3 Ways to Show Off Gorgeous Shoulders this Summer

Jenna Birch
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Let your sun-kissed shoulders shine. (Photo: Gallery Stock)

Check your favorite online shopping destination, peruse some street style blogs — or just ask fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, who documented Memorial Day’s biggest style trend for The New York Times this past weekend: breezy, pretty, off-the-shoulder shirts and dresses, which have arrived to ease us into summer. And that means it’s time to start perfecting our shoulder skincare game.

Start by locking in moisture with a great lotion and rubbing all over your neck, collarbones, and shoulders, says celebrity makeup artist Lisa Chamberlain. “This helps the skin from cracking, and will look much better when you apply your shimmer,” she tells Yahoo Beauty, suggesting Pond’s Dry Skin Cream ($7.39), “Let the lotion fully dry, then, depending on what you are wearing and where you are going, decide how drastic you want your shimmer to be.”

For dynamic decollétage and soft shoulders, here are three ways you can get your glow on:

For a glow

If you apply any glow product, let skin dry, and then climb into your clothes carefully, you should see minimal transfer, as long as your product isn’t pigmented. (You can also mist your shoulders and neck with a barrier spray like Mehron’s for extra protection.) But if you’re really worried that shimmer or color will rub off on your outfit, celebrity makeup artist Marni Burton has a suggestion of how to get gorgeous glowing skin or a nearly-naked shimmer. “Mario Badescu’s Summer Shine Body Lotion ($10) gives the skin a lustrous sheen,” she tells Yahoo Beauty. “It also has antioxidant moisturizing properties, so it’s good for your skin.”

Chamberlain also likes lightweight lotions. “For a glowy look without the shimmer, rub a little Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream ($21) on top of moisturized skin,” she suggests. “You can lightly apply to the collarbone and shoulders tops with your fingertips.” Burton’s glowing-skin, though, is from olive oil. “I always have a hairspray kind of bottle of it with me for extra sheen,” she says. “Still, be careful of clothes, but you can cover your outfit with a towel while spraying.”

For a glimmer

Creamy textures with shimmer add a youthful pop to shoulders and collarbones. “First Aid Beauty has a brand new Illuminating Moisturizer, which comes with the best built-in brush to highlight and add shine exactly where you want it,” Burton says of the product, which will launch in August. “Skin will look effortless blended, and you won’t have to use to your your hands and get them dirty.”

Chamberlain’s favorite low-key glimmer moisturizer is actually a drugstore buy: Olay Quench Body Lotion Shimmer ($6). “Always let the lotion fully dry, and carefully put your clothes on, so the shimmer does not rub off — and don’t forget this at night when you take your clothes back off,” she says. “If you want a little color with your shimmer, L’oreal’s Sublime Bronze Summer Express ($10) in either light or medium is great, because it’s sweat- and transfer-resistant.” Lastly, for a pearly, iridescent shimmer, Chamberlain likes Pixi Glowtion Day Dew ($22) for a natural glimmer you can don during daytime hours.

For a serious shimmer

If you’re looking for a highly-concentrated shimmer and an extra dose of drama, opt for a powder highlighter to get a strobing effect. “I love taking MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in ‘Soft and Gentle’ ($32),” Chamberlain says. “I’ll swipe it on the top my collarbone with my finger tips. It has a little sparkle, and emphasizes the glow of sun-kissed skin.”

For a universal summery glow in an eye-catching glitter, you can also dot a loose powder on neck, décolletage, and shoulders with a puff. Dior is currently stocking a limited-edition Nude Air Shimmering Loose Powder ($56), perfect for a little bit of seasonal color and lots of glam.

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