Summer heat can be a major challenge to your beauty routine.  By the middle of the day, sweating and the sun’s beaming rays have probably taken a toll on your makeup.  But with proper precautions and some simple routine tweaks, you can easily maintain your polished look for longer periods.

The most important thing to do before you’ve taken a brush or wand to your face is to apply sunscreen of at least SPF 15.  Fortunately, facial moisturizers often come with sun protection built into their formulas. Using sunscreen will protect you from harmful UV rays that are known to speed up aging. Remember, the more preventive measures you take, the less makeup you will need!

When it’s hot outside, thicker is not better! Liquid foundation and even some powders can be very heavy on your skin. This will make you sweat more, putting you at risk for breakouts by clogging your pores. Avoid this by switching to a tinted moisturizer for summer. Apply with a makeup sponge to achieve even coverage without the weight of foundation. Your skin will certainly thank you.

If the summer makeup mantra is, “lighter is better,” that most certainly applies to the eyes! Do away with heavy eye shadows and stick to lighter shades around the eyes. If it’s too hot outside even for shadow, you can still wake up your look with a simpler routine. Mascara and a light application of eyeliner will keep your eyes looking bold and feeling light.

On the other hand, don’t ditch the makeup you already have! For a bolder nighttime look even in the warmest weather, try picking up some eye primer. This cream or powder comes in small tubes, which can be purchased at most makeup stores. Apply before putting on shadow to prevent creasing and rubbing. It’s light on the lids and will preserve your polished look all night long.

Since your eyelashes are designed to keep water, sweat, and other foreign objects out of your eyes, this can take a toll on your makeup. Another smart summertime makeup choice is going waterproof! Waterproof mascara will last through the sweatiest days. It can be also applied lightly over your preferred mascara to add a little extra boost to your eye makeup.

Finally, don’t neglect your lips! Just because the weather’s hot does not mean you need to opt out of lip color. Ditch the heavy lipsticks and glosses and instead look for a lighter tinted lip balm. Many tinted lip balms also come with SPF for more protection from the sun, which is especially important during the summer. 

Have fun in the sun and make your makeup work for you!