15 "Must Know" Summer Beauty Tricks

Though Summer seems to still be light years away with the recent weather, I can only hope that sharing tips and talking about it will speed up the waiting process.  With that being said, I wanted to share with you a few MUST KNOW summer tips that will help your to keep your skin, hair and body healthy and looking great.  Check it out below…

Use a Primer- With the scorching heat of the summer, it can already be a problem keeping our makeup in place.  We naturally tend to sweat more and when we sweat…bye bye makeup!  Makeup primers help to fill in any lines and wrinkles creating a blank canvas for makeup application.  They also however, will help your skin resist moisture and keep your makeup where you want it!  EXTRA TIP: eye primer.  Eye primers have the same effect as all over face primers, but are intended for your eye area and are specifically designed to keep your eye shadow in place.  This will help to get rid of those unwanted eye creases, and liner smudges that we all dread.  Primers of any kind are a HUGE summer secret to keeping a fresh face all day long.

Water-proof Mascara- You don’t have to be crying or getting married to have your mascara run.  In the high summer temps, sweat and dampness can create moisture in the eye area and cause mega run-age!  Switch to a water proof mascara to help keep your lashes fabulous all day and eliminate any un wanted under eye streaks.  ALTHOUGH, make sure to remove water proof mascara with an eye makeup remover before washing your face.  Cleansing alone will not remove it and any extra rubbing and pulling can damage the eye AND cause you to loose lashes.  Everyone wants to avoid that travesty.  

Pump Up Your Lashes- Take that water proof mascara we just discussed and use it to dramatize your lashes.  In the summer, having nice pumped up lashes will make your eyes pop allowing you to wear less makeup overall.  

Cream Makeups- Powder makeup is great and all, but when powder mixes with moisture  on the skin it can cause makeup to cake.  Summer time is all about glowy skin and achieving the perfect dewy appearance that we see all over the magazines.  So ditch your powders and try to stick with the creams.  A tinted moisturizer or a light foundation can set a perfect canvas.  Then try using a cream blush or illuminator to pop some color in to your cheeks.  These cream based makeups will also stay in place better as your skin gets damp or sweaty in the heat and are guaranteed to last all day long.  

Foaming Gel Face Wash- Try switching from the heavy creamy cleansers you use in the winter to a nice refreshing foaming gel wash.  This will be a nice break for your skin.  The gels are much lighter than the creams and will soak up any grease or excess dirt on your skin.  They help to break through the nasty buildup of sweat and pollution caused by high heat temperatures and leave the skin perfectly cleansed and refreshed.  

Bronzers-  A shimmery bronzer instantly adds a sexy, healthy sheen to the skin.   They give you that sun kissed shine tint that we all love so much.  Be careful with adding too much bronzer though, when bronzing the face; stick to the places the sun would hit naturally such as the cheek bones and T- zone.  Don’t be afraid to add a little bronzer to the collar bone and even to exposed shoulders to give a more natural effect.  

Tinted Lip Balms- Lip glosses can be very sticky and in the summer heat we don’t need ANY excess goo.  Try using a tinted lip balm instead, this will give you that pop of color you are looking for and also help to keep the lips moisturized and protected.  

Clarifying Shampoo- Pump volume back into straight or fine hair by adding a weekly clarifying shampoo.   These shampoos will help to break through all the sweat buildup in your hair as well as any extra product residue left behind.  By clarifying the hair and removing all this extra buildup, your hair will not be weighed down and will instantly come back to life.  You should also use this  trick after any swimming and chlorine exposure.    

Summer Scents-  Swap your heavier winter perfumes for a nice light refreshing summer spray or mist.  Stick to fruitier, floral scents that aren’t as heavy on the nose.  Using a scented body mist as opposed to a thicker perfume will allow you to re-apply more frequently through out the hotter days.  We all know that re-applying perfume can cause more harm than good, we have all been next to that girl in a small confined space.  

Sunscreen For Your Hair- Before swimming, comb your regular sunscreen through your strands; this forms a barrier that prevents chlorine and salt water from stripping your color and drying out your hair.  If your hair is finer and you are worried about the excess greasiness that this could cause, then simply wet your hair under the shower before jumping in the pool.  This will also create a barrier to block the chlorine from reaching your cuticle directly.  

Shaving Secrets- We all tend to shave more frequently in the summer months with more exposed skin.  This can cause dryness and un wanted razor burn.  Try waiting at least 3 minutes after getting in the shower before you whip out your razor.  Warm water softens the hair shaft, allowing for a closer shave.  This helps to achieve a longer-lasting smoothness and lessons the chances of nicking the skin.  OUCH!

Non Metal Pony Tail Holders-  Avoid ponytail holders that are joined with a small metal bar.  Mega no no, they can snag hair and cause split ends.  This really should be a rule you abide by always, but in the summer when you tend to throw your hair in a pony after swimming or any out door activities, non metal hair ties will help to prevent breakage.  Your hair tends to be weaker when wet, any precautions taken will be greatly appreciated by your sensitive locks.  

Self Spray Tans- Ditch the tanning beds and try a spray on tanning mist.  The sprays distribute over the skin more evenly than the creams and will help to prevent streaks or blotchiness.  Neutrogena Spray on selfless tanner is my absolute favorite.  Spritz it on daily after showering, then allow a few minutes drying time before applying your moisturizer.  You will slowly see a subtle glow fall over your skin, increasing day by day.  

SPF Tablets- Aside from the suggested daily use of a SPF 30 sunscreen which I strongly encourage you all to use, also boost your UV protection by taking an antioxidant supplement or even a SunPill.  These pills have been researched and when taken orally they can help to prevent wrinkles, sun damage, and un wanted brown spots.  

Exfoliate The Right Way- Alternate every other day using manual exfoliation and mechanical exfoliation on the skin.  Manual exfoliation involves using your hands to rub a regular exfoliating face scrub on your skin.  Mechanical exfoliation involves using a lighter cleanser with no exfoliants on a machine exfoliator such as a clarisonic.  This helps to remove dead cells that build up on the skin in the summer leaving you with a refreshed silky glow.