Sedona, AZ: Summer heat and sweat can make what even seems like a moderate amount of makeup into a streaky, cakey-dumpling mess, and leave you with breakouts to boot. But you want to moisturize! And protect from the sun! And cover up problem spots! And look fabulous! Or at least civilized. What to do?
The good news is the natural color you inevitably pick up in the summer, no matter how scrupulously you apply sunscreen, is the very thing that saves you from having to slather on makeup in the first place. A little summer color hides a multitude of imperfections, and for the major problem areas, a little judiciously matched concealer stippled on with a fingertip is all you need. Our favorite is “
BEYOND COLOR Radiant Lifting Concealer” an oil-free, vitamin-rich potion that hides dark circles and fine lines and stays put on even the muggiest afternoon.
If you want a little light coverage and sun protection without a heavy look, try a tinted moisturizer (it’s a rare one that doesn’t have an SPF of at least 15), or blend your favorite moisturizer with some of your usual foundation. It’ll take a little experimenting to get the proportions right, but you’ll be pleased with the subtle results. Wait ten minutes for the moisturizer to absorb thoroughly into your skin, then dust with a little sheer powder if you like.
To truly get the sun-goddess glow without courting carcinogens, bronzer is perhaps the one must-have item in your summer stash. Imagine turning your face directly to the sun. Where would the light hit? That’s where you apply the bronzer: forehead, chin, apples of your cheeks, tip of your nose. Pressed powder bronzers like Avon’s “
Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder” allow a little more control over how much or little you apply. For best results with either a loose or pressed powder, use a brush to lay on the sunshine.
For those of us who tend to shine, and not in a nice way, a word about blotting papers: they may seem like mysterious items that belong the bottom of your grandma’s makeup case, but these simple and portable little slips can be your best friends in the effort to keep a shine-free look.
Choose light, neutral shades like mauves, golds, tans and pinks for your eyes during the summer. If your eye shadow tends to crease and disappear, try “priming” your eyelids with a little of your face powder first to help the shadow stay put. And with all the good waterproof eyeliners out there, there is just no excuse for sad-clown eyeliner running all over the place. Opt for gel or liquid liners over smudgy pencils.
