Slideshow: Hot Summer Makeup and Beauty Tips
All Eyes on You
Come summer, the easiest way to create a fresh-faced look is with less eye makeup -- so stash the heavy eyeliner until fall. A sparkly cream shadow in a light shade (from lash line to brow bone) leaves a wash of color. Top with mascara for gorgeous results.
Orange Is the New Red!
Orange lips are a summer trend, but one shade does not fit all. Instead of falling for your first orange crush, play with a few different shades to make sure the tone works with your skin color. If bold and bright isn’t your style, try a more subtle tinted balm or lip stain.
Protect Your Pout
Your lips need sun protection, too, so slip on a product with SPF 30 every morning. It might also help you prevent cold sores, since the sun's UV rays can trigger flare-ups. Save the shine for hot summer nights -- glossy formulas make delicate skin more prone to sunburn.
Hot Hairstyles That Keep You Cool
The best way to beat the heat is to keep hair off your neck. Ponytails, braids, ballerina buns, and topknots are classic summer looks. If you need help keeping your locks in place, use dry shampoo or hair powder to add grip, texture, and volume. A shorter, cropped ’do is an easier option -- pageboys and pixies always look cool. Ask your stylist for a face-flattering cut.
Defend Your Tresses
Just like your skin, UV rays can damage your hair. Too much sun dries it out and makes it prone to breakage. You should also protect your scalp. The best way is with a hat, or spray sunscreen onto your part and work it into the roots.
Extra TLC for Healthy Hair
Baby your summer hair with more moisture. Use a mask once or twice a week to condition, repair, and strengthen. If it's going on extremely dry, damaged, and brittle locks, mix in a few drops of oil before applying. Then, wrap hair in a warm, wet towel, and cover with a plastic bag for 5-10 minutes before rinsing well.
Easy on the Eyes
The sun’s UV rays can hurt your eyes and your vision. They can create temporary sunburn-like damage that causes redness and tearing, or worse over the long term. Look for sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays and 75%-90% of visible light.
Drink Up!
Healthy beauty comes from within, so drink plenty of water, especially in the summer heat. Beauty bonus: Hydrated skin looks more youthful, because the extra liquid plumps up fine lines and wrinkles.
Nail It!
Summer is all about super-bright colors, sparkles, and metallics for both fingers and toes, and the opaque white trend still gets a thumbs-up. Use your hands and feet to try out textured polishes, too.
Forget-Me-Not Spots
The most frequently missed areas when you put on sunscreen are the ears, lips, neck, and hands. Don't just get your face. Apply sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF 30 with at least 7% zinc oxide on the tops of your feet, too.
Up Your Tame Game
Fight frizz and land those fly-aways with regular moisturizing. It repairs and strengthens the hair. Use treatment oils before styling (or a few drops mixed into your conditioner) to smooth strands as well. Finish your style with a humidity-resistant hairspray.
Ditch the Dryer
Taking the heat out of styling is a great way to stay cool (and keep hair healthy). With shorter styles, it’s easy to wash and go. To get loose, beachy waves, twist longer locks into a bun or topknot after washing at night. Take it down in the morning, smooth on a shine or texturizing product, and you’re good to go. At any length, a slicked-back 'do is a great summer go-to as well.
Add to Your Arsenal
Use a secret weapon in your summer routine to help protect your skin. Products with vitamin C or green tea can help your sunscreen work better and prevent damage after you get some sun. If you wear foundation, you should still layer broad spectrum sunscreen under it since most women don’t wear enough makeup to block those rays.
Treat Sunburn Correctly
When you have a sunburn, your skin is irritated. Calm it down. Apply towels soaked in ice water for 15-minute periods to curb redness and swelling. Take ibuprofen as directed, apply hydrocortisone cream, and moisturize frequently. Aloe vera is soothing, but avoid products with added scents that will inflame even more.
Fake It, Don’t Bake It
For best self-tan results, use a face or body scrub with granules beforehand. Avoid oil-based products, which can cause streaks. If you’re nervous or a novice, use a formula that gradually darkens your skin over a few days. When doing your face, include your ears, and blend into your hairline and down your neck for the most natural look.
Be Sunscreen Savvy
The biggest mistake people make is not applying enough. To get the protection promised on the bottle, you need 1 ounce (the size of a golf ball or shot glass shot) for each body part not covered by clothing, and the same amount for your face. Reapply it every hour and a half. Also, give yourself a little lead time: Put sunscreen on 15 minutes before heading outside.
Find Your Best Formula
With so many sunscreens to choose from, it’s best to think about your skin type and what you’ll do while wearing it. If you’re going to be active, look for water-resistant SPF 30. If you’re concerned about shine or greasy residue, try an oil-free formula or one that contains micronized zinc. A spray is easiest to apply, but rub it in to make sure it’s spread evenly.
Keep Summer Breakouts at Bay
Summer heat can make blemishes worse. Wash your face twice daily (and after sweating) to help keep it under control. It’s a myth that the sun clears up pimples, and many acne treatments can make your skin more likely to burn. If you tend to break out, look for sunscreens that say “oil-free,” “non-comedogenic,” “non-acnegenic,” or “won’t clog pores.”
Ingrowns, Be Gone!
Bathing suit season means more shaving -- and more potential for ingrown hairs. But whatever you do, don’t pick or squeeze them, because this can trigger an infection. Instead, apply cortisone cream to ease the irritation and allow them to heal on their own. The best way to prevent ingrowns is to exfoliate regularly so dead skin doesn’t clog pores and trap hairs inside. Using a shaving gel before shaving and shaving in the direction of hair growth helps to prevent ingrown hair as well.
Plan Your Smooth Move
Waxing keeps you smooth and fuzz-free for a few weeks or more, but don’t hit the beach right after your appointment. Exposing inflamed skin to UV rays can cause it to change color, so try to stay out of the sun for at least 24 hours after waxing. Apply sunscreen to freshly waxed areas and seek shade if you have to be outside.
Sources Medically Reviewed on 02/12/2020 Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on February 12, 2020
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
1) Frank P Wartenberg/Picture Press
2) Philippe Regard/Stone+
3) Kate sZatmari/Contour Style
4) Chris Nicholls/Contour Style
5) Robert Daly/Stone
6) Trinette Reed/Photographer’s Choice
7) Rose,Myller/Stock4B
8) David Sacks/Stone
9) Elisabeth Hoff/Contour Style
10) Anne Ackermann/Stone
11) Andreas Kuehn/Stone
12) Datacraft/Hana
13) Datacraft/Hana
14) Visuals Unlimited
15) Iconica
16) Jan Mammey/Stock4B
17) Bambu Productions/Photodisc
18) Image Source
19) George Doyle/Stockbyte
20) Hans Neleman/Photodisc
SOURCES:
American Academy of Dermatology.
American Optometric Association.
Leslie Baumann, MD, dermatologist; director, Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute, Miami, FL.
Jessica Liebeskind, makeup artist; founder, Vintage by Jessica Liebeskind cosmetics.
Jim Markham, celebrity hairstylist; CEO/founder ColorProof Evolved Color Care.
National Institutes of Health/Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.
Janelle Vega, MD, voluntary assistant professor of dermatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on February 12, 2020
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