Summer Makeup

Some of my summer makeup favorites.

The other day, I was procrastinating (as I am I known to do) and poking around on Refinery29's website when I came across a slideshow about switching up your makeup for the summer.

You can check it out here if you're interested.

Now, I do adjust my makeup routine slightly when the weather warms - for one thing, I can get away with wearing powder foundation all on its own, something I usually can't do when my skin is super dry in the winter - and I definitely prefer to use products that have a lighter feel on the skin.

So I think you do need to think about your makeup a little differently in the summer.

But what about days that you're going to be outside for several hours in the blistering heat whether at a beach, pool, park, barbecue, etc.?

I've got to be honest - I pretty much avoid spending any time outdoors when the temperature starts to rise unless I'm fully submerged in water. I am ridiculously sensitive to the heat and sweat like it's going out of style if I have to spend more than 5 minutes in full sun.

Now, if I'm going to be taking a dip in the ocean or floating around the pool, I personally forgo makeup all together.

I'll probably throw on some sort of tinted lip product, but that's about it.

There's just no point since I'll be splashing around in the water and all of it would run or wash off.

This weekend, though, we're having a little family celebration for my sister and mother's birthdays  and not doubt I'll be forced to spend the bulk of the day sweating away on a hot deck.

I love my family, but I don't love sweating with them.

At all.

So I got to thinking about my go-to look when I want to feel polished and put together - and stand more than a snowball's chance in hell in actually keeping some of the makeup on my face. I'll really love it if you guys would chime in with what works for you when you're expecting the mother of all meltdowns just in case I'm missing out a great product/technique.

My skin is just too blotchy to forgo some type of face product, but in the heat, the thought of a full coverage foundation dripping down my face is just not my idea of a good time.  Instead, I like to go the tinted moisturizer route in the summer - nice and light, but with just enough coverage to even out my skin.

Summer face options - MUFE Face & Body Foundation, Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer & Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

My favorite is probably Josie Maran SPF30 Tinted Moisturizer (in Creme) - it has surprisingly good coverage for a product that feels so lightweight on the skin. I'm also a big fan of the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream with SPF35 (in Fair) - I know that this doesn't call itself a tinted moisturizer but that's pretty much how it behaves so... Like the Josie Maran one, though, it offers really good coverage for nice, light product.

Another option I'm considering for this weekend is the Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation (in Pink Porcelain  38). While this is technically a foundation, it has a really thin, watery consistency so it pretty much feels like nothing on the skin.  Yet, it really does a great job in evening out blotchiness.  It also claims to be waterproof, which I am deeply skeptical about.  I may have to test it out this weekend...

If you're super oily - or super sweaty like me - I think powder foundations can be a good way to go.  I adore the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder (I use Soft Porcelain and Tender Rose) because it has an almost creamy consistency that doesn't look at all cakey or powdery on the skin.  I've also been enjoying Josie Maran's Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation (in fair/light), which I think is slightly more mattifying than the Laura Mercier but just as pretty on the skin.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation

I almost feel like eyeshadow is a waste of time since I will inevitably be sweating and it will inevitably drip into my eyes and I'll inevitably rub at them, smearing whatever eye makeup I've got on all over my face.  When it's hot and humid, eye makeup can tend to run too, so it's just hard to keep in place.

In my opinion, it's best to stick to lighter colors if you're worried about your eye makeup sweating or melting off since it'll be less obvious that it's faded - or wound up half way down your cheek - if you're wearing a pale shade.

But you also need a product that's going to stay in place in the heat, and for me, nothing wear quite as well as the  MAC Paint Pots - I really love Bare Study in particular because it's easy to blend it across your whole lid and almost looks like you're not wearing any makeup at all ... even though your eyes somehow look ten times brighter.  I still wear a little of my Too Faced Shadow Insurance beneath it, but I find that Bare Study wears like iron on my eyes even when I'm a little hot and sweaty.

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

MAC Bare Study swatch

It seems like waterproof mascara was made for hot summer days and since I skip liner all together when I'm anticipating a sweaty afternoon, I definitely need a little something to define my lashes. Mascara seems like such a personal choice to me, and honestly, I have such a stash of it at the moment, that I'm just trying to slowly use up what I have. That means I'll probably be using my little sample of Makeup Forever's Aqua Smoky Lash. It's a nice enough mascara, but I doubt I'll be rushing out to purchase a full-size when I finish up the sample.

Any decent waterproof mascara will do - MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash fits the bill.

Now, depending on my mood - or the heat index - I may skip blush all together but I really do like the lifted glow it gives to the face. In summer, I seem to reach for my cream blushes more often - probably because you can just blend them in with your fingers and be done with it.  I love my Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera, which is a lovely corally-pink color, and Too Faced's Full Bloom Cheek & Lip Creme Color in Tea Rose, a pretty rose shade that offers up a really natural flush. But I think my favorite cream blush is Tarte's Maracuja Bouncy Blush in Shimmering Poppy, a corally red color.  This one seems to work best when I'm worried about my makeup melting off because it has a drier consistency than the others and tends to stay in place better.

Cream blushes for summer - Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera (l.), Too Faced's Cheek & Lip Creme Color in Tea Rose (c.) & Tarte Maracuja Bouncy Blush in Shimmering Poppy

Stila Gerbera (l.), Too Faced Tea Rose (c.) & Tarte Shimmering Poppy (r.)

When it comes to lips, I think it's best to skip heavy lipsticks and sticky glosses.  A tinted balm is your best bet since it's sheer and moisturizing - and you don't have to worry about it smearing all over the place. If you can find one with a little SPF in it, all the better.  Sure, you'll have to reapply often but they feel so nice on the lips that it's not really a hardship.

I love the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balms for this kind of look - they've got SPF20, come in some really pretty, sheer colors and keep the lips nice and hydrated. My favorite is Peach Kiss because - you guessed it! - it's a peachy nude shade. In the summer, though, I think Cherry Me is a pretty option too. It's a sheer red color so it gives you that 'I just ate a popsicle' look.

The Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters are also good options. I don't think they have any SPF, but they feel amazing on the lips and come in so many great colors.  I really like Creme Brulee because it's an easy-to-wear nude that goes with most looks. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee (l.), Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss (c.) & Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me (r.)

Revlon Creme Brulee (l.), Maybelline Peach Kiss (c.) & Maybelline Cherry Me (r.)

That's pretty much all I'd wear when I'm going to be outdoors for a while in the hot, sweltering, unrelenting sun (can you tell I'm really not looking forward to it?)  Maybe I'll give you an update after this weekend and let you know how all these products held up.

Or maybe I'll just want to forget the whole miserable experience.  We'll see.

What are your favorite products for hot summer days?  Any tips for making makeup last when you're sweating up a storm?