by Snow Vandemore

Created on: July 31, 2008

Summer make up tips

Simplify Your Summer Makeup for a More Natural, Healthier-Looking New You.

Summer means putting away those winter coats, clunky boots, woolly sweaters and warm mittens and getting into something more comfortable. The same is also true about your makeup - it's time to shelve heavy cream foundations, dramatic eye shadows, dark lip color and eyeliners - and replace these products with light, airy, subtle colors and powders that will protect your skin, make you feel cooler, looking fresh and radiantly sunkissed - without all the harmful after-affects of sun exposure.

FACE

Liquid and cream foundations are just too heavy for the hot, humid summer months to come. They don't allow your skin to breathe and perspiration will create a streaky, patchy mess in just a few minutes. Consider using a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen to match your complexion and even out your skin tone. Cover Girl Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer has an SPF rating of 15, comes in a variety of shades and a little bit will go a long way - and it's relatively inexpensive ($6.99 at www.drugstore.com.)

The popular mineral foundations, such as those offered by Sheer Cover and Neutrogena, are an excellent choice for long, active summer days, especially if you feel you need a little more coverage. Powdery and light, but not cakey, mineral foundations are easy to apply, last all day and you can customize your shade by mixing two or three shades together. This is particularly handy if your skin gets a little darker over the summer months - you can easily adjust the color combinations to match your tan.

Bronzers add a hint of warm color, such as you would get from a day at the beach, less the sunburn, peeling and skin damage that often goes along with it. Available in powder and gel form and a variety of shades, they are lightly applied with a sweeping motion where the sun would normally touch your face - forehead, bridge of your nose, cheeks and chin. Physician's Formula Solar Power has an SPF 20 pressed powder bronzer that is vitamin enriched, and glides on effortlessly. Apply alone, or over your foundation for a glowing result. ($11.95 at www.drugstore.com.) No additional blusher is necessary, but if you feel a little sassy, try mixing powdered bronzer with a mineral blush and apply lightly to the apples of your cheeks for a vibrant, healthy glow.

EYES

A slight application of powder eye shadow - light metallics, peaches or pinks - will naturally complement your breezy summertime outfits

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