How to Avoid a Makeup Meltdown

Dear Missus Smarty Pants,

Your style advice and service has improved my self image and I am so deeply grateful for that. I do not have a perfect shape but now I know I DO deserve to feel wonderful just the way I am. Learning this was a huge “aha” moment for me.

I loved your tip about the Nars makeup awhile back. Wearing a lighter color made me look years younger and when I cut my hair shorter... well, everyone could not believe how nice I looked and it was all thanks to you!

Now that it is getting hot and humid in the south, could you pass along a couple of tips about wearing makeup in the summer?

Again, I owe you a great deal for offering this weekly style help and at such an affordable price!

Fondly, Elizabeth

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for sharing your style success with me. It is so true; a couple of appearance changes for the best can make a huge impact on how you feel about yourself! It amazes me every time, and it is why I love doing what I do!

First, realize heat and humidity make wearing makeup a challenge so you have to “lighten” up and not wear as much.

Here are seven ways to “lighten” up your makeup in the summer so you won’t have a complete makeup meltdown:   

1. Make time for primer. You won't regret the few seconds it will take to smooth on a primer, which goes on after moisturizer but before face makeup. It can help hold makeup in place on a hot humid day (that is if you plan to wear a foundation that day). Primer really do ROCK!!!

2. Lighten your makeup just like you do with your clothes; wear less when it's hot. First step: switch from thick foundation to tinted moisturizer or use a light face powder in areas where needed (like around the nose and "T" zone).

3. Consider a bronzer. A bit of color makes every face look more alive in the summer months. Apply bronzer ONLY to where the sun naturally hits you: forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose. (Covering every nook and cranny is what gives you that fake, baked look.) Powder bronzers are the easiest to apply—and remember less is more when it comes to bronzer application.

4. Try wearing one lively color. Vivid colors can brighten your face and bring a youthful glow to your skin. Try either a bright lip color or eye color (only one area at one time) to brighten up your look since you aren’t wearing as much makeup.

5. Lose thick lipsticks. Heavy lip colors are too much once the weather gets hot. Go for tinted lip balms and get a pretty touch of color instead!

6. Stay-proof your eye makeup. Use a cream shadow with a powder over the top. This will help keep eye makeup in place during hot weather. Try it, it really works!

7. Go sheer. Rich, deep colors have their place, but they can look heavy in summer. To lighten up, switch to sheer versions of your go-to lip and eye hues.

Here is a link to the Nars makeup I previously suggested (called Orgasm...yes, that is really the name!) It comes in a lipstick, gloss and blush:   Nars Makeup