Makeup Tips for Hot Summer Days

         

Just as the seasons change from warm spring to hot summer, your makeup routine will need to change with it. I was always scared of my face melting in the heat throughout the day. My foundation and eye shadow creasing, mascara running down my face and my lips looking devilish from melted colors. Having oily skin also makes this a huge challenge since I do not want to look like a big grease ball half way thru my day. Over the past summers, I have molded my summer makeup into a routine that is melt-free and stays put all day. Here are some of the tips I use.

1. Primers - I can not stress enough how important this is. Just like you would prime your walls to get the color to stick to it and look smooth, you want to do the same thing on your face and eyes. Face primers will keep your foundation in place and help give you that flawless canvas you want. Eyelid primers like Urban Decay Primer Potion are a gift to the eyes. They will make your eye shadow go on smoothly and not crease, as well as keep the eye look you took so much time to create stay put until you decide it is time to come off.

2. Foundation - Although I love my foundations, they are too heavy for summer time. To get that coverage still without the feeling of a layer of makeup on your skin, I would try a tinted moisturizers instead. They are lighter on the skin but still give you a good amount of coverage and even if it isn't enough, just use a light concealer to spot conceal any blemishes or areas that need a little extra coverage. This step will keep your face from looking cakey on steamy days. Almost every makeup brand now has there own tinted moisturizers but my personal favorites are from Maybelline and Pacifica. 

3. Powder - To keep yourself from looking shiny, I always use pressed powder on my t-zone and any other areas that tend to get oily. If you don't like the color of powder on your skin, or have a hard time matching it to your skin or foundation, just grab a translucent powder, it does the same job without adding any color to your face. Another great way to keep yourself from getting oily is by using a setting spray designed for oily skin. Urban Decays De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray is my secret weapon. I just spray it in an X over my finished makeup and it keeps my makeup stay put all day while keeping away the shine. Don't worry, this spray doesn't make your face sticky at all! They have a travel size as well which is perfect to keep in your purse to use if you feel that you need to freshen up.

T-Zone

4. Oil blotting sheets - Some days no matter how much spray or powder I use, the humidity wins and my mirror-ball of a face lights up. Another secret weapon that I probably could not live without are oil blotting sheets. One sheet lightly blotted along your t-zone and then any other shiny areas works wonders. These are great since they don't take any of your makeup off, then just do a quick swipe of powder and your good as new. Important advice: Never powder a shiny face before blotting, unless you want to look cakey. The moisture on your face will not mix well with the powder. 

5. Blush - Blush is one of my favorite summery products, since you can start using the brighter pinks and corals that we put away in fall. Nothing makes me happier then a fun, bright cheek color. I have learned over the years that I was constantly reapplying my powder blush half way thru the day since it seemed to come off, so I switched to cream blush. It lasted the full day and looked way better, just use your fingers to dab it on and build it up to your desired look. Quick Fix: Don't have a cream blush, grab your favorite lipstick and just dot it along your cheekbones and blend well. Want a sun kissed look? Swap your blush for a more subdued bronzer and swipe that across your cheeks, just don't get bronzer happy or you will look muddy instead of bronzed.

6. Mascara - Waterproof mascaras are not only for weddings and funerals. The formulas over the years have gotten much better and most brands of mascara come in both regular and waterproof. Yours doesn't? First, that's a crime to makeup and second just grab a waterproof one and use it on the tips of your lashes over your favorite regular one. Between coats give your lashes a minute or so to dry so you can really build them up instead of just taking off and putting back on what you've already done. Personally, I use Benefits They're Real Mascara then put a layer of Maybelline's Great Lash Waterproof. This will get you through that day at the beach or that fun pool party. 

7. Brow Gel - Eyebrows tend to get crazy looking during summer activities so use a brow gel to keep them in place throughout the day. A little goes a long way with this product so use a light hand. To keep the amount of products down and quicken your morning routine, pick up a tinted brow gel in your color which will take away the extra step of using a brow pencil to fill in sparse areas. Just a quick swipe thru each and your ready to go.

8. Lips - Since heavy lip colors are too much during this time of year, many women typically go for clear balm or skip their lips altogether. Just because you're feeling low-maintenance doesn't mean you have to look it. A simple swipe-and-go choice: tinted lip balms. Maybelline Babylips are a great choose since they come in so many colors and contain SPF which is an added bonus. Another option I love are lip stains. This gives you the color of lipsticks with no stick or mess to worry, also they last for the entire day. Most brands have gotten into creating lip stains so you will have no trouble finding some at the drugstore.

Maybelline Baby Lips

 

9. SPF- Don't forget sunscreen!! Luckily, a lot of products such as tinted moisturizers and lip balms are being made with SPF built in, but the content is low so don't forget to top off. 

10. Color - Remember to have fun with you makeup. Summer time is all about bright colors. Try swapping your regular black eyeliner for a blue or teal color, or use a colored mascara on the tips of your lashes. Instead of that nude lip try a hot pink or daring bright orange; you can always go for a sheer shade if its too intense for you. Just remember to balance out your looks. Colorful eyes go well with a nude lip and vice versa, bright lip with a nude eye. 

Summer time is all about going out and enjoying the warm weather but that doesn't mean you can't still look good while doing it.