A Sultry Summer Makeup Look
Avani RampersadA sultry summer makeup look is a soft, smokey eye that works day to night — matte neutral and bronze tones blended into a sultry haze, with a bronze cream shimmer on the lids and inner corners for shine. A conditioned matte lip finishes a look that's easy to wear and quick to recreate.
A sultry summer makeup look is the perfect day-to-night option: soft enough for a sundress, smokey enough for a night in the city. As this look’s creator — a busy mom — puts it, it’s quick to recreate and works for almost any occasion, with a couple of clever tricks that keep it comfortable in the heat.
Here is the step-by-step plus her original tips from the Albolene Makeup Challenge. For more wearable looks, browse all of our makeup artist tips & tricks.
What you’ll need
- Matte eyeshadows in warm neutrals and browns
- A bronze cream shimmer or eyeshadow
- Eyeliner and mascara
- A few drops of argan oil
- A matte lipstick in your favorite shade
- Bronzer, blush, and highlighter
A long-wear matte look needs gentle removal. Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts away smokey eye makeup and matte lipstick without scrubbing, while keeping skin moisturized.
As a busy mom, I try to create looks that can be quickly replicated and used for various occasions. What I love about this look is that it is soft enough to rock with a summer dress and smokey enough for a night in the city. You can wear this look with your jeans or cocktail dress, and for moms who go through several settings in a day without time to change our makeup looks, this is what we need. My best tip with this look is my use of argan oil before applying my unique shade of lippie. Rubbing in one or two drops of argan oil makes your lips moist and conditioned so your matte lipstick looks less dry and creasy. It's also great for your lips and helps heal dry or cracked lips. Another trick that I tried with this look was the application of a bronze cream shimmer to the inner corner of my eye and my upper eyelids to turn this Smokey matte look into a shimmery look!
How to Get the Look
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Set a soft base
Apply your everyday base and prime the lids. This look is meant to be easy and repeatable, so keep the complexion simple and natural.
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Build a matte smokey eye
Blend warm matte neutrals and browns through the crease and along the lash line, building a soft, smokey haze. Matte tones keep it sultry but wearable for day.
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Turn it shimmery with bronze cream
Here's the creator's trick to take it from day to night: pat a bronze cream shimmer onto the centre of the lids and inner corners. It instantly transforms the matte smokey eye into a glowing, shimmery one.
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Define the eyes
Smudge a little liner into the lash line and add mascara (or a lash) to deepen the sultry effect without sharp edges.
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Warm up the complexion
Add bronzer, a soft blush, and a touch of highlighter so the skin looks warm and lit, balancing the smokey eye.
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Prep and apply a matte lip
Before your matte lipstick, rub in one or two drops of argan oil so lips stay moist and conditioned and the matte finish looks smooth instead of dry — the creator's best tip. Then apply your lip shade.
Prep & Remove Any Look with Albolene
Start with a soft, moisturized base so makeup goes on smoothly — and when the look has done its job, Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts away glitter, face paint, and even waterproof makeup in one gentle step. No harsh scrubbing, no stripped skin.
Shop Moisturizing CleanserFrequently Asked Questions
Build a soft, matte smokey eye with warm neutral and brown tones blended through the crease and lash line. Smudge a little liner, add mascara, and warm up the complexion with bronzer. The result is sultry but wearable — and easy to recreate for any occasion.
Rub one or two drops of argan oil into your lips before applying matte lipstick. It conditions and moisturizes so the matte finish looks smooth rather than dry or creasy — a tip from our challenge winner that also helps heal dry, cracked lips.
Add shimmer. Patting a bronze cream shimmer onto the centre of the lids and inner corners instantly turns a soft matte smokey eye into a glowing night-out look. Deepening the liner and lip also takes a daytime look into the evening.
Use an oil-based cleanser. Massage Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser over the eyes and lips to dissolve smokey eyeshadow, liner, and long-wear matte lipstick, then wipe gently — it removes stubborn color without scrubbing and keeps skin soft.
