I was never a girl who wears makeup to the beach, but since my obsession with makeup progresses, this trip to Miami I started thinking, why not? At the end of the day, it takes only a few minutes to do a light beach makeup that will elevate your entire look. If you know how to choose the right waterproof and sweatproof products, beach makeup is super simple and lasts all day long. In this post, I share some of my tips as well as favorite products that will help you to create your best beach makeup ever!

TIP #1 // Never Forget Sunscreen

I might sound like a broken record, but if there is just one thing you learn from reading this blog is to wear SPF non-stop and with no exceptions. It’s the most recommended strategy by every dermatologist that I’ve talked too and for a good reason. Basically, without wearing sunscreen your skin ages faster—and who wants that?

I know that for many people avoiding sunscreen the main excuse is that SPF products are greasy. My response to it would be, if you think so you just haven’t found the right product for your skin. For the last decade, I’ve experimented with so many sun protective lotions, sprays, and serums that I feel confident recommending you some of my all-time favorites. But again, it’s up to you to re-apply SPF every few hours.

My favorite drugstore sunscreens:

• Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 ($9.99)

• Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen For Acne-Prone Skin SPF 30 ($9.00)

• La Roche-PosayToleriane Double Repair Moisturizer UV SPF 30 ($19.99)

High-end sunscreens that are worth your attention:

• Lancome Bienfait UV SPF 50 Super Fluid Facial Sunscreen ($39.99)

• Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($43)

• SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34)

• Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($69)

TIP #2 // Powder Your T-Zone

I’m not using blotting paper that much, but I always have a mineral powder on hand. Powder works the same in terms of absorbing the oil, but it’s less likely to move your foundation of a BB-cream if you decide to wear one. I also love the idea that a mineral powder contains SPF which adds an additional level of sun protection. Finally, a powdered face looks so much better in photos—if you decide to organize an impromptu photo shoot on the beach.

Mineral powders I love:

• ColoreScience Sunforgettable Loose Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($64; check out full review)

• Physician Formula Super BB #InstaReady Filter Trio BB Powder SPF 30 ($7.49; check out full review)

• IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder SPF50+ ($35)

TIP #3 // Skip on Blush, Use a Bronzer Instead

I used to avoid a bronzer at all costs as it often looks muddy on my paper white skin. Instead, I would apply blush with sun-reflecting pigments. Lately, I’ve changed my strategy because wearing too much blush on the beach looks unnatural. In fact, every time I look back on my old beach photos, it looks like my cheeks are burned—because of the amount of blush that I’m wearing. This time around, I’m all about bronzers—but very light ones, that are designed specifically for pale skin girls like me.

Best bronzers for pale skin girls:

• Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer in Light ($40)

• No7 Match Made Bronzer in Golden Sand ($12.99)

• Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Bronzer in Nude Bronze Light ($50)

TIP #4 // Ditch Eyeshadow, Go Big on Lashes

Another makeup product that you don’t necessarily need on the beach is an eyeshadow. I know, it looks so pretty when you match the color of your swimsuit with an eyeshadow—and add some glitter on top, but with all the swimming and re-applying sunscreen, wearing an eyeshadow is just not practical. This vacation season, I’m skipping on eyeshadow at all and concentrate on finding the best volumizing waterproof mascara. Big lashes are always a great idea, and it’s an even better one when we are talking about the beach beauty

My favorite waterproof mascaras:

• Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes™ Waterproof Mascara ($23)

• Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara ($29.50)

• L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara ($9.99)

• Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal Big Shot Waterproof Mascara ($7.99) 

TIP #5 // The Eye Brow Strategy

Finally, the only feature of your face that is worth applying a full makeup on is eyebrows. Trust me: even if you are not wearing an eye makeup at all and don’t bother to apply a lipstick, defined eyebrows will make your entire face look fresher and put together. There are not many waterproof brow products out there, but I rounded up a few that proved to work for me. Hope you find on this list some of your new favorites.

These are my go-to durable brow products:

• Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Mousse ($29)

• Sephora Collection Retractable Brow Pencil – Waterproof ($12)

TIP #6 // Avoid Lip Gloss, Use Tinted Balm Instead

One of the major beauty pet peeves for me is a sticky lip gloss. Especially, when I’m wearing my hair down. I just can’t stand when my hair sticks to my lips and ruins both my makeup and a hairstyle. It’s a bit too much to wear a liquid lipstick on the beach though so I found the solution to avoid both of those lip products. This vacation season, I’m wearing either a non-sticky tinted lip balm or a lip stain that looks more natural than a lipstick and doesn’t leave a weird sticky finish at all.

• Lancome Matte Shaker High Pigment Liquid Lipstick ($22)

• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 ($24)

• Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Lip Balm ($36)

• Eve Lom Kiss Mix Colour ($24)

• Dior Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm ($34)

TIP #7 // Illuminate Strategically

In my humble opinion, there is no better place to wear a highlighter than the beach. This illuminating beauty product brings the dimension to your face and makes it look naturally glowing and illuminated. The trick here, of course, to find the right type of highlighter that looks great in natural lighting and offers a beautiful, subtle glow. No worries though, after years of experimenting I finally found a few that work perfectly in natural lighting conditions.

• Pixi Beauty Glow-y Powder in Santorini Sunset ($16)

• Benefit Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter ($30)