Avoid Makeup Melt With These Top Summer Makeup Tips

From melting and dripping to sticky messes, the summer months can really take a toll on your makeup. As the temperatures rise and summer creeps in, it is important to remember some important summer makeup tips to keep you looking your best, even in the heat. Different makeup products perform differently in the heat, so it pays to know how your makeup will deal with the summer months. By following some simple and easy summer makeup tips, you can still look your best, even in the heat.

Summer Makeup Tip 1: Less is More

One of the easiest things that you can do to avoid melty messes in the heat is to go easy on your makeup. Think about how much time you will be spending outdoors and consider the amount of makeup you usually apply. Apply less makeup for each hour spent outside in the heat. You may want to use a tinted moisturizer instead of your usual foundation. LORAC protecTINT comes in 4 different shades and includes SPF 30 sunscreen. This is not to say that you can’t use foundation, but a small amount of powder foundation can be placed where you don’t feel like using the moisturizer. You may also want to consider a light primer to go on after the moisturizer. A light primer is a perfect summer makeup product in that it helps to keep your makeup in place all day, even in the heat. You can use a primer for eye shadow, as well as blush. Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 with Dermaxyl Complex is a great way to get the benefits of primer and sunscreen.

Summer Makeup Tip 2: Use Bronzer

In order to keep your eyes bright, you may want to consider applying some powder bronzer to your cheek bones, forehead, nose, and your chin. Apply lightly with a loose brush, so as not to have a dense pattern on your face. Make sure to lightly dust your neck and ears in order to have a uniform look. For a great waterproof, matte bronzer, check out Tarte’s Waterproof Matte Bronzer. It has been getting rave reviews!

Summer Beauty Tip 3: Consider Eyelash Extensions and Waterproof Eye Liner

When it comes to mascara, a great alternative is to have eyelash extensions applied. Done properly, eyelash extensions can last for weeks and you can swim and sweat all day with no worries of gunky messes.

Waterproof makeup has also made great strides in recent years. Gone are the days of flaky, crumbling messes.

If you are applying eyeliner, you may want to try Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliners (also see our previous review: Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Swatches). This award winning line of eyeliners keeps you from turning into a raccoon, in the water or out. Whether you are performing a water ballet or just hanging out at the park, Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliners are a great choice to keep you looking beautiful all day. Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliners are completely waterproof, they glide on easily, and come in 25 shades.

Summer Beauty Tip 4: Avoid Heavy Lipstick

Instead of using lipstick, consider using a lipliner topped with some gloss. Find a shade that matches your natural lip color the closest, then apply and use a sheer gloss on top. This will keep your lips looking fresh all day while avoiding the sticky mess that can happen with heavy lipsticks in the Summer.

Summer Makeup Tip 5: Beat the Heat with Blotting Papers and Hydration

For your skin, carry around some blotting papers. From oily skin to light sweat, blotting papers can be a life saver in keeping your skin glowing without being shiny. Remember to keep yourself hydrated in order to keep your skin from drying and getting oily. Hydration will also help keep your makeup fresh and glowing. Also, when packing your makeup, keep in mind that even if your makeup bag won’t be in direct sunlight, the heat can still melt it. Consider using a an insulated carrying case to avoid sticky messes.

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Categories : Beauty Tips, Bronzers, Eye Liner, Eyeshadow, Foundation, Makeup, Makeup Primer, Mascara, Mattifiers, Skin Care

Tags : Lorac, Makeup Forever, Smashbox, Tarte

How To Apply Foundation

By Carleenp · Comments (1)

Monday, April 4th, 2011

I have been asked a lot recently about basic makeup tips and application. So I decided to present a few how to articles from guest authors as part of a back to basics series. The first in the series looks at how to apply makeup foundation.

Cream to Powder Foundation: Many consider a creme-to-powder, such as Make Up Forever Duo Matte (editors note: highly recommended, read previous review here: Make Up Forever Foundation) to be the best foundation for most skin types. Apply a creme-to-power foundation by using the enclosed sponge. Dab to sponge onto the make up and pick up a small amount. Then, starting with your nose, spread the foundation gently across your nose and onto the cheek areas. Make sure your application is smooth and even (you should not be able to see any lines.) Once the nose and cheeks are covered, spread more foundation evenly across the rest of your face. You want to make sure it all blends and has an even look. Applying foundation with more pressure on the sponge will create a more full coverage, less pressure will result in lighter coverage. Avoid pure powder foundation if you have dry skin, as it can make you look chalky.

Liquid Foundation: Folks with oily skin, or skin that is oily in places and dry in places, will probably prefer an oil-free, liquid product such as Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. Those with very dry skin might prefer a moisturizing brand. To apply the foundation, remove the cap from the bottle, and place a small amount of foundation on your fingertip. Depending on your coverage preference, place between one and three dots of foundation each on your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin.

Next, use a foundation sponge ( we particularly love the Beauty Blender Sponge) or your fingers to smooth the dots together so that your whole face is covered. Add more foundation as necessary to create an even finish.

There are also several options for folks with uneven skin-tone or freckles. One option is to use a foundation primer concealer or a BB cream underneath the foundation. You would place the primer or concealer only over the area(s) that needed attention, and then cover your full face with the foundation. Alternately, you may choose a sheer powder or very light foundation and let your natural beauty shine through. Women who tan in the summer will find they need seasonal foundations. However, it is not a good idea to use a darker foundation to mimic a tan. The solution for that is a self-tanner specially formulated for faces.

The biggest secret, whichever type you choose, is to make sure the coverage has no streaks or dark/ light spots, and that the shade you choose matches your skin. The best foundation is the one that makes you feel beautiful.

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Categories : Face Products, Foundation, Makeup

Tags : Beauty Blender, How To Series, Makeup Forever, Stila

Flying with Makeup and Cosmetics in Carryon Luggage

By Carleenp · Comments (0)

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

In honor of being trapped in Detroit this week because of problems with a Delta Airlines plane, I bring you this post on traveling with makeup in your carry on luggage. You can also read the TSA rules here. When I set out on my trip, I decided to take only carry on luggage to avoid Delta’s checked baggage fee and because I had short connections that made me worry about losing my luggage. Since I got stranded, I am very glad that I made that choice! Anyway, bringing some basic makeup on the airplane was important to me, so this post is about what I did. But first, here are the basic carryon rules and cosmetic items that fall under them:

Liquids and gels are limited to items on 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less and to the amount that can fit in a single one quart plastic baggie: This includes fragrances, liquid foundations, liquid concealer, mascara, and lip gloss.
Special note about fragrances and hairspray: aerosols and flammable liquids generally are not allowed. However, TSA states they are OK in the limited amount of personal care items. This means only less than 3.4 ounces and what will fit in your plastic bag for liquids. To be safe, pack non-aerosol hairspray samples and only very small fragrance samples.
Solids are OK: This includes pressed powders. I have always considered balms and lipsticks to be solids and never had a problem carrying them on. To be safe, I tend to stick a plastic bag in my purse so I can put them in it if a question arises.
Remove the plastic bag of liquids from your carryon and send it through the scanner in a bin. Pressed powder items and other solids can stay in your bag.

Here are a few tips for carry on cosmetics:

Pack powder makeup when possible. Consider bringing a good powder foundation instead of liquid. For example, I love my MAKE UP FOR EVER Duo Mat Powder Foundation. I also like Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation and Velvet Mineral Pressed Powder Foundation From Amazing Cosmetics.
Bring sample sizes of liquid items. A regular mascara is going to be under 3.4 ounces, but why take up a ton of space, especially when all you get is a one quart bag? Try packing a sample sized mascara and lip gloss. I love getting sample kits from Sephora Favorties for things like this. Samples are also great for you skin care needs! In particular, check out this sampler, which contains a variety of makeup items: Sephora Favorites Best of Basics Makeup Starter Deluxe Sampler ($107 Value) Best of Basics Makeup Starter Deluxe Sampler.
Pack an eye shadow palette. Individual pots of shadow take up more space. Pick a palette with multiple shades that you like and everything will be more compact. Even for solids, sample sizes or multi-function palettes save space and are easier to pack.
Pack light. This isn’t the time to bring your entire lipstick collection! (This coming from the person who puts 6 lipsticks in her purse plus a few balms).

Here is what I brought on my trip:

In my packed luggage, I took a Sephora powder foundation, a sample sized powder blush, and a MAC eye shadow palette from last year’s MAC holiday collection. I picked the MAC eye palette because it came with a small brush instead of a sponge applicator, so I didn’t need to pack a brush, and because it happens to have several favorite fairly neutral fall/winter shades in it.

In my bag of liquids for TSA inspection: A benefit bad gal sample mascara, a sample sized high pigment Dior lip gloss, and a full sized Hard Candy sheer lip gloss (because I just can’t live without it). I also packed a few samples of cleanser and and moisturizer. That left room for toothpaste, deodorant and any other miscellaneous liquids and gels. I used the shampoo at my hotel (not great stuff, but it was fine for the short trip).

The packing worked quite well. Everything fit and TSA did not question anything.