Let me tell you a little thing about effortless beauty. It isn’t. All of those “easy” braids and “undone” hairstyles and natural glows flooding your Instagram feeds take work. Serious work. Looking gorgeous doesn’t just happen. Trust me, I know. Without regular maintenance, I’d look like one of those troll dolls at the end of a pencil. Skinny, with frizzy orange hair. (The sun makes my hair orange).
Don’t remember the troll dolls? Oh. I’m also old.
The point is, no one needs to see the truly effortless me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to look like I roll out of bed adorable.
The key, for me, is to plan ahead a little, and make a few small tweaks to my existing routines so that I look my best, every day, even on the hottest days of summer. I tweak, then repeat, until they become automatic.
Here, 5 summer beauty hacks that will help you look your best all summer long! Without breaking a sweat.
Well, okay, you might sweat a little.
1. Banish Summer Breakouts
Skip elaborate routines and heavy creams in the summer, and simplify your skincare routine. For most of us, 3 simple steps is all you need: cleanse, tone and treat. A refreshing gel cleanser or cleansing water will remove extra oil, sweat and dirt without stripping skin. Follow it with a light toner or mist, and then a light anti-aging or anti-acne treatment product, depending on your skin type. Make sure your daytime version contains sunscreen – an SPF of 30 to 50 is ideal for the summer. A gentle moisturizing treatment can even be used around the eyes as well. You can also try an at-home skin treatment, like a mask or an acne eliminating device, to help keep breakouts at bay. And for existing spots, a gentle blemish treatment can treat them without stripping skin.
Yazbukey for Shu Uemura POREfinist anti shine cleaning oil, $67, fights breakouts and reduces shine, shuuemura-usa.com
2. Meltproof Your Makeup
Summer is the time to lighten up your makeup routine, too. Eric Jimenez, Global Makeup Artist and Co-Founder of sonic makeup application device Color Me, suggests switching to a lighter BB or CC cream or mineral powder foundation, preferably one with SPF. If your skin tends to be oily, prep skin with an oil absorbing primer or moisturizer. A very light dusting of powder is an essential finishing touch on oily skin. To keep color from slip-sliding away, look for longer wearing or waterproof formulas and prime lids before applying color. A no-budge eyeliner and waterproof mascara will minimize the chance of color running and smudging. Jimenez suggests trying one of the season’s hottest trends – bright eyeliner. First, prep your lids with foundation then sweep on a shimmering neutral shadow. Then, using a bright green, purple or blue liner, apply along the lash line, slightly thicker than usual. Finish with mascara and a glossy lip. Jimenez also loves the bronze goddess look for summer: neat brows, then a dusting of bronze or copper on lids and cheeks. Finish any summer look with a creamy lipstick in a bold hue, the season’s best accessory!
Lancome Hypnose Drama waterproof mascara, $27.50, department stores, builds great lashes that won’t budge.
3. Soften Your Scent
The same fragrance you loved in cooler weather can overpower in the heat, so switch to a fresher, lighter scent for summer. Many famous fragrances have lightened up versions of popular scents. Lanvin ME L’Eau and Shalimar Light are two examples, or switch to something even softer for summer. Freshen up further by switching to a natural, scented deodorant, or try deodorant wipes when you’re on the go. According to dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur, the skin under your arms is as sensitive as the skin on your neck. Dr. Marmur recommends a product, like Dove Advanced Care, with humectants and sunflower seed oil to retain moisture.
4. Protect Your Hair
Keeping locks lovely in the heat can be a real challenge! Start the summer with a trim, and then wear your hair in a chic bun when you plan to be outside for a while. Ease up on the heat styling and embrace your hair’s natural texture, and protect it from the sun with specially designed products and, even better, a hat! Another tip? “Always drench your hair in non-chlorinated shower water before you dip into the pool,” says Devin Toth, celebrity stylist at Salon SCK and Rowenta Beauty brand ambassador. This way, your hair won’t be able to absorb the chlorine.
Battling a case of the summer flakes? Youbeauty expert Julie Ricevuto shares an all-natural home dandruff remedy, a Raw Honey Hair Mask. Raw honey is naturally moisturizing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Since this mask is super hydrating, it works wonders on a dry, irritated scalp. To try it, mix two tablespoons coconut or olive oil with 1 tablespoon honey and heat in the microwave for a few seconds until warm enough to spread easily. Massage the mixture onto your scalp, then cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse well, and your scalp will be soothed and flake free and your hair shiny and soft.
Fairy Tales Lifeguard Clarifying Shampoo, $14, Amazon, removes salt and minerals from hair.
Oil Essentials Sea Buckthorn and Borage, $12.99, helps replenish dry, dehydrated skin and hair and repairs UV damage.
5. Banish Back-ne
Body breakouts are the last thing you want when strappy dress and swimsuit season is in full swing, so follow these professional steps to treat and prevent blemishes. Dermatologist Dr. Marnie Nussbaum recommends keeping skin clear with a salicylic acid body wash to keep pores clear. Treat existing blemishes with a spot treatment, like Sebamed Clear Face Anti-Pimple Gel.
I hope you found these 5 summer beauty hacks helpful! With a few simple tweaks (and a new product or two) you can look gorgeous all summer long, and avoid the hazards of summer skin, hair and makeup!
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