Makeup & Summer

It’s time to celebrate ladies and gentlemen because Fall is finally here! After a long, hot and scorching summer, we can finally enjoy a cool and comfortable day outside without suffering a heat stroke. With Fall comes only about a million of my favorite things. To only name a few, Fall brings my birthday, Thanksgiving, the death of most all insects, oversized sweaters, tall boots and most important, low to no humidity. That’s right, low to no humidity. Humidity is your hair and makeup’s worst nightmare. They quite literally have dreams about being attacked by the soupy, hot monster that is humidity. I was not fortunate enough to be born in Maine, Michigan or one of the much colder states. I was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, known for historical Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and the hottest summers known to humankind. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the insane weather during the Summers in Virginia, let me paint you a mental image. Imagine wearing the least amount of clothing possible. Oh, I’m going somewhere with this, I promise. Now, on top of wearing nearly nothing, imaging sweating out of every pore on your body every time you took more than five small strides. It’s that special type of heat that makes you sprint to the closest place with air conditioning, regardless of what they’re selling.

How is a girl to get ready in such heated times? She’s not. Hair, but especially makeup is impossible to perfect between the months of April to September, sometimes even October, in Virginia. This is because of that terrible humidity we discussed previously. When it is hot, or humid in the slightest your makeup with do either one of two things, one, it will sting your face or two, it will run like water paint all down your face. The stinging occurs because foundation temporarily clogs your pores and blocks them from expelling body heat naturally. The melting occurs because it’s just hot and humans sweat to release heat. Sadly, me more than most. There are a few ways to avoid this makeup meltdown in future summers.

Invest in Primers, Yes, PLURAL:

You need more than one primer if you’re going to survive any kind of heat. Here are three different types of Primers to try:

• Eyeshadow Primer: This will ensure a long lasting eyeshadow application. It also reduces the annoying flaking of shadow, mascara and liner.

• Foundation Primer: This is ALL important. Personally, I recommend ANY Smashbox face primer. This primer will make your foundation look flawless for an entire day.

• Setting Spray: If makeup application was a Broadway show, then setting spray would be the finale. Always end with setting spray because nothing good ever came from spraying a setting spray before you put on the product you needed to actually set. That is why it has such a clever name.

Why Wear Makeup in the Summer if It’s Sweating Off Anyways?

It is a fair question. One that I cannot answer because even though I know it’s going to run off my face, I cake it on regardless. In all honesty, it is much simpler to just wear little to no makeup during the summers. If you’re anything like me and can’t pry the heavy products from your hands even when it’s 100 degrees out, you could always try these alternatives:

• BB Cream: I have recently become a big fan of BB Cream. It provides a light, fresh and healthier alternative to traditional liquid foundation. BB Cream is a combination of foundation, sunscreen (typically spf 15), acne fighting medicine and moisturizer. Basically an all in one product that will not sting your face when it potentially begins to sweat.

• If You Physically Cannot Go Without Eyeliner: Rather than using a pencil liner or liquid, simply use your eyeshadow. I’m not crazy, actually the opposite. I have been using this trick for years. BareMinerals makes a small, thin eyeliner brush that is perfect for applying eyeshadow as liner. First, choose a highly pigmented brand of eyeshadow. My go to is Urban Decay’s Blackout. Coat the brush in a small amount of eyeshadow and apply the liner as you usually would. This reduces the sticky eyelid feeling during the summer when your liner begins to melt.

• Be Basic, As in Simple: Try toning down your usual routine by only applying half of each product to your face during the summer to reduce clogged pores. This will also help you use less product, resulting in YOU saving money.