Tuesday Tip of the Day

{Summer Glow}

from Health

Ok, chicas. We're here to talk about ceekas. (Ah! Too cheesy! I couldn't resist. Please forgive.) Here are a few tips to getting a gorgeous summer glow that won't melt. I tested these products in fierce Southern humidity and all passed with flying colors.

Step 1: Prime. (See last Tuesday's post to get the 411 on primers.)

Step 2: Cover. Tinted moisturizer is the best summer choice. It's light but still evens out skin tone. Recipe substitution: Don't have tinted moisturizer? Mix a pea-size amount of foundation and moisturizer together for instant tinted moisturizer! I like a moisturizer with SPF because you also get that crucial sun protection. If you feel absolutely naked without heavy-duty foundation, wet a makeup sponge, squeeze out the excess, then apply your foundation like normal. The damp sponge creates a lighter veil that won't melt throughout the day.

Step 3: Luminize. The "glow" factor that comes from "summer glow" is thanks to the luminizer. There are three formulas: gel, liquid, and powder. Liquids and gels are a must for summer, which I know seems counter-intuitive but they actually soak into the skin, unlike a powder, which just lies on the surface (and eventually melts off.) Technique tip: Apply the luminizer all over your face, concentrating on areas where the sun naturally hits: cheek bones, bridge of nose, chin, and middle of forehead.

Step 4: Color. Apply a brightly-hued cream blush to the apples of your cheeks using your fingers. Bright colors are far more subtle on skin than they appear in harsh department-store lighting. Summer is your season for pops of color, so stray away from ashy earth tones. Far too boring!

Tools of the Trade


Primer:
See last Tuesday!

Tinted Moisturizer: 

Laura Mercier SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer, $42; sephora.com

Every beauty guru swears by this stuff. When the "best of" makeup awards come out, this baby is always at the top of the list.

Luminizer:

Givenchy Mister Radiant, $36; sephora.com

This is brand-spankin-new. Mr. Radiant, so nice to meet you! He has three shades of micro-beads that release pigment to blend in seamlessly with skin, giving you that perfect hint of warmth. And it smells amazing.

Blush:

Yves Saint Laurent Cream Blush in Velvety Peach, $38; nordstrom.com

The "it" blush of the summer. I've tried it on all types of skin: fair, olive, medium, you name it, and it looks fabulous on everyone. It's super-lightweight and has just enough of a peachy-coral hue for perfectly flushed cheeks.