Summer is here is full swing and now it’s time to adjust your makeup colors for the bright light and protect your skin from the burning rays.  Here are tips to keep you looking and feeling cool and radiant.

Change foundation and powder to a full shade darker. If your current foundation is only slightly lighter than your summer skin tone, use an oil-free powder one shade darker and with a golden undertone to enhance features where the sun would tan like the sides of forehead, cheekbones, sides of nose and chin.  Be sure to powder down passed the jawbone and onto the throat to prevent discoloration lines. Watch for under eye concealer that now might appear too light and look unnatural.

Go light on mascara or skip it all together.  Even waterproof mascara can run as oils and perspiration cause it to breakdown.

Natural looking short false lashes applied to the outer half of eyes can prevent that mascara ring below eyes and still provide a thick lash look. Be sure to use waterproof glue as lids might get moist in humidity.  

Brighten color on lips and cheeks using peach, coral or pink shades.  Avoid dull colors like mauve, plum or brown. If you love bronze tones, be sure they have a golden glimmer to catch the light.  A little more color on the cheeks and lips will allow you to go lighter on the mascara and eye shadow, which smudges easily in heat.

Quench a thirsty body and skin. The most important fluid your body needs is water, and a lot of it, up to a gallon a day! The best water to drink is natural spring water, bottled at the source.  Shaking your bottled water a few times helps oxygenate it for faster absorption into the body. Place a slice of lemon into each glass of water to help your body quickly absorb the moisture and regain balance. A slice of cucumber is wonderful addition as well. Used at many top spas, a slice in your glass will cleanse the body and refresh. 

Restore dehydrated facial skin. Place chamomile or rose hips tea bags into a small spray bottle filled with pure spring water. Mist your face with it a few times a day or as needed. Try green tea as well—it has powerful skin antioxidants and provides natural sun protection.  Misting is especially helpful in dry climates or during air travel.

Restore fluids with this great quenching cocktail:

·   Pour boiling water into a pot of fresh mint leaves or mint tea bags.

·   Let cool.

·   Pour one part tea over ice cubes.

·   Add one part sparkling mineral water or seltzer.

·    Sweeten with honey or organic pure white grape juice.

Restore lost fluids through food. Fruits such as strawberries, all melons (especially cantaloupe), tomatoes, grapes, oranges, kiwis, apples, pineapples and grapefruit help restore fluids and carry a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Practice sun safety. 

Most skin damage comes from the sun. Those who wear SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreen of 15 and up, sit in the shade and wear a hat for protection will greatly lower their risk of sun spots, skin cancer and photo-aging (this causes wrinkles and sagging).

The sun isn’t what it used to be.  While it’s true that the sun heals the skin and provides us with Vitamin D, both of which are beneficial, we can get our daily requirements with just about fifteen minutes or less of exposure a day. Let’s face it, the rays combined with chemicals in our atmosphere and the diminished ozone layer makes the sun dangerous. Don’t think tanning beds are better, either. Their harmful rays are even more damaging increasing the risk of skin cancer. Sun damage done today may not even show up until 10 to 15 years later.  Sun damage at age 15 can result in aged and spotty skin at age 25. Yes, if you worship the sun now, you are guaranteed to pay later! 

Help to guard you from exposure:

1) Always use sunscreen. If you are prone to break outs, oilfree sunscreen is available so you don’t have any excuses.  Sun exposure can increase sebum production and cause even more breakouts.

2) Wear a hat and good sunglasses (eyes can be damaged, too) when outside.  Don’t forget your lips when out in the sun.  Lips protrude and catch all the rays, especially if you’re wearing lipgloss.  Lipgloss or shiny lipstick can be just like wearing oil on your skin, creating certain sunburn. Always wear a lipstick or balm with sunscreen in it, if you plan a day out in the sun.

3) Remember that self-tanning lotions make you look tan, but don’t protect your skin from the sun. Your best bet would be use a self-tanner as well as the highest SPF sunscreen possible.  Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen as often as indicated on the directions (especially after swimming).

4) Always bring a cover-up or a T-shirt. When you feel you have had enough sun, cover up exposed areas. Watch for arms, hands and the back of neck!

5) Keep your sunscreen bottle in the shade. The bottle absorbs the sunlight and breaks down the sunscreen, making it ineffective.

6) Whether you shave or wax your legs and bikini area, remember never to do it the same day you are heading out to the beach or pool. Sun exposure, salt water, and chlorine can irritate your skin.  Those nasty red bumps will appear, and that’s not pretty!  Don’t forget that goes for underarms, too. Try Tend Skin (at drugstores) to heal and banish bumps fast.

7) Performers should be extra careful to avoid tan lines. These are hard to cover up and can ruin the look of a costume if exposed.

How to ID your SPF:

SPF means sun protection factor. A SPF of 15 means that you can spend fifteen times longer in the sun than you could without any protection; 20 means twenty times longer, and so on...

          To figure out the SPF you need, first find out how long you plan on being in the sun. Then figure out how long it takes you before you begin to burn. Divide your burn time into your exposure time—this is supposed to equal your SPF needed. Now, if you really want to play it safe, take that figure and double or even triple it.

          Remember that the time of day is important in the calculation as well.  The sun is strongest during midday.  Also take note if you are around a lot of water. Water (lakes, pools and the ocean) and sand reflect the suns rays, so even if you are in the shade you can still get sunburned.

          Using most oils provides zero protection and may even be a detriment because it may actually encourage the process resulting in a burn. A tan comes from the production of melanin in your skin, which is produced to protect your skin from burning when exposed to the sun.  So think about this:  YOU CAN NOT GET A SUNTAN UNLESS YOU ARE BEING DAMAGED BY THE SUN! In other words, healthy skin is suntan-free skin. Protect yourself.