces a natural-looking tan without orange cast.
- Buildable Formula: Customize from sheer to dramatic glow.
- Long-Lasting: Withstands radiant through scorching summer days.
- Versatile Use: Apply on cheeks, forehead, or contour.
Picture swooshing your brush round in this decadent pot, opulence scent filling the air as you map out your glow. Easy to apply on all skin tones, it’s a must-have for everyone, and each age group can benefit from it. Apply over moisturizer for a quick pick-me-up or layer for maximum drama. This flash of instant glow serum belongs in your routine for perpetuating that sun-filled glow that commands attention.
2. Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum
Get into a morning routine where Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, $37 at Sephora, transforms your skin into a dewy, glowing piece of art. This light-as-air multitasker is also a primer that prepares the skin for flawless makeup application. Its skin-caring ingredients provide your skin with a sun-kissed summer sheen, like a dewy morning kiss. It’s everyday sun-kissed summer in a bottle.
Think of applying this serum on top of moisturizer, its smooth texture preparing skin for long-wearing, flawless finish. Best for minimalists, it delivers glow without weight, even in steamy summer weather when humidity is highest. The weightless radiance makes it ideal for no-makeup days or as primer for full glam. Apply with fingertips for instant, glowing light.
- Hydrating Formula: Retains moisture and maintains skin dewy and vibrant during the day.
- Primer Perks: Smooths skin for effortless makeup application.
- Light-Weight Texture: Air light, perfect for summer.
- Natural Radiance: Brightens complexion without heavy shimmer.
Picture your skin absorbing this serum, its glow shining through makeup or radiating on its own. A budget-friendly beauty gem that provides luxury outcomes at a similarly-priced hectic summer morning is what this is. Wear it every day to keep your base fresh and radiant. This serum is your secret to a lazy, fresh-looking summer complexion.
3. Westman Atelier Lit Up Glow Highlighter Stick
Enter golden hour with Westman Atelier’s Lit Up Glow Highlighter Stick in Nectar, $48 at Sephora, bottle sunshine in a chic tube. Creamy to apply, it glides on easily to provide a dewy, lit-from-within shimmer to enhance your features. Swipe it on cheekbones, eyelids, or nose and it’s a summer must-have for glowing beauty. This stick is your entry to a refreshed, sun-kissed look.
Imagine sweeping this stick along your skin, its blendable formula melting for a natural, radiant finish. Its travel-friendly compact is convenient to touch up at beach parties or music festivals. Versatility lets you be subtle or dramatic, ideal for all skin colors. To use with bronzer for a chiseled, radiant masterpiece.
- Dewy Finish: Fresh, natural glow without glitter.
- Easy Application: Swipe-and-blend for instant glow.
- Travel-Friendly: Mini stick is convenient for every summer clutch.
- Multi-Use: Use on cheeks, eyes, or where you’d like a flash of light.
Picture fitting this stick into your bag, poised to take back your glow between stops. Whipped formula melts like a dream, leaving you with a seamless, lit-up appearance no matter. Dust lightly for day or build for night drama. Your little secret for capturing summer magic in every light.
4. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Enter the summer of flawless skin with Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, $65 at Chanel, an unboxed bottle of raw summer wonder. Its lightweight, moisturizing texture provides buildable coverage, evening out your complexion with natural-looking light. Picture it as an Instagram filter, but reality, making your face silky and radiant. This foundation is your summer season workhorse of effortless beauty. Share your thoughts.
Imagine having this foundation on, its weightless feel moving effortlessly for second-skin finish. It withstands the hot summer days, from beach brunch to evening out. Its lit-from-within finish brightens your natural radiance without appearing heavy. Apply with dampened sponge for dewy, summer-glow.
- Hydrating Formula: Provides moisturizing on hot summer days.
- Buildable Coverage: Sheer to medium for adaptable looks.
- Longwear: Lasts perfectly through sweat and moisture.
- Natural Radiance: Mimics a healthy, sun-kissed glow.
Picture your skin glowing in the summer sun, this foundation perfection all day. The price is worth it for a radiant complexion is its luscious texture and long-lasting wear. Apply sparingly for daily or layer for evening excursions. This foundation is your visa to a sun-kissed, perfect summer complexion.
5. Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cream Blush
Walk through a summer garden with Saie’s Dew Blush in Chilly, Sephora, $25, coloring your cheeks with a healthy, just-pinched flush. Its liquid cream formula glides on and blends instantly, providing an all-day youthful glow. Soft pink-brown color suits all skin tones, like a gentle summer breeze. This blush is your beauty secret to a bright, glowing face.
Imagine patting this blush on your cheeks, the creamy texture imparting a silky, dewy appearance. Use as a base for powder blush for added depth or alone for bare. Light weight is perfect for warm weather days, never caky. Fingers to apply for an easy, quick flush.
- Natural Flush: Replicates healthy, sun-bronzed cheek radiance.
- Long-Lasting: Maintains bright through summer heat.
- Blendable Formulation:.Blends into skin for seamless finish.
- Versatile Use: Solo wear or layer for extra depth.Envision your cheeks glowing softly, a summertime hue, this blush illuminating your natural radiance.
Its ease and price make it a must-have in every makeup bag.Apply lightly for day or build for a dramatic evening. This blush is your one-stop solution for a carefree, summery look.
6. Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush
Enjoy rosy elegance with Chanel’s Joues Contraste Powder Blush, $55 from Chanel, an eternity summer makeup must-have. The extremely fine powder yields a delicately shaded rosy tone that complements all skin types. Silky, the formula sheers on smoothly, imbuing cheeks with a sun-tinted, naturally luminous appearance. This blush is your trick to smooth, sun-tinted cheeks.
Envision using this blush on your cheeks with a dusting, its silky smooth texture creating a pop of color that long-lasting. Layer for going out, or lightly layer for day-to-day wear. Blend with a highlighter for a lit-from-within, sculpted finish. Use with a fluffy brush for a diffused, summery feel.
- Smooth Application: Milled to a fine powder to blend seamlessly.
- Buildable Color: Lightweight for day, dramatic for evening.
- Universal Shades: Flatters all skin tones beautifully.
- Longwear: Feels alive for summer fun.
Visualize your cheeks rosy and flushed with a natural-looking healthy glow, this blush bringing oomph to your summertime makeup look. With its opulent texture and anything goes attitude, this is a splurge worth indulging for anyone who loves beauty. Dust on lightly for a casual glow or build for extra drama. This blush is your ticket to healthy, gorgeous-looking cheeks year-round.
7. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo
Splash into chiseled summer with Patrick Ta’s Major Sculpt Duo in She’s Sculpted, $42 at Sephora, a contouring dream. The powder and cream formulas complement each other to warm and contour your skin tone with ease. Begin with the powder to bronze, then mix the cream for a lit-from-within, sun-kissed look. This two-piece kit is your easy-access passport to a chiseled, lit-up face.
Picture following the contours of your cheekbones with this pair, their blendable formulas giving a smooth, professional look. Beginner-friendly or pro, it’s frustration-free to use, even on humid days. Travel-sized and perfect for touch-ups, its small size renders it an indispensable one. Apply with a brush or sponge for a silky, summer-perfect look.
- Dual Formulas: Cream and powder to shape in different ways.
- Natural Glow: Gives warmth without too much glitter.
- Easy to Use: Easy enough for effortless contouring.
- Travel-Friendly: Compact enough for spontaneous summer speedy fixes.
Picture your face glowing with a defined, sun-tanned look, this duo bringing out your best features. Inexpensive and efficient, it’s a summer essential in makeup applications. Lightly apply for natural look or build for dramatic definition. This duo is your ticket to a bright, contoured summer complexion.
8. Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
Enter the sunny summer with Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum, $82 at Sephora, a complexion powerhouse. The serum breaks down dark spots and boosts your skin’s own glow, perfect for the sun-blasted face. It’s light enough in texture that it’s absorbed in seconds, leaving your face with an even, shining glow. It’s like hitting refresh on your complexion this summer.
Imagine applying this serum morning and night, its active ingredients hard at work to reveal brighter, radiant-looking skin. Use before moisturizer to get even color and shine through makeup. Daily use shows visible results, and it’s an essential summer must-have. Use with SPF for added sun protection.
- Brightening Power: Evens dark marks for smooth skin.
- Lightweight Formula: Fast-absorbing, ideal for summer.
- Radiance Boost: Enhances own-glow under makeup.
- Long-Term Effects: Evens skin tone with repeated use.
Imagine your complexion radiating bright, this serum giving your summer glow a face-lift. Its cost-worth formula performs miracles that shine beneath your makeup. Use every day to achieve brighter, glowier-looking skin. This serum is your secret to a flawless sun-kissed summer glow.
9. Chanel La Base Illuminatrice
Enter a realm of perfect makeup with Chanel’s La Base Illuminatrice, $56 at Chanel, a primer that redefines luminosity. The light-infused base smooths out flaws, providing an illuminated-from-the-inside-out surface for your summer skin. The weightless texture hugs skin like a second skin, ideal for balmy days. Imagine it as the shining foundation of your makeup.
Imagine applying this primer, its silky texture concealing pores for a radiant, smooth finish. Wear it alone for bare-faced style or as a base for foundation for extended wear. It takes any look – natural or full glam – in its stride. Apply with fingertips for an instant radiant base.
- Illuminating Finish: Provides luminous, smooth finish.
- Lightweight Feel: Ideal for wear during warm weather.
- Versatile Use: can be used alone or under make-up.
- Long-lasting: resists make-up break-down during scorching sunshine.
Envision your complexion radiating sun-kissed summer glow, this primer adding your appearance to extreme heights. Its dense texture and versatility render it a must-buysummer essential. Use lightly for day-time luminosity or build for dramatic look. This primer is your key to a silky, glowing skin.
10. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Step into a festival of summer, your makeup still with Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, $38 at Sephora. This setting spray maintains your look in a dewy, glowing finish that resists the heat and humidity. It unites products together, forming one, airbrushed glow. Your makeup remains flawless from morning till evening.
Picture spritzing this spray on makeup, its soft mist extending your glow hours. Perfect for beach vacations or late-night adventures, it revives your look. This moisturizing, non-sticky, non-greasy texture is lightweight. Use as a finishing or mid-day pick-me-up.
- Longwear Hold: Resists summer heat from disrupting makeup.
- Dewy Finish: Gives shine without seeming oily.
- Lightweight Mist: Stings, not heavy.
- Versatile Use: Applies makeup or touches up during the day.
Imagine dancing at night and having your makeup still looking freshly applied. Its quality and value make this setting spray a must-have in summer. Spray lightly for everyday wear or touch-up for night events. This spray is your secret to a radiant, long-lasting summer glow.
11. Haus Labs Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick
Glow up with a starry, otherworldly light courtesy of Haus Labs’ Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick in Glassy Champagne Quartz, $30 at Sephora. The balm stick imparts a beatific, otherworldly glow to skin. Swipe along cheekbones or eyelids for a quick, brightening pick-me-up. It’s your ticket to summer’s heavenly, sun-kissed glow.
Picture sweeping this stick across your skin, champagne hue to complement any tone. Soft-glow or highlight drama blendable formula, perfect for every mood. Lightweight texture that won’t melt in the sun, never to be found. Apply with a bronzer for sculpted, radiant complexion.
- Multi-Use Shade: Suitable for all skin types with champagne glow.
- Seamless Application: Swipe and blend for an instant glow.
- Lightweight Formulation: Won’t feel heavy in summer sunshine.
- Many Uses: Use on cheeks, eyes, or collarbone.
Picture your complexion shining like a summer night, this highlighter shining bright. Convenient and affordable enough to be a staple in every makeup bag. Use lightly for everyday wear or layer for evening spectacle. This stick is your ticket to a radiant, starry summer shine.
12. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Lip Liner
Enter a summer bash, your lips marked with Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencil in Wherever Walnut, $24 at Nordstrom. This pink-brown lip pencil defines the shape of your mouth with a natural shade that blends. Use alone for matte color or on top of gloss for shiney light. It’s your secret to a perfect summer lip.
Imagine lining your lips, this heat and drink-proof longwear pencil all day long. The daily shade will look great with any lip color, enhancing your glow. Silky creamy texture glides on without pulling or drying lips out. Apply as a base underneath full-coverage bright lipsticks or wear alone for ease.
- Longwear Formula: Clings through summer heat.
- Universal Shade: Pink-brown shade to suit any complexion color.
- Smooth Application: Applies easily without drying out lips.
- Versatile Wear: Can be worn alone or layered over gloss/lipstick.
Imagine your lips radiating a sunny warm hue, this liner defining your smile. With its affordable price and all-day wear, it’s a summer must-have. Apply precisely for definition or layer for sheer finish. This lip liner is your key to bright, all-day lips.
13. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
Get into a sun-kissed summer glow with Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops, $35, at Amazon. The serum drops give your skin a golden-bronze warm glow along with lightening your complexion. They hydrate with watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid and dry to a dewy finish. Your no-makeup makeup hack for an icy, luminous complexion.
Think of mixing these drops with foundation or applying alone for natural radiance. Their sheer texture gets absorbed into skin, perfect for every skin type. Apply as primer or highlighter for customized glow. Spread with fingertips for instant sun-kissed lift.
- Hydrating Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and watermelon moisturize skin.
- Sheer Tint: Gives natural golden-bronze glow.
- Versatile Use: Primer, highlighter, or mix-in for glow.
- Brightening Benefits: Niacinamide evens tone in the long run.
Envision your skin glowing like a just-cut watermelon, these drops supplementing your summer glow. Their price point and how gentle they are on the skin are reasons enough to try them out. Wear daily for a new, fresh look or highlight for an extra glow. These shade drops are your ticket to a juicy, radiant face.
14. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Sunshine Drops
Snap up the summer feeling with Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi Sunshine Drops, $39 at Sephora, a bronzer serum. The drops blend into moisturizer or foundation for sun-inspired color without UV strain. They’re full of peptides and antioxidants to give your skin a shielded, hydrating boost. It’s your ticket to a healthy-looking summer glow.
Imagine putting a few drops into your daily moisturizer, skin glowing as if you’ve just returned from the beach. The adjustable formula lets you pick the level of bronze for any occasion. Its light texture is invigorating, never greasy, on the heat of summer. Use sparingly for subtle shine or apply for drama.
- Harming Nothing: Antioxidants shield against pollution.
- Tunable Glow: Control bronze level by adjusting drops.
- Oils to Moisturize: Hydrate the skin for lush finish.
- UV-Free Tan: Sun tan without sun damage.
Envision your complexion glowing with holiday glow, these drops providing effortless radiance. Skin benefits and flexibility mean that these are your summer essentials. Mix with moisturizer for daily wear or foundation for evening out. These drops are your key to a sun-kissed, radiant summer skin.
15. Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Capitulate to a summer glow that lasts all year with Tan-Luxe’s The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, $50 at Sephora. Mix the drops with moisturizer for a natural, sunless tan that will deepen in a week. Calmed by aloe vera and vitamin E, they moisturize as they stain. It’s your ticket to a bronzed, radiant face.
Attempt using these drops at night and waking up with effortless-looking sun-kissed glow. Adjustable formula lets you control the depth of the tan, perfect for summer. Gentle texture dries in an instant without orange color or streaks. Use daily for perfect, long-lasting tan.
- Gradual Tan: Builds natural glow with continued use.
- Hydrating Formula: Vitamin E and aloe vera hydrate skin.
- Adjustable depth: Control tan intensity with drops.
- Streak-Free: Evens out beautifully for all-over results.
Picture your skin glowing with a summer’s golden light, these drops working their magic at night. Their skin-friendliness and convenience make them an absolute necessity for summer. Apply a few drops for subtle shine or a little more for deep bronze. These tan drops are your best-kept secret to sun-kissed, golden skin.
16. Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer
Step into a radiant summer with Armani Beauty’s Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer, $43 at Sephora, a liquid gem that can be applied as a highlighter, a blush, or as a foundation mixer for a light, shine-through finish. Its lightweight formula is easy to blend, permitting your very own natural glow to take center stage. This enhancer is your beauty secret to a sophisticated, glowy summer finish.
Imagine using this liquid on the apples of your cheeks, its silky sheen catching just so with light. Mix with foundation for overall radiance, or use it alone for a natural finish. Buildable formula works for everything from a day at the beach to an evening out. Use brush or fingers for a flawless, sun- kissed finish.
- Fickle Use: Highlighter, blush, or foundation mix-in.
- Temporary Radiance: Gives natural radiance without heaviness.
- Buildable Formula: Sheer radiance or dramatic finish at your whim.
- Long-Lasting: Remains luscious with summer heat.
Imagine your skin shimmering with a soft, sophisticated glow, this enhancer taking your look to the next level. Its quality and versatility make it a must-have summer product in every beauty lover’s beauty routine. Wear lightly for day or build for evening glamour. This liquid is your secret to radiant, sophisticated-looking skin.
17. First Aid Beauty Bronze + Glow Drops
Say hello to a hydrated, bronzy glow with First Aid Beauty’s Bronze + Glow Drops, $28 at Sephora, this year’s must-have. The drops hydrate dry skin and leave behind a subtle, sun-kissed bronze shade. Perfect applied alone or mixed into skincare, they leave a glowing, healthy-looking finish. Your budget-friendly passport to radiant skin.
Picture blending these drops with your moisturizer, your face glowing with a warm bronze finish. The fast-absorbing formula will not leave the sticky sensation, ideal for summer. Apply as a highlighter or all-over radiance for individualized shine. Rub in with fingertips for instant, natural-look glow.
- Moisturizing Formula: Attracts moisture to dry skin for full, rounded look.
- Sheer Bronze: Creates a light, sun-kissed color.
- Fast-Absorbing: No sticky sensation, ideal for heat.
- Affordable Quality: Amazing performance at an affordable price.
Dream of your skin radiating a hydrated, sun-kissed glow, these drops adding an extra kick to your routine. Simple and cost-effective to use, they are a summer skincare essential. Wear daily for a natural, effortless look or wear to enhance for an added glow. These drops are your ticket to a healthy, radiant summer complexion.
18. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Light
Give in to the realm of glowing skin with Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream Light, $100 at Sephora, the beauty essential of summer. This light moisturizer hydrates skin with SPF 20 and gives it a glow. The smooth texture turns dull complexes into a work of art. It’s the fairy godmother of your skin this summer.
Imagine using this cream, its smooth texture providing a radiant base under makeup or use as is. Ideal for summer weather, it moisturizes without heaviness, leaving your skin feeling refreshed. A little goes a long way, making it a valuable investment for the warmer months. Apply morning and night for a protected, radiant complexion.
- SPF 20 Protection: Protects skin from destructive UV rays.
- Lightweight Hydration: Moisturizes without heaviness.
- Radiance Boost: Tones and brightens lackluster skin.
- Long Lasting: All-day lasting glow in a small amount.
Picture your skin glowing like the sun on a summer morning, this cream working its magic daily. With its enriched formula and SPF, it’s the essential for the summer season. Apply as a base under makeup for the ultimate foundation or alone for a effortless glow. This cream is your secret to a added-glowing, protected summer complexion.
Step outside into the sunshine of summer, your skin glowing as the hour is golden. From Chanel’s bronzing cream to Charlotte Tilbury’s magic moisturiser, these 18 products are your weapons of choice for radiant, sun-kissed beauty. Pack them up to transform your routine and glow all summer. Happy glowing your summer story starts with glowing skin!
