Summer Makeup Tips

1. Make time for primer. You won't regret the few seconds it will take to smooth on a primer, which goes on after moisturizer but before face makeup. Like house-paint primer, it provides a smooth base for whatever goes on next. "Primers are definitely the way to go in summer," says New York City makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff. "They're incredibly light — they don't feel at all like a heavy, additional layer — and they really help hold makeup in place." We've got the evidence: In a Good Housekeeping Research Institute test, primer helped volunteers' makeup look better and hold up throughout the day (even after a sweltering stint in our 80-degree, high-humidity chamber); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light ($36, Sephora) proved to be the very best of the bunch.


2. Lighten your face makeup. "Just as you switch to breezy skirts and linen blouses, dress your face with lighter makeup," says Surratt. First step: Swap foundation for tinted moisturizer. These sheer formulas look and feel airier on skin and are less likely to turn cakey on steamy days. Try Shiseido The Skincare Tinted Moisture Protection SPF 20 ($36, department stores) or Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($18, marykay.com). Feeling a little too exposed? Surratt recommends brushing powder foundation over the tinted moisturizer in spots where you need a little extra coverage — say, on blemishes or areas of redness around your nose. Try CoverGirl TruBlend Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation ($8, drugstores) or Jane Iredale Amazing Base ($42, janeiredaledirect.com).


3. Bronze believably. "Bronzer makes your eyes look brighter, your teeth whiter — everyone looks better with a little warmth added to their skin," says Surratt. To keep the results looking fresh and natural, he recommends applying bronzer just to the high points of your face, where the sun naturally hits you: forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose. (Covering every nook and cranny is what gives you that fake, baked look.) Powder bronzers are the easiest to apply; look for one with varying shades — they'll swirl together for the most authentic-looking results. Try Wet n Wild Beauty Benefits Beauty Brilliance Bronzing Powder ($8, drugstores) or Physicians Formula Magic Mosaic Multi-Colored Custom Face Powder in Warm Beige/Light Bronzer ($13, drugstores). Another essential for keeping it real: a brush with long, loose, fluffy bristles — anything densely packed will deposit too much color. Prescriptives Bronzer Brush ($32, department stores) is a great choice. And be sure to sweep a little bronzer onto your neck and earlobes, especially if you have short hair or are wearing a pony­tail. A tan face that's framed by pale ears will out you fast.

4. Switch out thick lipsticks. Since heavy lip colors often feel like overkill once the weather warms up, many women opt for clear balm or skip their lips altogether. But just because you're feeling low-maintenance doesn't mean you have to look it. A simple swipe-and-go choice: tinted lip balms. "They give you whisper-light color, and many even have SPF to protect you from the sun," says Surratt. Try Neutrogena Moisture­Shine Tinted Lip Balm SPF 20 ($7, drugstores) or Jane Be Pure Mineral Lip Balm ($4, drugstores).


5. Stop shine, add glow. A slick T-zone instantly telegraphs the message "I'm hot" — and we don't mean sexy. To eliminate unsightly shine in seconds, nothing beats blotting papers. "They're cheap, easy, and amazing — you just press and go," says Sheriff. Try Too Faced Re-Fresh Oil Blotting Papers ($12, Sephora). If you need to perk up your makeup too, blot first, then follow up with a dusting of pressed powder with a hint of luminescence. "You want to eliminate shine, but you still want to look a little glow-y, especially in summer," says Surratt. Try Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Luminous Matte Pressed Powder ($12, drugstores).