How to nail an effortless summer beauty look, according to Elle Ferguson
By Team BEAUTYcrew
Beauty Crew / December 17 2025
Go total beach babe this summer
By Team BEAUTYcrew
Beauty Crew / December 17 2025
If someone asked us to describe effortless beauty, we’d show them a picture of Elle Ferguson. The girl has just got the *whole* entire thing down pat. From her signature wavy mermaid hair and cool-girl balayage, to her perfectly bronzed skin and lust-worthy sun-kissed makeup look — she absolutely oozes quintessential beach babe (just ask her 662K Instagram followers).
In between making us want to be her, the model, influencer and entrepreneur is casually becoming Australia’s next big beauty boss with her popular rose-scented tan, ELEFFECT. So, when we picked her brain to find out all her beauty secrets, we knew we were in for a good time.
So, let’s get into it. Here’s how Elle Ferguson nails that naturally sun-kissed beauty look we all want (and need) this summer.
1
Focus on a solid skin care routine
First things first, a good skin care routine is the basis of healthy, glowing skin. “Be proactive with your skin care regimen early on and stick to it no matter what, and always prioritise hydration — it is the key to healthy, youthful skin,” says Elle.
"As my skin tends to be quite reactive, I prefer to stick to minimal products that I know really work. At night I use a simple cleanser and only use warm water in the mornings to wake up."
2
Start with a bronzed base
Does anyone one else tend to freak out about the whole tanning your face thing? Because SAME. It can be scary because it feels like so much can go wrong! But according to Elle, this is actually the key to the golden glow of someone who looks like they just got back from a beach vacay — so don’t stop fake tanning at your neck! “I start with a bronzed base using my ELEEFFECT tanning mouse ($, which I re-apply to my face every three days,” she says.
For a flawless tan, we recommend prepping your face the same way you would prepare your whole body, and exfoliate with a gentle scrub. Elle also suggests washing your face (and body) with cold water to close your pores. After drying your face, apply the tan like a moisturiser, and spread a coin-size amount around your face, using your fingertips. Focus on the areas where the sun naturally hits (like the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead) and make sure you blend it in around your hairline.
3
Ditch the heavy foundation
To even out the complexion and brighten the skin, Elle suggests opting for a light, sheer coverage (as opposed to a heavier foundation), as this will give your skin a healthy, fresh radiance. “I prefer to keep a minimum makeup look, particularly in the warmer summer months,” she says.
4
The goal is to look sun-kissed
For that spent-the-day-island-hopping flush, apply a cream blush to the apples of your cheeks. Elle says she also dusts some bronzing powder across her jawline, cheekbones and forehead to add a little extra luminosity.
“If I feel like being extra golden for a night-time look, I will also add some NARS Bronzing Powder in 'Laguna' ($72 from MECCA) around the perimeter of my face,” she says.
5
Style your hair before you go to sleep
To create ready-to-go tousled tresses, Elle says it’s all in the night prep – and to be honest, we’re all about nabbing an extra five minutes in bed in the morning.
“My hair routine is fairly simple,” she says. “I usually spray dry shampoo into the roots of my hair before I go to bed to add a gritty texture and volume for styling the next morning.”
This way, your dry shampoo can get to work absorbing any excess oil at night, and ensure you don’t have those telltale white powder marks.
6
Use a curling tong in the morning
If you want to add a little more volume and shape to your hair, reach for a styling wand.
“My essential hair tool is the ghd curling tong ($240 from ghd), I take it everywhere with me and curl my hair with it most days,” says Elle. “To create an effortless beachy look, I always curl away from my face and then brush the curls out so that they look ‘less’ styled.”
Looking for more summer hair inspo? Here are five easy, summer-proof hair cuts that'll get you through the warmer months.
Main image credit: @elle_ferguson
