Forget the Flight—Here's How to Achieve a Euro-Summer Glow for Under $50

Be prepared to hear about "European summer" for the next three months. This summer, your social media feeds will be filled with photos of people diving into blue waters in Mallorca, eating spaghetti in Sorrento, and taking selfies in Paros. While the sights will earn my double taps and heart-eye comments, what I'm really looking out for is that summer glow.

I don't have a trip to Europe planned for this summer, but I still plan to achieve that kind of glow without breaking the bank. That's where SHEGLAM comes in. It's the kind of brand that doesn't sacrifice quality for affordable price points, making it easy to tap into the latest trends. Though we've forecasted a long list of makeup trends for the summer, post-vacation glow isn't just a trend—it's a lifestyle. Below, I created two looks and spared no details. Keep scrolling to see exactly how to achieve these glowy routines for under $50.

BLUSHED AND BRONZED

THE PROCESS

The goal for this look was to achieve a lit-from-within glow, and all I can say is, mission accomplished. I started with a little bit of foundation and used concealer for an extra layer of coverage. I did some light contouring for dimension but relied heavily on blush to pull it all together. I loved how buildable the Buttery Bliss Blush Stick was. I opted for the shade Cherry Pick, which was the perfect red for my skin tone. I used a brush to blend it onto the high points of my cheeks and up into my hairline, even dragging it up to my eyelids. (Can you tell I'm blush-obsessed?) I also added it to the bridge and tip of my nose for cohesion. To top off the lids, I used the Crystal Jelly Glaze Stick Eye Shadow Stick in Fuchsia Fun. It added the perfect amount of glitter and was so easy to apply. Because of how bright and glowy everything looked, I decided to enhance my natural lips with a clear gloss. Et voilà! You have an easy look that fools everyone into thinking that you spent hundreds of dollars and hours in the mirror.

EDITOR PRO TIPS

If you want to give the appearance of a full-glam look without taking the time to do so, blush is your secret weapon. Use it as an eyeshadow to give the illusion of effort. The monochromatic colors feel very editorial and guarantee compliments—trust me.

Grab a concealer two to three shades lighter than your typical shade for a bright under-eye. It instantly makes you look wide awake even when you're sleep-deprived, plus it adds to the glow effect.

EVERYDAY GLOW

THE PROCESS

Nothing beats a natural glow, but there's no harm in embellishing a little. I stuck to the typical blush, concealer, and mascara process and let highlighter do all the heavy lifting here. I mixed both the Glow Bloom Liquid Waterproof Highlighter in the shade Bellini Brunch and the Lunar Glow Highlighter in the shade Tea Cake. It sat beautifully on top of my blush, if I do say so myself. I added some more highlighter to the bridge of my nose, blending it with my pointer finger. To keep the look simple, I opted for the Jelly Glaze Eye Shadow Stick in the shade Golden Girl but only applied it to my inner corners, leaving the rest of my lids bare. I love a juicy lip in the summertime, so I topped the look off with the Pout Perfect Moisturizing Solid Lipstick in the shade Sepia Kiss. It was the perfect shade match for the Mulled Wine blush on my cheeks, and added a natural flush of color to my lips.

EDITOR PRO TIPS

Add a glittery eyeshadow to the inner corners of your eyes if you don't want to spend time blending out an entire look. It gives a glow to your eye area and doesn't cost you any time.

Don't be afraid to layer your highlighters. There's no such thing as too much highlight, especially if you know you'll be photographed. Highlighter is such an easy way to upgrade your selfie game.