Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about My Summer Clean Makeup Routine.
As we move into spring/summer, I’ve simplified my clean makeup routine — leaning into breathable skin tints, cream textures, and products that enhance natural glow rather than mask it.
My Spring/Summer routine features Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint, RMS “Un” Cover-Up for targeted coverage, Saie’s Glowy Super Gel for radiance, Hourglass Ambient Blush for a soft sun-lit finish, Merit Lipstick for a subtle pop, and Ilia Mascara for effortless definition.
If you’d like to discover more clean beauty brands, you may also enjoy my guide to the 10 Best Clean Makeup Brands, where I share ten of my favourite clean beauty labels and their hero products.
My Spring/Summer Clean Makeup Routine
These are the pieces currently in rotation.
- Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 – a lightweight base that brightens and protects.
- RMS “Un” Cover-Up – perfect for targeted coverage where I need it most.
- Saie Glowy Super Gel – adds a subtle, skin-like radiance.
- Kosas Cloud Set Powder – blurs imperfections and sets makeup without adding heaviness
- Hourglass Ambient Blush – a soft sun-lit finish that feels natural.
- Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara – lifts and defines lashes without harsh ingredients.
- Merit Lipstick – a creamy pop of colour that’s fuss-free and clean.
Explore my Summer Clean Makeup Products below:
Think glowing skin, brushed brows, a touch of mascara and a blurred lip — done in five minutes, but looking like you made an effort.
1: Ilia — Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
This cult-favorite hybrid works as skincare, SPF, and makeup. Packed with niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, it delivers a sheer-to-light coverage that evens tone and gives skin a radiant, dewy finish.
The mineral sunscreen provides broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection, and the dropper bottle makes application simple — perfect for warmer months when heavy foundation feels unnecessary.
How I use it: I warm a few drops between my fingertips and press it gently into the skin, focusing on the centre of the face. It melts in beautifully and creates that effortless “your skin but better” look.
2. RMS Beauty — “Un” Cover-Up
A blendable, creamy concealer that doubles as a light foundation. Infused with coconut oil and cocoa seed butter, it blends seamlessly and looks like real skin rather than makeup.
How I use it: I tap a small amount under the eyes and around the nose using my ring finger, then blend softly outward. It gives just enough coverage without losing the natural glow from the skin tint.
3. Saie — Glowy Super Gel
A water-based, dewy gel that can be worn alone, mixed into foundation, or tapped on as a highlighter. It gives skin a fresh, healthy luminosity without visible sparkle.
How I use it: On minimal makeup days I smooth a small pump across the high points of my face — cheekbones, temples and bridge of the nose — for an effortless glow.
4: Kosas — Cloud Set Baked Setting Powder
Cloud Set lives up to its name — airy, weightless, and never chalky. This baked powder softly blurs imperfections while setting makeup without dulling the skin.
How I use it: I dust a tiny amount through the T-zone only. Leaving the cheeks untouched keeps the complexion fresh and luminous.
5. Hourglass — Ambient Lighting Blush
A hybrid of blush and glow, this talc-free, marbleized powder uses photoluminescent technology for a soft-focus effect. It combines the brand’s signature Ambient Lighting Powder with vibrant pigments for a soft-focus, lit-from-within flush. The finely milled texture blends effortlessly for a natural, radiant finish.
How I use it: I sweep it lightly across the apples of the cheeks and blend upward toward the temples. It adds warmth and dimension in seconds.
6. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
This award-winning mascara lengthens, lifts, and separates to take lashes beyond their limits. The long-wear formula glides on without clumping, then resists flaking and smudging for up to 12 hours.
How I use it: One coat keeps the look soft and natural for daytime. If I want more definition, I simply add a second coat.
7. Merit Lipstick
A hydrating, buildable lipstick with a soft satin finish. It’s so lightweight, you’ll forget you’re wearing it.
How I use it: I tap it onto the lips with my fingertip rather than applying directly from the tube. This creates a soft blurred effect that feels perfect for summer.
Why I Love Clean Makeup in Summer
Summer is the season when clean makeup really comes into its own. Lighter textures, breathable formulas, and skin-loving ingredients work beautifully when the weather warms up and heavy foundations start to feel unnecessary.
Many clean beauty brands focus on simple, thoughtful formulations that enhance the skin rather than mask it. A sheer skin tint, a touch of cream blush, and a nourishing lip colour are often all it takes to create a fresh, radiant look that feels effortless and comfortable throughout the day.
For me, summer makeup is about embracing natural glow, keeping the routine simple, and choosing products that feel as good on the skin as they look.
Final Thoughts on
My Summer Clean Makeup Routine
There you have it: my Summer clean makeup routine. This routine is proof that makeup doesn’t have to be complicated to feel polished. A few well-chosen products — each doing its job beautifully — can create a look that feels fresh, natural, and effortless.
In summer especially, I find myself reaching for lighter textures, breathable formulas, and products that enhance the skin rather than cover it. Clean beauty brands often excel at this approach, combining thoughtful ingredients with modern, wearable finishes.
The result is a routine that takes just a few minutes but leaves the skin looking healthy, radiant, and quietly confident — which, to me, is what beauty should always feel like.
You can discover all the clean beauty brands mentioned in this post as well as our other French Pharmacy and Clean Beauty in the Velvet Runway Beauty collection.
→ Browse the full collection here.
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With love,
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