How to Get the Perfect Brunch Beauty Look; Expert Tips from Beauty Guru Kimberly Arnold
If you’re an avid bruncher, you know that the act of going to brunch is more than just a special occasion – it’s a lifestyle, and it’s a time to make a statement with how you look from head to toe. Most weekend brunches are the necessary post-going out ritual that just somehow cures your hangover with magical brunch feels. But, that doesn’t mean that you can just roll out of bed with smudged makeup on from the night before and expect to look ready to take on the day!
Brunch beauty is just as important to keep in mind as it is with your outfit. However, don’t be fooled that you have to put on as much makeup as you did the night before. I personally love the fresh-faced, minimal makeup look because it’s simple, quick and pretty without looking overdone.
Kimberly Arnold, founder of the blog Bitches Who Blend is a beauty industry veteran of over seven years of experience, and a guru of all things makeup and skincare. She’s worked with global brands like Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, NARS and more. With over three years of experience as a beauty writer as well, she lives and breathes the beauty world.
I knew I needed to ask her about the ideal brunch beauty look, and just what products the rest of us brunchers definitely need to achieve a natural and effortless-looking appearance.
“The key to a beautiful summer brunch beauty look is really about creating an effortless-looking, sun-kissed glow. It’s important that your makeup gives you the hydration and sun protection you need, especially if you’ll be brunching outdoors. Don’t overthink it and get heavy-handed with your brunch beauty look, because you really want your natural beauty to shine through."
SKIN
After a late night out the evening before brunch, it’s important to recharge your skin. I always say that you should take care of your skin, first and foremost, before thinking about makeup.
Drinking alcohol, especially in excess, can have many negative effects on your body and skin, such as lack of hydration, bloating, and depletion of nutrients. Therefore, it’s really important to drink water consistently after you get home the night before, and in the morning, when you wake up! Not only will this slowly bring your skin back to its natural state, but it will also hydrate you from within.
Make sure to cleanse skin of any remnants of last night’s makeup thoroughly, and then follow with a hydrating serum, day cream with SPF, and eye cream. If you’re feeling super ambitious, I recommend using a sheet mask. Sheet masks, which are extremely popular in Korea, are typically utilized as a supplemental skincare treatment. Their purpose is to offer intense hydration, which is what the skin desperately needs after an evening of drinking.
Dr. Jart Water Replenishment Cotton Sheet Mask
COMPLEXION
Post morning skincare, it’s best to incorporate a hydrating base for makeup. BB creams, CC creams, and tinted moisturizers are all great options for giving you coverage, while replenishing your skin’s moisture levels. If you feel that you need additional coverage, incorporate a more full coverage concealer to conceal blemishes and imperfections, but I would still recommend using a hydrating base for overall coverage.
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
If you had a late night out, it’s really important to fake the sleep you didn’t get! Incorporating a concealer that is one to two shades lighter than your undereye will not only create a highlighting effect on the face, but it will also make you appear well-rested. If you suffer from naturally dark circles, opt for a peach undertoned corrector before applying your concealer to give you an added brightness. The peach tones in the corrector will cancel out the deep blue undertones that give the look of dark circles.
With summer coming up, who doesn’t want a hint of sun kissed skin? Skip the contouring and use a bronzer simply to add color to your face. Using a matte bronzer, sweep the product with a buffing brush on the temples, cheeks, and under the jawline. This will create an overall warmth to the face and will look really beautiful and effortless.
Because you’re using bronzer, you can skin a blush, but I prefer a pop of color on the cheeks. I recommend a cream blush to give you that hydrated, sheer wash of color that will give off that flushed-from-within vibe.
My favorite part of any makeup look is creating a healthy, luminous glow. Apply your favorite highlighter to the peaks of your cheekbones, down the nose, on the forehead and chin. If you have oily skin, you can skip this step altogether, or just highlight your cheekbones. When the sun hits your face, you’ll have that J-Lo glow we all envy. Cream and liquid highlighters are best for normal to dry skin types, while powder highlighters are best suited for normal, combination, and oily skin types.
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
As an optional step, you can set your makeup look with a sheer or translucent powder, but I prefer a more dewy look, so I, personally, skip this step.
EYES
There’s no need to go too crazy with heavy eye makeup, unless that’s your everyday go-to look. I recommend a simple, yet brightening wash of color on the eyelids to give the appearance of more awakened eyes. Cream shadows are great for long-wear and, typically, give an extra glow. Opt for champagnes and golds to give a brightened eye look. Fake lashes can also be used for that extra glam, otherwise your favorite mascara will do the job.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow
LIPS
Since you’ll be eating at brunch, you can either go with a tinted balm or sheer lip color, or opt for a lip stain that will last while you’re sipping your Mimosas at brunch.
Tata Harper Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint
FINISHING TOUCHES
After you’ve finished applying all your makeup, you can opt to set your makeup with a setting spray. Not absolutely necessary, but I definitely recommend it!
Urban Decay All-Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
Follow @bitcheswhoblend on Instagram for the latest beauty tips, trends and tutorials from Kimberly and other experts & industry professionals.
