My first secret that I'm more than happy to divulge is using a gel or light weight facial cleanser during the summer months. Light weight formulas are so important to the skin when humidity is rampant because they play a big part in how your skin reacts and repairs itself daily. Heat and humidity + heavy products cause skin to flare up, increase oil production, clog pores and in return produce acne and/or redness.
Ormedic Balancing Facial Cleanser from the prestigious spa line Image Skincare is an excellent 3 in 1 cleanser that I highly recommend. It's an organic emulsion of green tea and chamomile that also exfoliates and tones; specifically made to remove makeup and impurities it's light weight, calming, deters acne and most of all soothes the skin. Introduced to me by professional Esthetician Robynne Denise from the spa at Chicago's Fitness Formula Clubs, I haven't stopped using this cleanser since. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser is a great light weight alternative with many of the same great benefits also boasting natural ingredients. Check out their Chicago Lincoln Park location for expertise and awesome customer service!
Frequently, I receive many compliments on my vibrant hair and its sexy color with most people inquiring on the salon I belong to and the name of my Colorist. The truth is, I color my own hair and for the past few months I've been using Beyond The Zone Color Jamz Semi Permanent Hair Color in Wild Red and let me tell you, the outcome, especially this season is hot! Choosing to go semi permanent versus permanent is a wiser choice for summer mainly because it's peroxide free, non-drying, enhances the hairs natural condition and appears extra shiny and lustrous. One of the biggest things I love about using a semi permanent dye is the freedom to change the color more often; I'm not forced into one color longer than I want to be. Freedom to do as I please is the key to summer!
Lastly, in order to look great in summer's trendiest lip colors you don't go out and buy each one you work with what you have by customizing them. I've created so many complimentary hues just by going into my lip kit and experimenting with the different colors. I'll mix yellow and oranges, pinks and purples even blues and greens. My summer favorites thus far are oranges and fuchsia which I've worn since the beginning of this Midwest heat wave and the compliments and "offers" are out of this world.
What would be your favorite customized lip color and better yet, what sexy name would you call it?
Kim Schaffer is the Online Fashion & Beauty Editor for HUSH Chicago Magazine and a Freelance Makeup Artist and owner of Bourgeois Faces Makeup Artistry based in the Chicagoland area.
