Few beauty looks go better with summer than soft, dewy skin. In addition to using exfoliating scrubs and body oils to give your face a fresh finish, a subtle pop of color will seal the deal.
Cream blush is a fool-proof product that can help you achieve that naturally "flushed" look, according to HuffPost Live makeup artist Kari Bauce. Because the product is typically made of hyaluronic acid, castor seed and avocado oils, cream blush helps to achieve and maintain that dewy summer look better than its powder equivalent. "It's also very portable and it's a multipurpose product. You can throw in your bag and use it as lip color, too," she added.
Bauce suggests applying cream blush with a short, flat brush or makeup sponge. "You're going to get a smoother, cleaner and better application," she said. "Then if you need to touch it up during the day, you can use your fingers." Starting off with a very small amount of product also allows you to build coverage without packing it on as you may do with powder blushes.
To avoid looking greasy, save your heavy moisturizers for the evening and prep your skin with an oil-free moisturizer that will help your blush to settle. "A thicker moisturizer is going to eat your cream products," said Bauce. And that doesn't just apply to blush -- it goes for concealer and foundation as well.
The makeup pro also suggests not layering setting powder on top of cream blush. "We're not using a lot of powder in the summer anyway, or your face is going to turn into paste," she explained.
Now that you know how to get flushed without baking in the sun, shop our picks for the best cream blushes below.
Does your eyeliner constantly crumble while putting it on? Our friends at You Beauty recommend leaving it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying your makeup. It should glide along your lash line seamlessly after that.
Shave With Conditioner
If you're out of shaving cream, lather your legs with conditioner instead of soap. Conditioner will soften the hair on your legs making it easier to shave (and it will leave your skin feeling extra silky). Source: You Beauty
Rinse Hair With Beer Or Vinegar
Rinsing your hair with beer helps restore moisture to your locks while using vinegar will up the ante in shine. Soak your hair in either liquid (not at the same time) for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water. Source: You Beauty
Turn Up The Heat
For curlier, flirtier lashes, the experts at You Beauty recommend heating your lash curler with a hair dryer for five to eight seconds before curling them.
Use Ice Cubes To Keep Fat, Acne and Wrinkles At Bay
The experts at You Beauty recommend massaging an ice cube over your face until it melts. Do it every night before bed and keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles under control.
Make Your Manicure Last.. And Last
Before applying nail polish, wipe nails with an acetone-based cleanser. Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics, told the pros at Redbook that cleaning excess dirt, oil or moisturizer from your nails will ensure that the polish adheres properly. Follow the rest of these tips at Redbook and your perfectly polished manicure will last for a week and a half.
Soothe Your Stomach.. And Your Face
Apparently Pepto-Bismol isn't just a stomach soother, it can also be used as a facial mask. It contains bismuth subsalicylate, which is commonly found in facial creams. In an interview with Reader's Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks, recommended spreading two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, then letting it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Apply Sunscreen Daily
Wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Even when it's cloudy. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 per cent of the sun's ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
Don't Neglect Your Elbows
It's easy to forget about your elbows, but they need just as much protection and care as other parts of your body. Cure dry elbows by massaging Bio-Oil onto them daily. You'll see and feel softer elbows in at least two days.
Lighten Hair With Chamomile Tea And Lemon Juice
In an interview with Reader's Digest, Popie Poulos, hairstylist and owner of The Salon, recommends rinsing your hair with a mixture of chamomile and fresh lemon juice instead of conditioner to permanently lighten your tresses. Allow your hair to dry while sitting in the sun or use a blow dryer — the heat will lighten your locks.
De-Puff Your Eyes With Raw Potatoes
In an interview with Reader's Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks recommends using raw potato slices to soothe your eyes. She says they are astringent which means they help decrease water retention and they also contain the enzyme catalase which helps lighten dark under eye circles. First, wash and peel a potato. Cut two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes. Lay down, relax and let the potatoes work their magic. Rinse the eye area gently with lukewarm water when you're done.
Maximize The Lifespan Of Your Blow Out
We love walking out of the salon with a fresh blow out, but how do you prevent your locks from going limp in the days after? The experts at Allure say plan early. Your hair naturally secretes oil so be two steps ahead and spray your roots with dry shampoo before you start producing oil. This way the dry shampoo will absorb any moisture before it weighs down your tresses. Also make sure you protect your hair from moisture (rain is sure to ruin your mane) and touch up your blow out in the morning using a hair dryer and round brush. It will give you an instant boost of volume.
Countouring Creates Dimension
The trick to achieving a chiseled celebrity-like face is to contour (Angelina Jolie cheekbones, anyone?). Your face is three dimensional so applying foundation in a single tone will only make your face appear flat. Add a highlighter to areas of your face that would usually catch light but create enough shadow to emphasize your jaw line and cheekbones. For tips on how to contour your face according to its specific shape, visit Total Beauty.
Say Goodbye To Makeup Sponges
Makeup sponges help you apply make up, but not without a cost. They usually soak up more liquid foundation than what ends up on your face. The result? You're wasting foundation and constantly buying new sponges. The fix? Get a foundation brush. You waste less foundation and it allows for a more even and precise application than a sponge would.
Avoid Overly Rosy Cheeks
Giving yourself a natural glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you'll want to avoid brushing on too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Keep Misbehaving Brows In Check
Spritz an old toothbrush or a clean mascara wand with hairspray, then brush brows and style them as desired. Even the most hard to tame brows will fall in line with this trick. Source: Yahoo Shopping
Applying False Lashes
Adding extra eye fringe amps up the glam instantly. First, take your falsies and loosen them by gently flexing the eyelash band, then curl your natural lashes to make sure your falsies line up with your actual lash line. Apply glue on your falsies using a Q-tip. Using tweezers (or finger tips if you feel that gives you more control), place your falsies as close to your lash line as possible. Let your lashes dry for a minute before you add a coat of mascara (this is optional). Source: Makeup.com
Toothpaste Zaps Pimples
You've heard it before — don't pop your zits! The folks over at Daily Glow suggest applying a bit of toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you wake up in the morning. They say that toothpastes draws impurities out of clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple. Opt for organic toothpastes rather than gel toothpastes which don't work as well.
Blot Away Excess Oil
Do you start the morning with matte, fresh-looking skin only to find that by the time 5 p.m. rolls in you're a shiny mess? If you have oily skin then blotting papers are a beauty godsend. Don't use powder to soak up the oil. Using too much periodically throughout the day will make your skin appear cakey because you're just layering makeup on top of more makeup. Opt for blotting papers instead. They will soak up all the oil. We love We love Sephora's blotting papers.
No Makeup Remover? Try Lotion Instead
If you're out of makeup remover, use body lotion to get rid of makeup. It works especially well on tough mascara.
Create Fuller Lips
If you're tired of having thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner. Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though — don't extend your lip line too much.
Lashes For Miles
Curl your lashes both before and after applying mascara for longer lashes. You may want to re-curl them throughout the day to get some extra lift, just remember to be gentle when you apply pressure with your curler.
Don't Pop It
No, no, no! Don't pop your zits. Not only does it increase the chance of scarring, it's also likely that you will worsen the blemish and spread bacteria to other places on your face which could give rise to another breakout.
Stop Your Hair Colour From Fading
If you've just had your hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the colour to fade. One surefire way to prevent such a mishap from happening is to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a month. This will help lock in colour and has the added benefit of staving off dry and damaged locks.
Use A Flat Iron To Create Waves
Flat irons are amazing tools with multiple uses. Not only can you use it to straighten your hair, you can also create tight curls or soft romantic waves.
Exfoliate Your Lips
Dry, flaky, chapped lips are the worst canvas for lipstick. To ensure that your puckers are in perfect pout condition, the experts at The Beauty Department recommend exfoliating your lips. To do this, apply lip balm to your lips, then using a toothbrush or clean mascara wand, scrub your lips (don't be too rough). Then, use a tissue to wipe away excess flakes and voila! You'll have a perfect pout in no time.
Exfoliate Daily
Exfoliation is an important and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin's natural glow. Use a light exfoliator, like the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica, to freshen your face daily.
Know Your Shade
When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn't too different from the natural shade of your neck. We really love Makeup Forever's Invisible Cover HD Foundation because it comes in so many shades.
Uses For Old Mascara Wands
Don't throw away your old mascara wand, it's still got a few uses left. Clean it and use it as a brow brush instead. You might even find it handy around the house — use it to unclog sinks or clean tough to reach areas in your home. Source: A Thrifty Mrs
Wear Pantyhose Or Tights
What's worse than having to wear a skirt with absolutely no time to shave your legs? We've all been there. The hassle free fix for this is to wearing pantyhose or tights (try a patterned pair for something new). It will disguise stubble as well as any blemishes on your stems.
Tweezing Tips
Before you tweeze, make sure you soften your skin by dabbing a cotton ball soaked in warm water or cream. When you start tweezing, do so in the direction of your hair's growth. Source: Yahoo Shopping
Camouflage Grey Hair
If you want to camouflage some strands of grey hair on the go, the folks at Real Simple suggest using mascara if you have dark hair. For blondes or redheads try dusting your roots with bronzing powder.
Cut Back On Pedicures
Save money on your beauty routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off, apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
Use Dry Shampoo
We absolutely love dry shampoo, especially Klorane (we use this brand religiously). It absorbs excess oil on your strands and scalp and keeps your mane looking clean and fresh. If you don't have dry shampoo, try washing just the top of your head (or wherever there is oil), with regular shampoo followed by a quick blow dry. Your tresses will look as good as new.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Be beautiful and environmentally savvy while you're at it. Recycle your old beauty products by shipping them to Terra Cycle (you can download their pre-paid UPS shipping packages online so it's completely free). They'll take your old beauty products and transform them into something new.
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