Summer Makeup Tips - Part 1

Q. Last week you gave us some summertime hairstyles do you have tips for summertime makeup? I always feel like my makeup does not look right in the summer.
A. Great question and to answer it properly will take more than this week’s column. I could, in fact, write an entire book on subject but I will attempt to give you a break down of summer makeup tips over the next 3 weeks. I’ll dedicated this week to giving you tips about the face, next week I’ll elaborate on the eyes and finish with the lips the following week. The face is the most challenging element for summer. Summer changes your skin. The same foundation that worked in the winter won’t usually work in the summer. Foundation rule 101 your color should match your skin. It should blend and almost disappear. If it doesn’t you have the wrong color. You need to know your skin type. Are you Normal – Dry – Oily – Combination – or Sensitive? If you have some special needs like battling oil or dryness you can choose makeup that helps. Dewy moisture-rich foundations are great choices to help with dry skin, mineral or powder based combat oiliness and leaves your skin looking cool and non-greasy. People with sensitive skin types should prime their skin with an appropriate base or moisturizer providing a protective barrier before applying their foundation. It’s most important for these skin types to avoid any product containing alcohol or fragrance. Tinted moisturizers are a wonderful alternative to base foundations in the heat of summer. They are lighter and provide less coverage but most are infused with a protective SPF providing some sun protection. For the most professional application of foundation use a triangle sponge wedge. Apply your product in a thin layer and blend well around the jaw line. I am often asked about powder foundation vs. liquid and how to choose between them. If you want a dewy or sheer finish, choose liquid if you want a thinner finish that will help control shine and oil choose powder. Even if you choose liquid foundation you should have a great powder ready to use in the summer. Loose powder will give you more coverage than pressed, but pressed is easy to toss into a purse and use for mid day touch ups and to keep your face looking fresh in the summer heat. Here’s an extra tip, humidity can cause pressed powder compacts, eye shadows and blush to cake and clump so avoid storing them in the bathroom. The final element for the face is blush. I could do an entire column on the proper application of blush, and probably will at some future date, but the basics for summer are color choice and finish. The key’s to making blush look natural are matching your color to the natural way your face will flush and getting the blush in the proper location, the apples of your cheeks. You can lighten up your blush for the summer with just a kiss of color or you can opt for a great bronzer in place of a blush. If you choose to use a bronzer apply it to the areas of your face that the sun would hit, the nose, across the forehead, and high on the cheekbones. The most important summer tip is keep it simple and sheer and pack a few touch up items like compact powder and bronzer. Next week Summer Eyes.