I'm Red-Lip Shy, But Re-Creating Emily Alyn Lind's Cover Look Just Converted Me

Finding a middle ground between “luminous” and “Slip ‘N Slide shiny” once summer strikes can be a trick and a half, and, honestly, it’s taken me years to find a coverage

concoction that stays put but doesn’t look too dry and pasty or on the contrary, greasy and wet. I love It Cosmetics CC+ Cream because the tiniest bit gives a satisfying dollop of coverage, it blends and moves around the face effortlessly, and it brims with good-for-your-complexion ingredients, including, but not limited to, a potent dose of SPF. I usually go with the OG formula, but the brand has additional iterations catering to different skin types. (I have a few oily friends who love the oil-free matte option, for instance.) 

I actually like to start by applying the CC+ Cream with my hands, working and massaging it into my face almost like I would a face cream. That way, it really becomes one with your skin. Then, I’ll take my handy dandy Beautyblender—make sure it’s slightly damp—and I use that to dot, dab, and push the remaining foundation into my skin for an even, believable-looking finish. Since my under-eyes can get pretty vampire-esque, and since I like to add a little bit of a highlight effect to the center of my forehead, chin, and the bridge of my nose, I also go in with Urban Decay’s Stay Naked Correcting Concealer. This stuff is the shit.  A little goes a long way, it looks invisible on your skin, and it lasts a while—an essential trifecta for seamless summer makeup. I try to avoid using powder during the summer, but if I felt like I needed it, I would have dusted a little bit wherever I get oily (e.g., my T-zone and chin).