Cheers to golden hours spent on patios this summer! But before you unpack your pretty crystal sandals, there’s some skincare prep work to be done—especially if it’s been a while since you’ve worn a full face of makeup.

We reached out to Erin Martyn, Smashbox National Trainer, and Pro Artist. She’s the skincare expert who taught us how to glow in our blog : You Glow, Girl! A GLAMGLOW Expert’s Skin Care Guide. Let’s face it, getting the perfect summer glow comes down to fantastic skincare, effective application techniques, and using the right makeup—so Erin is the pro-glow-bestie we all need!

Here are Erin’s 6 Steps to prep your skin for a natural-looking summer glow:

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleanse to control your glow! It may seem counter-intuitive to use a cleanser that mattifies when you’re trying to achieve an illuminated look, but Erin has you covered! She recommends GLAMGLOW’s SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. It’s packed with eucalyptus, Mediterranean clay, and a triple charcoal complex to wash away excess oil and impurities. If you don’t remove pore-clogging debris and excess oil, your makeup will sit on top of your skin, highlighting rough ridges and textures.

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Step 2: Exfoliate

Don’t skip this crucial step by reaching for your moisturizer. If you’ve seen one of Erin’s on-air demos on Hello Gorgeous, you’ll know this step is worth the flawless results. GLAMGLOW SUPERTONER Exfoliating Acid Solution helps remove any icky bits still hanging around on your face after cleansing. An innovative Super-Six Acid blend (glycolic, mandelic, salicylic, lactic, pyruvic, and tartaric acid) helps remove dead surface cells and keep your pores unclogged and refined. Activated bamboo charcoal, witch hazel, and eucalyptus will also help to reveal your skin’s natural radiance.

Step 3: Multi-Mask

“Create your multi-masking moment,” Erin says. Why? because different areas of the face have different needs! You’ll reap the most benefits with targeted multi-masking. Multi-masking means giving your skin what it needs, only where it needs it. Use GLAMGLOW’s number one selling mask, SUPERMUD Instant Clearing Treatment Mask, on areas that need to be refined, mattified, and clarified.

Erin’s Summer Multi-Masking pro tip 1:

Use SUPERMUD Instant Clearing Treatment Mask on your T-zone, nose, forehead, and chin. This mask also helps mattify the area, so you can control where you glow.

Now you’re ready to reveal smoother, softer, more youthful-looking skin—in 10 minutes! Say bye to dullness when you use GLAMGLOW’s YOUTHMUD Glow Stimulating Treatment Mask. This facial in a jar is filled with green tea leaves, volcanic pumice rock, and a natural clay blend to absorb impurities, enhance glow, all while giving you a multi-level surface exfoliation to smooth fine lines and refine your skin. The finished look: more youthful-looking skin.

Erin’s Summer Multi-Masking pro tip 2:

Use YOUTHMUD Glow Stimulating Treatment Mask on the higher points of your face, your cheekbone, and above your brow (wherever you didn’t use SUPERMUD Instant Clearing Treatment).

Step 4: Create your Primer Cocktail:

Cocktails don’t just belong on the patio. This summer, try Primer Cocktailing- it’s the perfect way to give your face what it needs in the hot summer months. You may be thinking, Why use two primers? As with multi-masking, different areas of the face may require different types of TLC.

Use Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer all over your face to plump, hydrate, and smooth the texture of your skin. It’s packed with vitamins B, C & E, and antioxidants to boost your natural glow.

Next, use Smashbox’s Original Photo Finish Foundation Primer (the #1 selling cruelty-free face primer in Canada) in any areas you want to smooth and blur (a pea size will do the trick). This antioxidant-rich primer is lightweight and oil-free—so it won’t cause breakouts. Plus, it will make your makeup last longer than you will at the party. Hello, hot summer days!

Step 5: Ready, Set, Glow!

Hello! Or should we say, HALO! There are no rules when you’re getting your HALO glow on! Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 25 is packed with good for your skin ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Plus, it’s oil-free so that it won’t cause breakouts.

Coverage: sheer to medium

Finish: natural/dewy

Erin’s Pro Application Tip:  

Use your fingers to tap and blend. Or, to build more coverage, use the Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush to give you an airbrushed finish. You can also buy the tinted moisturizer and brush in a TSC value-packed set!

Step 6: Finish!

So you’re glowing! Now, keep that glow all day, thanks to Smashbox Halo Fresh Perfecting Powder. What makes this product so unique is that it has a built-in powderizer mechanism that freshly grinds your ideal amount of powder! No mess (and no bacteria). It’s packed with skin-loving ingredients and infused with goji berries, gold, and peptides to add the perfect polishing effect to your gorgeous skin!

Coverage: light-coverage

Finish: airbrushed effect

Erin’s Tip:

Use it with the Smashbox Sheer Powder Brush to lightly buff the product into the skin for a natural airbrushed finish. For more coverage, use a beauty blender or a dense brush.

Glow Big or Go Home—extra products you’ll adore for a glow-rious day out:

Glow-Time is Always On!

Always On Cream Shadow is the perfect multitasker to bring your look together. Swipe, Blend, and Go! Apply it on all face areas, not just your eyes—yes, cheeks, lips, or wherever your inner artist decides to add a pop of colour.

Application:

Tap on the apples of your cheek and blend in an upward motion to lift your cheek bones and to give you that perfect flushed look.

Now get that photo finish!

Need a refresh throughout the day? Use the Photo Finish Primer Water to give your skin a boost of radiance and energy. It’s packed with electrolytes, so think of it as an energy drink for your skin.

Application: 

Spray at an upward angle above your face and let the ultra-fine mist fall on your skin. Pssst. You can even use this product before applying makeup to hydrate your skin, or use it after as a finishing spray—or both!

Erin’s Tip: 

Store it in the fridge for a cooling summer spritz for your face!

Get a smashing look this summer—with Smashbox! Shop our full Smashbox assortment and leave us your reviews so we know which products are your favourites!