Summer-proof your beauty routine

The dog days aren’t over – they’re just beginning.

Summertime can be a catch-22 for beauty addicts. Summer is a great time to experiment with bright, fun colours but creeping temperatures usually result in sliding makeup.

[photo courtesy of doornail243 on flickr]

With a few easy swaps (and a few miracle products) it’s easy to summer-proof your beauty routine.

Show some skin. Switch your foundation out for a tinted moisturiser or mix a bit of foundation with your AM cream for a sheer look. Apply concealer only to spots that need it (like blemishes or under-eye darkness). Perfection!
Add SPF. SPF is important all year long, but it’s especially so in the summer. I use a primer with SPF (try Stila Hydrating Primer Oil Free SPF 20, ~$34) and a foundation with SPF (like Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF 15, ~$38)
Make it stick. Seal in your perfect skin with the perfect glow. A powder bronzer with a bit of shimmer, like NARS Bronzing Powder, ~$33, will set your foundation and keep things mostly matte without looking dry.
Mattify. Does your forehead become an oil slick? Try a product like Smashbox Anti-Shine, ~$27, on slippery areas to instantly mattify. Bonus: it can be re-applied throughout the day (but, trust me, you won’t have to).
Glow, baby, glow. No summer look is complete without glowing cheeks. Mimic that day-in-the-sun look with a gel blush, like Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy, ~$30. A little goes a long way with this first-class gel that’s easy to blend and buildable.
Stop the slip ‘n slide. Waterproof is your friend. For liner that won’t budge, try Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, ~$20). This liquid liner has a marker-like tip for easy application and a formula that’ll last through a downpour and a day at the pool. Seriously. It comes off with makeup remover, but be prepared for a little elbow grease. Bonus: it comes in sparkly colours that are highly pigmented, as well as your favourite neutrals.

While benefit BADgal waterproof mascara, ~$19, won’t last through laps at the pool, it’s the perfect formula for sultry eyes in steamy temperatures (or to keep happy tears at a wedding from giving you racoon eyes!). The waterproof formula provides the same great lift, definition and thickening power of the original.
Stay kissable. For lip colour that will keep going through a smoochy summer night and will last through a day at the beach, pick up an on-trend matte shade like NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage, ~$25. The colour goes on bold and makes your lips look like you’ve been sucking on a cherry popsicle all afternoon. Perfection. Mattes can get a little drying, so make sure to pop some SPF-infused balm in your bag (I love Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, ~$22.50)