We all have days where minimal makeup is where it’s at (okay, most of us), and it isn’t always out of laziness or being work-appropriate.  Sometimes heavy makeup just isn’t practical!  I wanted to share with you my minimal makeup routine for days I spend outdoors.  In the above photo, this is my look to go hiking, and it lasted through a six mile hike (about two hours) in 84 degree weather. This picture was taken AFTER the hike!

• Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup in Nirvana (LOVE THIS!) for foundation
• Kanebo 38C Mascara
• MAC Clear Brow Set
• Dior Skinshimmer in Amber Diamond on cheeks
• MAC Fuchsia Fix Tinted Lip Conditioner on lips
• Shiseido’s SPF55 for Face & Body on face and neck
• Random body sunscreen

Keeping Your Face Light is important to making sure you don’t sweat off what you do put on. Moisturizer and sunscreen should be your first steps. With normal skin, I find that I can just slather Shiseido’s SPF55 for face and body without going for a moisturizer, but otherwise I suggest going for a lightweight, fast absorbing moisturizer. Nothing heavy like MAC’s Moisturelush!

I do not typically sweat buckets off of my face, which is why I often wear liquid in hot weather, but I do find that loose powders work well in hotter weather. The only place I ever really break a sweat on is my upper lip, so I actually avoid putting any product there since I know I’ll sweat it off.  I particularly love Urban Decay’s Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup for just this purpose. It’s finely milled, but it gives decent coverage and doesn’t require lots of buffing to make it look good. For longer lasting blusher, try a cream blush with a powder brush on top, finished with setting or loose powder. I just went for a subtle highlighter, since I knew I’d flush from the physical exertion.

Waterproof & Longwearing are two marketing tools that you want to zone in on when selecting eye makeup. Sometimes I’ve worn a really light neutral look (like to the beach), but I’ll often just coat my lashes with a waterproof/heatproof mascara to open up my eyes.  I skip liner, as it does tend to migrate and smudge easily in the heat–even my trust fluidline. For upper lash liner, it’s not such an issue as it doesn’t move very much compared to your lower lash line.

Tints, Stains, and Longwear are all suitable for all day lip color, or at least easy-to-apply color. I love Fuchsia Fix Tinted Lip Conditioner because it gives me a pop of pink on my lips bringing them from dead to alive in seconds. If it came in a stick form, I’d be in heaven.  For the same reason, I like stains because they’re not very fussy once you’ve got them on.  I do wear MAC Prolongwears if I really want a stand-out lip color that’ll last me eight hours or more (though don’t make out in them…).

What products do you recommend for activities like going to the beach, hiking, playing an outdoor sport?