Summer Beauty Concerns: Maintenance for the Natural Summer Makeup and Hair Styles

Summer come with its own beauty concerns - while you're tan and highlighted hair is likely flattering; you are showing more skin that normally gets concealed. Several summer beauty regimens should be added to your arsenal of beauty tricks to carry off that summer beauty look. A simpler, more bare and natural look does not mean less maintenance.

Since you may have bare arms and be exposing your armpits from time to time with a sleeveless or short sleeve item, consider switching to a clear deodorant for the summer. If you sweat a great deal, consider using sweat pads when necessary. Usually some corn starch or powder can reduce the risk of sweating through your clothes. Dermadoctor sells a deodorant that helps bleach out your armpits if your skin is darker under your arm.

Keep your makeup simple and soft, try to stick with makeup that will not melt - like heavy eyeliner, try curling your lashes instead or using waterproof mascara. For how to make the most of your eyes without too much eyeliner, read the article "Making the Most of your Eyelashes: Beauty Tips and Tricks" so you can tone down your heavier winter makeup that might melt and streak on your face in the hot summer heat. The right eyelash curler can help you avoid raccoon eye melted mascara and eyeliner rings around your eyes. Try to skip the foundation and concealer as much as possible and use powder instead. Also adjust your summer cleansing routine to accommodate more skin showing on your arms, chest and shoulders, so if you are prone to blackheads and breakouts, consider a good gentle cleanser geared at preventing blackheads.

Summer heat and sunbathing can be brutal on your hair in tandem with using styling tools like hair dryers and irons. Consider skipping the blow drier and just using the iron in the summer, or only blow dry your hair once it is about 90% dry. Consider a styling product that has a sunscreen for your hair in it. See the article Damaged, Dry and Fried Hair: How to fix over processed Hair for more details on summer hair care. Many women chose sleek hair bands and ponytail holders or chignons that allow you to put hair up stylish hair-dos that are easy to do quickly and do not wilt during the day. If you color your hair, consider a product to protect your color from fading too quickly in the hot summer sun. Fekkai has several color preservation products.

It is of course best to use a self tanning lotion, even if just as a base for your tan. Models recommend doing so completely naked for even application and then walking around the house while it dries so that the tanner looks the most even. Of course, the problem is trying not to bump into things or sit anywhere. It might be easier to do one section of your body at a time - just arms, just legs, etc, until you are evenly self-tanned... Avoid applying tanning or other lotions right after shaving and try not to tan the same day so as to not irritate your skin and get razor bumps. Neutrogena makes several good self tanners for face that do not look like the orange tanners that were common a few years ago, and Fusion Beauty makes a self tanner with a spray nozzle for even application that practically is as good as going to a professional. Apply a second light extra coat to do some strategic contouring on the sides of your upper thighs to make that "line" of flat muscle that skinny or well toned women have, and it makes your legs look super long.

Switch to lighter and brighter nail color in summer and lay off anything darker than a classic Chanel red until fall. It is a good time to file your nails down a bit; they will grow fast in the summer anyways. Lighter color withstand chips from exposure to pool and ocean water as well as summer sports better. Summer is of course, the time for showing off your pedicure, colors like orange, hot pink, baby pink and colors that normally would only work on a Barbie Doll will all look great on well maintained toes. When the evenings start getting a little cooler, a lovely shade of autumn red will look great - still crisp and cool looking but appropriate for that not quite fall but still summer feeling.