Face

Replace liquid or powder foundations with their lightweight summer cousin: tinted moisturizers. Heavy foundations can be oily on the skin and cause clogged pores or even acne, when you’re sweating in the sun. The lighter textures and sheer pigments of tinted moisturizers complement skin, whether you’re at a pool party, the beach or running errands. Also, most are formulated with sun protection.

Get the look:

• Smooth tinted moisturizer onto clean skin. Blend upwards and outwards to ensure even coverage, just like your regular foundation. Pay special attention to the jaw line and temples.

• Follow up with bronzer if you want extra color. Available in liquid, powder, stick or cream forms, bronzers range from pale toasted almond to deep, rich cocoa. They’re great for a warm, sunny glow minus the damage from baking in the sun.

• Apply bronzer to those areas that get the most sun: forehead, cheekbones, bridge of the nose and chin.

• Dust bronzer on the collarbone and shoulders for a sexy, shimmery accent.

Eyes

Rather than applying layer after layer of eye shadow, opt for a sheer dusting. Forget precise application, brushes or multiple colors. Instead, think minimal and natural.

Get the look:

• Smudge eyelids with a single color, like bronze, blue, olive green or deep mauve.

• To accentuate the eyes, apply eye pencil to the lash line and lower lashes for definition. Use shades of coffee brown or azure (to match the ocean!). Then, smudge gently to soften the line and finish with one or two coats of water-proof mascara.

• Apply moonlight or pearl white eye shadow just underneath the eyebrows for an extra pop.

Cheeks

Pass on intense, heavily-pigmented powder and opt for sheer, radiant color. Cream-to-powder, gel and stain formulas are perfect for summertime. And, they won't wash off after swimming. As with eye shadow, forget about precision.

Get the look:

• Dab blush on cheekbones and then blend with your fingers for the most natural finish.

• If you’d like deeper color, add highlighter over blush with a large brush. The shimmery luster gives skin a romantic gleam without looking too heavy.

• For a flush of color, you can opt for a lip stain on the cheeks.

Lips

Lip balm, stick, gloss and stain are all made with emollients that protect the lips from dehydration, creating the look of luscious lips. Keep a few different formulas on hand when spending the day outdoors.

Get the look:

• Neutral, colorless balms with SPF protect against sun damage and sunburn. Remember, lips can burn easily, just like the rest of the skin. Be sure to look for formulas that contain SPF 15 or higher.

• Colorful lip glosses or sheer tints are perfect for applying without a mirror. Corals and pinks are super summer shades. Another surefire winner: a hue close to your own natural lip color.

• Leave the full coverage lipsticks at home. Their deep pigments are too intense for a natural look. Plus, wax lipsticks can melt in the hot weather.

Product picks

You’ve got many options when it comes to summer beauty. Here’s a step-by-step selection of products:

• Face. Start your beauty routine off right with MD Skincare All-in-One Moisturizer SPF 15, available in six shades. This lightweight formula hydrates and protects skin in one easy step, imparting a hint of color and camouflaging small imperfections or redness.

• Eyes. Stila Convertible Eye Color delivers soft, pretty color. Available in various shades from ivy green to slate, each three-in-one kit features a coordinated eye liner, shadow and smudge applicator for an easy, on-the-go look. Choose waterproof mascara to withstand the waves at the beach and the scorching temperatures of summer. Get length and volume from dawn till dusk with waterproof Blinc Kiss Me Mascara.

• Cheeks. DuWop Blush Therapy is a cooling gel stick formula. Just swipe it directly onto your cheeks and blend with your fingers.

• Lips. Keep MD Formulations Lip Balm with you for a clear coat of protection. This luxurious lip balm protects lips from sun damage with SPF 20 and locks in moisture with aloe, vitamin E and shea butter. Add a coat of super-shiny color with Colorescience Gilty Conscience Lip Polish Scandal, a pretty coral hue. Or, try Stila Cherry Crush, which provides a just-picked, cherry-red stain.

At the end of the day

Don’t overlook your skin’s post-beach needs after having fun in the sun:

• Rinse chlorine and saltwater off of the skin as soon as possible. Apply lotion immediately after your shower or bath.

• Remove all traces of makeup, especially waterproof mascara. Opt for L’Occitane Immortelle Eye Make-Up Remover, a gentle formula to loosen and remove even the most stubborn waterproof pigments.

• Lather up with Quintessence Purifying Cleanser to remove sunscreen, makeup, oil, sweat and dirt.

See also:

A No-Sweat Summer Beauty Routine

Shea Butter

Amatokin for Anti-Aging

Spring Cleaning: Deep Cleansing Masks

Tips to Protect Your Skin