Summer has kicked off (well, for some of us; even in California, it’s rather gloomy!), and the change in weather means a change in beauty routines!
Go waterproof! Nothing is more budge-, crease-, and smudge-proof than something that is also waterproof or water resistant. You might not be swimming, but the sweat and humidity can take a toll on things like eyeliner and mascara.
Powder, powder, powder! Whenever you apply a cream or liquid product, make sure you set it with powder. I find this is true of my routine year-round but even more so during the warmer months. Keeping a pressed powder compact in your bag is an excellent way to freshen up your face after being outside, too.
Less is more! When it’s just sweltering out, you might just want to wear less makeup. Get creative with the “minimal” look to get you through the hottest days.
Consider cream/gel blushes. These kinds of blushes tend to last longer–blushes that are designed to stain will last longer than your average powder blush, because the sweat won’t break it down as easily.
Apply in layers for all-day wear. For occasions that you want to wear a full face of makeup, remember to layer. For face, wear a primer, followed by your foundation, and if it’s liquid/cream, set with powder. For lips, use a lip liner and apply lipstick with a brush (and top with gloss if desired). For eyes, do mascara last and allow foundation to fully set before applying.
Find a good sunscreen that works under makeup. Ideally, you want a sunscreen with a matte or semi-matte finish. You don’t want anything greasy or that takes forever to absorb. It’s also important to give it enough time to sink in before applying any base makeup to ensure the makeup sits on the skin well.
Try a tinted moisturizer! This is one of my favorite products for the summer, because most tinted moisturizers also contain SPF, so you can quickly apply it and achieve sheer coverage–enough to even out minor imperfections and give skin an overall more polished appearance (for those of us not blessed with perfect skin!).
Feel free to share your summer beauty tips in the comments!
This post was written by Renée Rouleau, who is a skin-care expert and celebrity esthetician who has been helping men, women and teens attain healthy, glowing, beautiful skin for more than twenty years.
Her philosophy is simple: With the proper tools, effective products and a disciplined approach, anyone can have great skin.
She provides regular skincare advice and tips on her blog, too!
Renée Rouleau Shares Her Five Favorite Sun Protection Tips
It’s a fact: The #1 reason why the skin shows signs of premature aging (wrinkles, lines, brown spots) is due to sun/daylight exposure, since the UV rays destroys collagen, creates inflammation and negatively alters the DNA of your skin cells. As a skin care expert and esthetician, I am pretty fanatical about avoiding unnecessary exposure to the sun and UV light, both for anti-wrinkle reasons as well as for preventing skin cancer. While some of these practices may seem a little extreme to you, they are tips that I personally live and swear by.
Sun Protection Tip #1: Be aware of daylight coming through windows.
There is a belief that the only time you get sun exposure (and therefore sun damage) is when you are outside. I’m here to say that this is just not true. UV light (that damages your skin) can penetrate windows at any daylight hour. For example, my bedroom has big windows all around it, so I always wake to sunlight (or just daylight on cloudy days) coming through. The moment I wake up, I immediately cover my face with my sheets until I’m ready to get out of bed, since I’m not wearing sunblock. Crazy I know, but every minute counts when it comes to skin protection and as someone who is in a profession where having good skin matters, I take it very seriously. I also have shades on the window in my office to filter out daylight during my working hours.
Sun Protection Tip #2 – Apply sunscreen or sunblock to the entire face, neck and chest – GENEROUSLY.
Did you know that an SPF 30 only protects the skin 4% more than an SPF 15? And as you go up in number, this percentage lowers. The real truth behind sun protection is not the SPF number, but how generously you apply it. Published medical studies have shown that most people apply 1/3 to 1/2 the recommended dose of sunblock. A little dab won’t do ya! First thing in the morning, I apply a thick coat to the face, neck, ears, tops of hands and chest (my exposed areas of skin) for an important defense against the UV rays given off from the sun. Since the skin on my face is oily and acne-prone (I’m a skin type #2 in my nine skin types), and since sunblock should be applied generously, it is so important to find one that is formulated for your skin type and won’t feel greasy or cause breakouts. I use my Daily Protection SPF 30, which gives both UVA and UVB protection and dries to a matte finish on the skin. It works amazing under my makeup since it’s so light–I love it.
3 Wedding Day Hairstyles from Fall/Winter 2011 Bridal Fashion Week
Redken Session Stylist Giovanni Giuntoli created three distinct looks at Fall/Winter 2011 Bridal Fashion Week at Christos, Kenneth Pool, and Amsale.
End-of-Day Waves @ Christos
“This season the traditionally preppy Christos look evolved for the next generation, and the hair embraces this edgier attitude,” Giuntoli said. “The look is down, when it is typically up, resulting in a youthful, casual after-wedding look that’s flattering and flirty.”
To achieve the look, prep hair to add texture and extra hold with Redken wool shake 08 gel-slush texturizer and then layer on spray starch 15 versatile ironing spray. Part the hair wherever it best reflects the face shape, whether it be left, right or center. Set the curls with a 1-inch curling iron and pin in place until dry. Let the curls out and pull until you have soft waves, finishing the style with fashion work 12 versatile working spray to achieve a silky matte finish. “These waves are not tight, they’re fresh. We’re trying to get away from the corkscrew,” Giuntoli explained.
Cutting Edge Pleat @ Kenneth Pool
“This up-do reflects the high-end Kenneth Pool look, with a luxury finish to the hair. This line is more avant-garde, more high-fashion, and so we created a striking, contemporary up-do that pushes the envelope,” Giuntoli said.
To create this look, prep the hair by blow-drying with aerate 08 bodifying cream-mousse, applying at the roots and through the ends for all-over body and texture. Then fold all of the hair except for the front section two inches from the crown into a pleat. Curl small sections of the front two inches with a one-inch barrel and pin each up in place atop the head. “The curls add a softer silhouette for height and a light, airy texture that you can almost see through.” Giuntoli said. For added shine and hold, finish the look with pure force 16 non-aerosol fixing spray.
Statement Pony @ Amsale
“This season of Amsale reflects another evolution and a new approach, with a natural, youthful ponytail with soft with volume at the crown for added glamour,” Giuntoli said.
Obtain this look by first sectioning off the hair at the crown, misting with forceful 23 super strength finishing spray and then back brushing for height. “Play with the shape and height at the crown to keep it tailored to your face shape,” Giuntoli explained. Next gather the hair into a pony and wrap a one-inch section around the elastic. Leave a natural wave in the pony tail and mist with shine flash 02 glistening mist for a glossy polish.
I’ve had several questions and requests regarding what makeup to wear for special occasions such as prom and weddings, so here are some tips!
Wear What You Love
Confidence is totally killer when it comes to pulling off any makeup look, whether it’s eyes done to the nines or just a bit of foundation. It’s important to wear products and colors that you’re comfortable wearing. Don’t let anyone push you into wearing more (or less!) than you feel happy wearing. If you don’t wear a lot of makeup and hate the way it feels on the skin–don’t think you have to wear full coverage foundation just to look good in photos. I also recommend, if you feel like you’re going a little out of your comfort zone, wearing the look prior to your special occasion to really see if it works for you.
Perfect the Skin
One of the things most often noticed first in photograph is skin, which really does round off any look you wear–it’s all about having a great canvas to work off of. Keep in mind that products that promise dewy finishes do not always work well in photographs, particularly flash photography, because they can give skin an oilier look. Another product to watch for is sunscreen, such as those with physical sunscreens, because they reflect light back, and this is what gives you a washed out look in flash photography. You may also want to test out any translucent powders you use, too, which can sometimes give a white cast in photos. If you’re not sure, try taking a few photos at home with flash and seeing how it goes.
Whether you apply eye makeup before or after foundation, make sure to remove any excess fall out, because you do not want any additional shadowing on the under eye. Eye brightening products and concealers are good for adding lightness to tired eyes, too, which can often be apparent in photos. However, make sure you really pay attention to blending so that the transitions between products and shades is natural and seamless.
Long Days, Longer Prep
For special occasions that span hours, such as weddings, proms, and the like, make time for proper prep to ensure longer wear out of your makeup. A lot of this entails layering products, which helps products adhere and stay on better and longer. Begin with moisturizer and allow it plenty of time to really sink in (typically 20 to 30 minutes), and then follow with a foundation primer, which will help smooth the surface of skin. Many primers also help combat oiliness, but it can depend on the formulation.
Depending on your skin type, you may also want to consider using a cream or gel blush, and if you really want to go the extra mile, set it with powder (or a similar colored blush). Foundation should also be set with powder (loose, pressed, translucent, whatever!), and for long days, carry around a pressed powder compact for touch-ups. It is with great hope that you won’t need to touch-up, but oilier skin types may still find it necessary. Just a slight application of more powder can help take down any oiliness and give skin a fresher look.
Lips can go through a layering process, too, or you can simply reapply as necessary. Exfoliate lips the night before, and apply a good lip balm to moisturize lips about an hour before you go to apply any lip products. Before you apply colored products, gently remove any excess balm that didn’t absorb (I usually just kiss the back of my hand). At this point, you can fill in your lips using lip liner in a shade that matches your natural lip color or that of your lipstick. Using a brush tends to provide more precise color application but also helps to cover lips in a very even layer. For longer wearing lipsticks, opt for matte, semi-matte, or satin finishes. Drier finishes tend to cling more to lips and therefore last longer. Similarly, darker colors (such as reds) tend to last longer than lighter colors (such as nudes).
When in Doubt, Test!
Whenever feasible, consider testing out your look at home or at some point in time before the special occasion takes place. If you have a camera, you can take your own photos to see how everything looks and make adjustments as necessary.
Beauty Tips: How to handle a blemish? by Renee Rouleau
Skincare expert and esthetician Renee Rouleau is back with a video on how best to handle blemishes — plus 11 causes for acne blemishes:
Cause for acne blemishes #1
Do you touch your face a lot? This may come as a surprise, but subconsciously touching your face all day makes it quickly become the dirtiest part of your body. While it’s important to wash your skin every night, it’s much better to try to prevent your hands from touching your face unnecessarily.
Skin Tip: Keep your hands occupied. Get any kind of toy or gadget that you can play with in your hands at times when you are most likely to be touching your skin. This will help tremendously. I personally love Tangle toys. The small version is great and fun to fidget with to keep your hands busy.
Cause for acne blemishes #2
Have you been eating more dairy than normal lately? When you develop cystic breakouts (those hard, painful, underground blemishes that linger for weeks) on the chin, jaw line and neck area, it might be a sign that you’re getting more dairy in your diet than your body can tolerate. Your skin acts as an excretory system to get rid of things that your body is not in agreement with, so when you get too much dairy, it is by nature harder to digest and can come out in the form of cystic blemishes in the lower area of the face.
Skin Tip: The best way to determine if your acne cysts are directly related to your intake of dairy is to completely cut dairy out of your diet for two weeks. If you don’t develop any new cysts and you normally would have by now, then this might solve your problem! It doesn’t mean that you cannot eat any dairy at all. Slowly introduce dairy back into your diet, and the point you start breaking out again is your body’s tolerance level.
Cause for acne blemishes #3
Have you been under tremendous stress? Aside from my experience confirming this is true, the Stanford University School of Medicine conducted one such study in 2002. It was a small study that involved students suffering from acne. The college professors involved in the study conclusively proved that the exam stress worsened acne in these students. According to researchers, their findings indicated “Subjects who had the greatest increases in stress during examination periods also had the greatest exacerbation in acne severity”.
Stress not only affects acne flare-up. In general, it worsens the overall skin condition. It induces the adrenal glands into overproduction of cortisol, a steroid, which in turn makes sebaceous glands produce more oil and make skin extra oily. Thus the reason why in stressful periods, people experiencing an increase in acne get more inflamed, puss-filled papules than simple whiteheads or blackheads.
Skin Tip: The easiest solution to reducing stress is to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Cause for acne blemishes #4
Do you not wash your skin at night? Oil on the skin makes for a breeding ground of bacteria, and bacteria will cause blemishes. Sleeping with not only your makeup on, but also the addition of oil, dirt and debris that has built up on the skin during the day, can absolutely trigger new blemishes.
Skin Tip: The #1 reason why someone won’t wash his or her face at night is out of exhaustion. I certainly understand the discipline and effort it requires to perform your nighttime skin care routine, especially when you’re exhausted. But, you really must do it. It’s that simple.
Cause for acne blemishes #5
Have you started using new skin care products? When your skin is introduced to new products, sometimes you might get some initial blemish purging, especially if the products are giving your skin more exfoliation than normal. If it continues on more than two weeks, then they may not be a good fit for your skin.
Skin Tip: When introducing new products to your skin, it’s always recommended to use one product for 3-4 days before adding in a second one. If your skin is reacting negatively, you’ll be able to determine which product you should discontinue. Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types.
Make Up For Ever Britney Spears “Hold it Against Me” Make Up Look
Make Up For Ever’s David Hernandez dishes on how to get Britney’s eye-catching make up look from her new music video for “Hold It Against Me.”
Complexion
Prep the skin with HD Microperfecting Primer by applying to the entire face with Nylon Brush #30N.
Next, apply HD Invisible Cover Foundation all over to achieve a flawless complexion.
Cheeks
Use HD Microfinish Blush #14 to highlight the cheeks, shading from top to bottom.
To add a slight contour to the cheeks, use the darker shade from our Sculpting Kit and shade just under the cheekbones.
Finish by blending Star Powder #941 onto the cheeks, an iridescent white with silver highlights that provides a soft glow.
Eyes
Apply Aqua Cream #4 in white all over the eye lids with Brush #14S. Then, add Aqua Cream #2 in steel to the crease.
Line the top and bottom lash lines with Aqua Eyes #2L. Next, add intensity to the eyes with Aqua Black, placing it inside the top waterline with Brush #2S.
Apply a thick coat of Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara.
For added drama, apply Faux Lash #157 to the middle of the lash line first, then lifting the corners until the lashes are secured in place.
Finally, apply Aqua Cream #2 to the outer corners of the eyes and blend.
Lips
Apply Rouge Artist Intense #18 in nude as a base to the lips.
To add dimension, apply Lab Shine #M16 at the edges and center of the lips.
This post was written by 
