Summer Beauty Tips

By Susan Ward-Brooks
aka., The Makeup Junkie

Aren't we all sooooo happy summer is here? This is the time of year when makeup and skincare REALLY changes..and by that I mean MORE attention to our skin and LESS attention to makeup. And when I say "less" attention, I mean going lighter...less is more this time of year in a BIG way. Summer is all about looking fresh-faced and sun kissed.

First of all, when it comes to makeup:
If you can go without foundation, please DO. Otherwise, put it only where you need it(which is the way it should be in the first place). You can also switch to using a lightweight concealer only if you want, but foundation will be more economical. Secondly, lighten up on powder. When you perspire it cakes up in the WORST way...yuck!

One of THE best foundations on the market(and anyone who knows me, knows I swear by it)...is Bare Escentuals. NEVER cakes, and it has INCREDIBLE sun protection and staying power. But the BEST part is, it doesn't look like a tone of makeup...it looks like GOOD SKIN. And that's exactly what you want a foundation to do.

As for bronzers...DO NOT use them all over your face, EVER!!! Do you wanna look like an Oompa Loompa? Really? They should be applied LIGHTLY and only where the sun would hit, which would be the bridge of nose, cheekbones, forehead and chin. If you need to blend with your neck a bit, brush it very lightly down the center of your neck. For oily skins, I would recommend using a matte bronzer(Hoolah by Benefit, and Bare Escentuals "Warmth" powder is awesome, too). Add a touch of peachy pink blush on the apples of your cheeks to give a pretty "flushed" look. As always, pay close attention to the undertones in the colors you use. It can make or break the way you look.

For eye makeup: Going softer and simpler is the best. For a pop of color, try using a bright colored eye pencil(try Makeup Forevers' Aqua Pencil) on the outer corners of your eyes. Another cool trick, is just dabbing a shimmery pale shadow on the brow bone. Light colored eyes pop in a HUGE way when using bronzy colors. For Dark eyes, try plums and violets. Try using lip stains with a little gloss over them...it looks AWESOME!

Skincare:
First of all, lighten up on the moisturizer. Oily skins can actually go without, while dry skins can go to a lighter formula. Exfoliate DAILY, but make sure to avoid the scrubs that have nuts and seeds in them.
Clay masks twice a week helps with oily skin a lot...and EVERYONE should use an eye cream.

Awesome Bronzers:
Bare Escentuals "Warmth"
Benefit "Hooolah"
Nars Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo in "Orgasm/Laguna"
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder
Makeup Forever "Matte Bronze"

Body Bronzers:
Scott Barnes Body Bling (www.scottbarnes.com)
Guerlain Terracotta Spray
Modelco Airbrush in a Can
Lorac TanTalizer

Until next time...  
XXOO   // The Makeup Junkie