When it comes to summer makeup, skin is in, but so is major color. To find out where to start for the best makeup hues for you, look to your skin tone. Whether you’re pale, dark or in between, there’s a tailored strategy for choosing a foolproof foundation. Find out how to find the perfect base for both trendy and classic makeup looks this summer.
You’ve got the bikini, the flip-flops, the sunscreen and a beach bag at the ready, but when you peek into your makeup case you may be disappointed by the same old colors you’ve been wearing for months. Summer is a season for fun experimenting, free expression and ease when it comes to beauty, so consider making some adjustments to your makeup looks. To build your summer makeup plan from scratch, we’ll start with perfect skin and sprinkle on some color, shine and intensity as needed. Nothing but blue skies and great looks ahead.
Fair skin
Fair skinned ladies: to bronze or not to bronze? The fairest of all may shun the summer sun altogether, while others opt for faux glow from a bottle, like Fake Bake Original Self Tan Lotion. Either way, you’ll want to create the illusion of a perfect complexion with a perfectly-matched foundation, or a lighter option such as tinted moisturizer, like Philosophy Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer, or BB cream, like Dr. Brandt Flexitone BB Cream, both of which contain SPF to protect your skin from UV damage. Try choosing a foundation just one shade darker than your actual skin color to give your complexion added radiance.
With your base in place, add a pop of color with a bright lipstick or a splashy eye shadow like Jane Iredale Eye Gloss in Aqua Silk. Fair types can get away with just about any color on the eyes, so feel free to experiment. For a more subtle look, stick to just a hint of color on your cheeks. Pinks and corals are the most flattering for fair skin types, so choose a blush like BareMinerals Blush in Secret.
Medium to olive skin
Medium-toned beauties: summer may darken your complexion a few shades, so choose a summer foundation (or, again, a lighter option like a tinted moisturizer or BB cream with SPF) that flatters your newfound bronze. Glamour magazine recommends that you test your foundation on your jaw line (not your hand), and in natural light, so you won’t have any surprises when you leave the house for a day in the sun.
Add a little rose flush to your cheeks with orange-hued blush, such as Stila Custom Color Blush in Self-Adjusting Coral, which best flatters your skin tone. You can apply your bronzer or blush to achieve a trendy contouring effect (seen on the spring/summer 2012 runways at Michael Kors and Proenza Schouler): sweep it on starting at your cheekbones and moving back toward to your ear.
To keep the rest of your look easy-breezy, go light on your eye makeup (a swipe of waterproof mascara like Colorscience Pro Waterproof Mascara in Black will do) and lip color (choose a nude balm or gloss like DuWop Venom Gloss in Buttercup). For a little nighttime sparkle on your eyes, choose shadows in shades of copper, bronze or gold, like Too Faced Exotic Color Eye Shadow in Copper Peony, or warm plums, deep greens and sapphire blues, makeup artist Carmindy tells Elle Canada.
Dark skin
Dark-complexion bearers: think of summer as your season to embrace dewy skin and the jewel-toned colors that pair so perfectly with your skin tone. Start with a creamy base such as Stila Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 – a light moisturizer that won’t dry your skin or leave it looking matte. For extra radiance, choose a cream blush like Jane Iredale In Touch Cream Blush in Confidence (go for shades of magenta, fuchsia, red and raisin, which will look great with your skin tone) and apply it with your fingers; the oil from your skin will mingle with your foundation and moisturizer, creating a heat-induced glow, makeup artist Sammy Mourabit tells InStyle.
Stained lips are a big summer trend that flatters your natural skin tone; plus, stains like Stila Cherry Crush are beach-friendly, so you can leave the lipstick at home. Keep a selection of balms and glosses on hand for the days when you want to go au natural. Golds, caramels and honeys like DuWop Lip Venom in Flash Gold as well as corals and tangerines like Jane Iredale PureGloss for Lips in Apricot Fizz are your best summer bets.
For the eyes, you’re a great candidate to pull off the trend of two-toned liner: line upper lids in black and choose a splashy bold tone like Jane Iredale Mystikol in Lapis Lazuli to make your bottom lids stand out.
As you choose your summer beauty looks, remember that less is more in the sun, and no one wants to look overloaded with heavy products. When in doubt, a flawless face, light mascara and a sweep of bronzer or blush for glow is the epitome of an effortless summer look. Don’t be discouraged by heat and humidity; with a few key products, you can keep your look fresh and cool while embracing the bold shades of the season.
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See also:
Makeup Tips for Mature Skin
How to Fight Acne No Matter Your Skin Color or Type
Smart Summer Fashion and Beauty: Tips and Products that Protect Your Eyes From Sun Damage
The Shades of Summer: Colors to Add to Your Beauty Arsenal and Fashion Wardrobe Now