ashley rose, / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Bronzed skin, sundresses, sandals, the beach and warm nights- summer is almost here! As the days grow warmer, my desire to wear a full face of makeup greatly decreases. I like to keep it light, simple and bronzed as the temperature rises.

Here’s my go-to summer beauty and makeup routine, as well as my favorite products that stand up to the heat of the summer sun.

Step 1: Cleanse

Always start with a clean face. I cannot stress this enough. If you’re outside in the city or sweating for even a bit, you will want to make sure your face is as clean as can be to prevent clogged pores and feeling gross. Pollution, smoke, sweat and the sun can all cause a great deal of stress on your skin, hence why many people get break-outs. Starting with clean skin helps your makeup last longer, too, and it just feels better.

In the morning, I like to keep it simple by using Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water for Normal to Oily Skin. It removes any dirt and oil that my face acquires throughout the night and makes it feel so good. (At night I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub after removing my makeup to exfoliate for a deep clean.)

Step 2: Moisturize

Moisturize! Equally as important as cleansing your skin is keeping it moisturized, especially when you are exposing it to various pollutants and the sun. Choose an SPF blend for summer protection. I prefer a lighter moisturizer than the thick cream I use at night. My current favorite is Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 (two birds with one stone!)

Let’s take a moment to emphasize the importance of sunscreen. I wear sunscreen year-round, but it is especially important when you’re exposing your skin to the sun more. Using a moisturizer with sunscreen in it is definitely an easy way to protect your skin, while helping it, too.

Step 3: Foundation

The base (or foundation) of any makeup look is your skin, of course. There are literally hundreds of foundations, tinted moisturizers, BB Creams, CC Creams and the like on the market that it can seriously be overwhelming. For summer, I suggest opting for a lighter alternative to full-coverage foundation, like a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream. I’ve tried many of these, but my current favorite is the Tart Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 (yay, for extra SPF). It’s smooth, fairly natural, and good for your skin, plus it comes in quite a few shades and lasts a long time.

Getting your foundation or base to last during the summer can be really tricky, but this tinted moisturizer does the trick, without making you feel like your face has 10 pounds of makeup on it. For a drugstore, less expensive alternative, try the Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream. This is a great one for the price and you can get it anywhere. It’s a little thicker than the Tart one, but offers great, light coverage and added benefits like SPF 30. Use a highlighting concealer under the eyes, like Maybelline’s Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer. Then finish off your face with Rimmel’s Stay Matte Powder for all-day wear.

Step 4: Bronze

Bronzer is the ultimate summer makeup product. It instantly transforms your face, making you look bronzed and glowy, not to mention it adds some dimension to your face. Bronzing was made popular by the girls of MTV’s Laguna Beach. Just watch the reruns on satellite or cable.tv and you will see these California girls aren’t just getting their glow from the sun. The cult favorite is Nars Laguna Bronzer, but I’ve found a drugstore cheapy that is excellent: NYC Sunny Bronzer. It is matte for the most part, which I prefer for contouring and an all-over bronze, and it’s so affordable. This is seriously my summer must-have product. To complete the cheeks, add a bit Milani’s Corallina Blush for the perfect summer glow.

Step 5: Eyes

I always think eye-makeup is too much during the summer, that’s when I reach for my cream eye shadows. They are easy to apply, and last a long time. My two favorites are the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Emerveille. The Maybelline color is a dark bronze color that can be built up for more coverage, but does not require any additional shadows to make it pop. The Chanel is a light, pinky color that is just so perfect to put on and go. Finish the eye look with matte black or dark brown shadow pressed into the lash line, and water proof mascara, like Loreal’s Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara, in carbon black (seriously the best mascara, ever).

Step 6: Lips

A simple lip is imperative in the spring and summer. No thick, matte lipsticks here. I like to keep the lips pretty minimal, opting for a tinted balm like the Burt’s Bees Shimmer Sticks or a light gloss. My absolute favorite gloss is Revlon’s Coral Reef. It is the best spring and summer color that will totally compliment the rest of this look.

Step 7: Finishing Spray

The final step for any long-lasting summer look is a finishing spray. I love using a rose water one I get from the local health food store because it is light, smells great and makes my skin feel so refreshed. Of course there are other great ones like Urban Decay’s All-Nighter Setting Spray or even NYX’s Setting Spray. This last step is key for all-day wear, and the perfect look that won’t fade.

The trick for getting the perfect summer glow that lasts all day is experimenting with whatever products work best for you. Take the tips and products I’ve recommended and adjust them accordingly, then get out there and enjoy the warm weather. Have a wonderful summer!

BIO: Nancy Miller is a blogger and fashion writer, who loves to research topics about fashion and beauty. She spends most of her time watching fashion shows, learning new fashion tricks, and then writing about them.