We all want to look gorgeous in the summer, don't we? But the sun, the heat, and the fun can make staying gorgeous a bit, well, difficult. Here are a few tips to help you stay beautiful all summer long.
Simplify your foundation routine.
I am normally a huge fan of creating the most flawless face possible, which means a lot of foundation, concealer, powder, and primer. All these products contribute to a polished, beautiful, look. But when it comes to summer, the old saying is definitely true: less [foundation] is more. So here's my take on summer skin: In the summer, oil production heightens (for most of us, at least) and dare I say it, we sweat. Which means the foundation on our faces tends to slip, slide, and ooze away, leaving behind a gloriously un-beautiful mess. So unless you're going to be hanging out inside the air conditioning from morning until night, you might want to lighten up a bit or in my case, a lot.First, skip the face primer. If you have a few blemishes here and there, you might want to dab on a tiny bit of silicone-based primer over the offending pimple, but otherwise, just skip it altogether. With a very light hand, dab and blend concealer that matches your skin tone only where absolutely necessary - for me, that's under my eyes (oh, those summer allergy woes) and just around my nose. This helps brighten my eye area and even my skin tone without too much product. Then, use a tinted moisturized with SPF in place of your foundation. This will moisturize, protect, and give you a hint of coverage all in one. Apply sparingly, because it isn't meant to cover like your typical foundation. If needed, swipe a hint of powder only in your T-zone or shine-prone areas. You'll still get a polished beautiful look, but without the heaviness of a traditional foundation routine, which can look pretty fake in the summer sun.
Soften your overall makeup look. I find that the makeup colors we wear throughout the year look harsh and heavy in the summer. Dark liner, loads of mascara (two of my personal makeup favs), heavy blush, and the like are just too much for warm, summery days. When it comes to makeup for summer, the secret is to think soft. Choose soft colors, a light hand, and softened application. Start with your eye shadow, and choose a light application of cream shadow instead of layers of powder for a more relaxed yet put-together look. Next is your eye liner- try using a chunkier, fun-colored waterproof pencil liner instead of your basic black liquid liner. Keep the look soft and smudgy, not sharp and severe. Choose waterproof mascara that boasts a natural look, rather than one that creates mega-lashes. It will be less likely to smudge and run in the summer heat. Skip the lip liner and lipstick for a soft swipe of gloss and just a hint of bronzer. You'll look softer and more beautiful, not harsh and heavy or washed out in the sun.
Sweeten your eye, lip, and blush colors. Color choice has a lot to do with a great summer look. Stick to pastel colors for a sweet look, or choose sheer bright colors for a great pop of color without looking overdone. Mix up unexpected colors, such as purple and teal, if you feel the urge to liven things up a bit. And if you really need an edgy look, mix up a sweet pastel pink shadow with dark purple liner, or yes, even black, and a bright bubblegum pink lip gloss.
The key to remember with summer makeup is that less makeup is always more beautiful. Choose soft colors, apply them lightly, and let your beautiful skin be the star.
Amanda Furbeck is a Yahoo! Shine Beauty Guru, cosmetologist, and blogger at thebeautifulblog.com. Read more of Amanda's articles at Yahoo! Shine.
