Solutions for Your Biggest Beauty Bummers

Preventing the summer midday makeup meltdown:

• Lighten up:  Less is always better in the summer
• Switch to a tinted moisturizer; it will feel lighter while still providing plenty of coverage
• If you do not want to give up your favorite foundation, then apply it with a damp sponge to help sheer it out so it won’t be too heavy
• Consider oil-free primers that go on after moisturizer and before makeup
• Applying a thin coat of primer creates a barrier on the skin’s surface locking in the moisture and keeping it separate from your makeup
• Getting rid of excess oil helps a lot.  Keep blotting papers in your handbag; they work great for quick touch-ups throughout the day
• If your makeup still disappears in the afternoon, try applying extra concealer over any remaining makeup, adding it where you really need it like on blemishes or the red areas around your nose, then blend in well

Solutions for runny eye makeup:

• In hot weather skip the mascara on your lower lashes, or switch to a waterproof version mascara
• Powders or eye shadows applied with a brush will last longer than cream or pencil liners
• Use eye primer, just a very think amount on the lid and a little under the lower lashes

Solutions for over-bronzing:

• The idea behind bronzing is to get a fresh, subtle glow
• To avoid bronzer overload, choose a pinkish shade or one with several different colors that you swirl together with a brush for the most natural look
• When you apply, use a big, fluffy brush (the smaller, stiff brushes will deposit color too quickly and heavily)
• Add only a little bronzer at a time
• If you have gone overboard with the bronzer, take a clean brush and swipe it over your face.  The bristles will pick up some of the extra color
• Wipe the brush on a towel and repeat until you have successfully de-bronzed

Solutions for Sunburn:

• A minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen should be used every day
• Be sure to use enough
• Apply every two hours
• It takes one ounce to cover the entire body
• Treat a true sunburn with ice and cold compresses because it really is a first-degree burn
• Take nonsteroidal pain reliever and use 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to cut down the inflammation and pain

Solutions for back blemishes:

• Prevent them by sticking to a regular cleansing and treating regimen
• Wash daily with a benzoly peroxide or salicylic acid enriched cleanser
• Use a specially formulated scrub once or twice a week to really unclog pores
• A leave-on treatment applied day and night should help clear up existing blemishes

Source:  Hertzig A. Your Summer Fix-It Guide. Good Housekeeping [serial online]. July 2007;245(4):65. Available from: MAS Ultra - School Edition, Ipswich, MA. Accessed August 4, 2008.

Written by:  Connie Limon  To find more skin care articles and tips visit http://smalldogs2.com/SkinCareTips  To find a variety of reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com