Summer: Makeup Tips from Professional Makeup Artists

CEBU, Philippines — The high ambient temperatures of summer really stir the girls’ creative minds… not only in terms of the right outfits to wear, but makeup as well. Under the hot summer sun, even the most airy and comfortable outfit can still leave the girl looking like a wreck if sweat is dripping down  her face creating ugly lines on her thick makeup. Of course, everybody understands how that matters in the total look.

So how does one approach the subject of makeup in summer? According to Sarah Kinonen, in an article at www.allure.com, when it comes to summer beauty products, sunscreen is the only thing one should be laying on thick. Kinonen also shares tips she gathers from professional makeup artists on how to lighten and brighten up, but still look well put together in the light of sweltering summer heat:

Exfoliate your face.

Before celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo paints the faces of any of his supermodel clientele, he shaves them. Yes, seriously. “One of my secret weapons to creating the perfect summer makeup look is to dermaplane my clients’ skin before I start makeup,” he says. Dermaplaning, a form of exfoliation, is when a sharp tool – not unlike a scalpel – is used to scrape off the top layer of the skin and the peach fuzz that sits atop it. Oquendo uses the Dermaflash and then follows it up with a lightweight foundation or BB cream.

Go (sort of) naked.

Walking around in glaring heat and sticky, stuffy humidity can do a number on a full-face beat. Think: Smudges, smears, and all the sweat. To avoid the weather-worn mess, celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern recommends lightening one’s routine for the season and using only what is necessary, like a concealer to cover shadows and spots. Dab a creamy concealer under eyes and on areas of concern with a finger.

Try a tinted moisturizer.

If you can’t bear to go bare, apply a light layer of a tinted moisturizer for a sheer glow. Or, you could always make your own tinted coverage, says makeup artist Robert Sesnek, who works with Adriana Lima and Julianne Moore. “Mix oil-free moisturizer with foundation for a softer, more sheer appearance,” he says.

Give your lips some love.

The days are longer, the sun is stronger, and you’re often moving from one extreme temperature to another. All of these factors can leave your lips seriously dry and flaky, and we all know that doesn’t bode well for your lipstick. But don’t pout, because there are three simple things you can do to keep your lips soft: Protect, exfoliate, and repeat. Invest in a lip balm, especially one with sun protection, which fends off damaging UV rays while locking in moisture. And reapply throughout the day – at least every two hours. When it comes to exfoliation, a scrub will do the job (pick one from the many types available). Prefer a scrub formula that gently sloughs off dead skin and boosts hydration.

Invest in the proper tools.

“Most of us like to have a light base just to even out our complexion during the summer, but if not properly applied, it will slide off the face and end up looking like an oil slick,” says makeup artist Monika Blunder. To avoid a makeup landslide, apply your tinted moisturizer with a synthetic buffing brush. “This technique helps foundation last much longer, and keeps it from looking oily,” she says.

Use multitasking makeup.

Invest in a product that does it all – for the lips, lids, and cheeks, says Sesnek. It keeps your bag light and gives your look a soft, monochromatic focus.

Get a (safe) tan.

Get your faux glow on by way of a powder bronzer – and whole lot of SPF. Sweep a generous amount of powder bronzer all over your face to deepen your complexion, says celebrity makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan. Then, dust a shimmery bronzer to “accentuate the high points of the face (high check bones, bridge of your nose, and your temples) to really make your skin glow.”

Choose waterproof formulas.

There’s nothing worse than mid-day mascara or eyeliner blunders. Avoid the raccoon-eye look by investing in a waterproof version of your favorite eye product – especially in the dead of summer. “With the heat from the body and the summer’s high temperatures, most eyeliners will end up either running or will have to be reapplied all day,” says Sesnek.”A waterproof eyeliner won’t smear, run and can even handle the swimming pool!”

Melt-proof your makeup.

When you hear the words “waterproof” and “makeup” together, you likely think of mascara or eyeliner. But water-resistant formulas are more than meets the eye. There are some pretty miraculous foundations, concealers, and even powder blushes that are formulated to withstand heat, humidity, sweat, and water.