Ah, summertime. Nothing like the wind on your skin, the heat warming your very bones, the weightless feeling in the pool, on a warm day….
image copyright Rudy Joggerst
Nothing like getting home, seeing your mascara on your cheekbones, your skin peeling and raw, or already forming acne…
The key to looking great in the summer is taking care of your skin, and remembering that less is more, for cosmetics. Keeping a bottle of water with you doesn’t hurt either. Skin gets damaged so much more easily when you are dehydrated.
I don’t think anyone nowadays is unaware of the importance of sunscreen, but many people ARE unaware that sunscreen needs to be reapplied, to be effective. If you don’t want to ruin your makeup smearing a lotion on, many brands are offering options that are dispensed through a brush, similar to a mineral-powder foundation.
If you have oily skin like me, summer can be a nightmare. Remember to wash any sunscreen off at the end of the day to minimize any inflammation or breakouts, and keep blotting papers and/or toner on hand to refresh your skin throughout the day. Powders can look chalky when they absorb the skins oils, and most “longwear” foundation formulations are tough to remove, and can be more harsh on the skin.
Use spot-concealers, color correcting primers as needed, but try to keep foundation to a minimum. A tinted moisturizer is great for all but the oiliest skin. While many options are available(Laura Mercier is my favorite, since I use their oil-free variety), I usually mix my summer moisturizer with just a little bit of heavier-coverage foundation. Any spots that need additional coverage, you can blend a touch more foundation in, while keeping the overall tone the same, and not piling a ton of makeup on your face.
Lipsticks and glosses can be a runny mess in the heat. I usually find myself leaning heavily on lip stains in the summer, when I need something more vibrant. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tars are phenomenal. I’ve even used them on underwater shoots, no fading or smearing.
Image copyright Mikola Accuardi
Even waterproof products sometimes need a boost. My favorite waterproof cream eyeshadows, Make Up For Ever aqua creams,and Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencils, wear better with a powder shadow over top, especially if it’s a brighter color, and you want to apply more than one layer, for the densest color. Also, waterproof does not mean smudge-proof. If you rub your wet face too hard, your waterproof mascara may still smear. Make sure to rub your eyes gently, sweeping under the eye, and lashes, to avoid pulling your makeup off.
Image copyright Mikola Accuardi