MAKEUP RULES: Summer essentials

June 18. 2013 10:48PM
By Bobby Walsh (The Real King Bob), Special to the Weekender 

Most people don't wear makeup in the summer - in fact who wants to? It's hot, humid, rainy, and sometimes you're in and out of a pool or doing some sort of outdoor activity where you might sweat it all off.

So, I collected a group of products that I love for the summer to help prep, prime, calm, and enhance your complexion!

Not everyone has the same skin type, but a good majority of people are oily in the summer months and drier in the winter, so I like to start off with a good cleanser. I use Philosophy Purity gel cleanser ($21, sephora.com). This particular foaming gel cleanser is the sister or brother product to Philosophy's award-winning Purity Made Simple cleanser, but instead has a fresh-foaming deep clean that foams as you lather, removing dirt, oil, impurities, and makeup, even eyemakeup.

Once I am done cleansing my face I like to use an Aveda productcalled Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant ($20, aveda.com). This non-abrasive liquid exfoliant wipes away leftover dead skin cells, excess dirt, and oil, revealing a smoother, clearer, more refined complexion beneath, and pores that are ready for ultimate moisture absorption with its toner like qualities. You won't believe the amount of makeup and dirt that comes off your face even after you just cleansed; it's amazing.

Now you need a good moisturizer. I like to stick with something that is light, gel based, non-oily, and contains Hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate which multiplies your skin's moisture level tenfold, counteracting the effects of dry indoor heat, low humidity, and chronic dryness. Skin feels instantly comfortable and it helps fight dehydration. I like to use Mario Badescu Cellufirm drops and Cellufirm moisturizer ($18-$25, mariobadescu.com).

My final step to help even out your complexion, but to keep your skin comfortable and summer-ready, is a tinted moisturizer. Mmy favorite is Stila's sheer color tinted moisturizer with an SPF of 20 ($34, stilacosmetics.com) and Tarte's cheek stain in Tipsy ($30, ulta.com), which gives you that sweet proof long-lasting dewy finish.

You can then pick a long-wear lip stain or lip balm and a water proof mascara to complete your look.

Tip: Eyelash perming and tinting are great ways to get darker, more visible lashes that won't melt or smudge in the heat or water (great for vacations and swimming).

Trick: Don't have a cheek stain? Add a little bit of your favorite long-wear lip color or lip stain into your tinted moisturizer and apply on your cheeks for a homemade summer-proof cheek stain.