Sunday, July 25, 2010

Meltproof makeup ideas for hot weather

“Women don’t sweat, they glisten,” the saying goes. Yeah, right. To keep your makeup from melting into your mojito when out in the sun, get into these 11 easy tricks from the pros.

1. Take Time to Prime.
The key to long-lasting foundation and colour is the most commonly skipped step: primer. Seriously — the stuff works. All you need is a pea-size dot of a lightweight, oil-free formula; apply it to moisturised skin before your concealer and foundation. We like L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Primers (they have three oil-free formulas for different skin types).

2. Be Dense.
Blemishes and blotchy skin don’t vanish in the hot weather, but the wrong concealer definitely can. What you want is a densely pigmented (but not liquidy) cream formula. Use your ring finger to dab the concealer on dark circles; apply to red spots with a small brush, and then pat with your finger to blend the cover-up into the skin.

3. Switch to Silicone.
Wear a full face of foundation and you’re asking for trouble. Still, we get it — sometimes you want the coverage. The solution? A lightweight silicone-based formula. The silicone acts as a film between your skin and the humidity, preventing foundation from seeping into your pores or dribbling down your chin.

4. Lighten Up.
Think of foundation this way: The less you put on, the less there is to slide off. A dampened makeup sponge is the ideal tool for applying it so that it goes on light and sheer. Put a few drops on a damp foam-latex sponge, and swipe it from the middle of your face outward in short strokes. Give it a minute or so to set before you apply other makeup.

5. Choose Creamy Shadows.
When sweat and powders mix, the result isn’t pretty. Sheer cream shadows tend to cake less in hot weather (plus, they glisten in the sun). Some eye colours contain silicone that locks the colour in place.

6. Look to Liquid.
Liquid liner may take patience and practice, but once on, a good formula won’t budge or smudge in the heat like a kohl pencil can.

7. Sweatproof Your Lashes.
Waterproof mascara is a no-brainer in the heat. It can withstand the office, the gym, the pool, and the bar without smudging. But some can fade to gray in a few hours.

8. Flush With Greatness.
As with powder shadow, powder blush and perspiration don’t mix. Instead, rub a bright pink or coral cream or gel blush on the apples of your cheeks, and blend.

9. Tint Your Lips.
Lip gloss just looks right come summer: It’s fun. It’s easy.... But it can also get runny and sticky in the sun. A tinted lip balm with a high wax content won’t turn to mush in your bag or on your mouth. We like Aveda Lip Tints SPF 15.

10. Stop Shine.
To reduce shine and set your makeup, take a large fluffy brush and dust a translucent loose powder across your T-zone. Because it’s colourless, there’s less of a chance it will cause problems in the heat, but use a light hand to be sure.

11. Blot It Out.
Instead of re-powdering throughout the day — extra layers can cause cakey product build-up in warm weather — keep plasticky oil-blotting sheets at your desk and in your purse. Dabbed over your face, they soak up excess oil without messing up your makeup. We love Clean and Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets.

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