Guest Post: Summer Makeup Tips and Tricks

Summer is a season of fun, and your makeup should reflect that. You don't have to spend hours prepping and primping yourself to look flawless just to hang out with friends or spend some time in the sun. We’ll list some of the easiest ways to make (and keep) your makeup looking flawless during the summer months without a lot of extra effort.

Runny Makeup? 
If you're oily skinned and your makeup seems to run right off your face, start your daily routine with a really fantastic primer. Once your primer is on, your foundation should slide effortlessly onto your face. Set it with a good powder, and you'll be amazed at the staying power you get!

Oily Skin?
Got oily skin? There's a number of things you can do. First, eat the right foods and keep the junk off your plate – there is still some truth to the old adage ‘you are what you eat’. Carry blotting papers around with you to help dull down middle of the day shine. Make sure that you wash your face every single night before you lay down for bed, keep your hair pulled back out of your face, and wash your pillow cases every other night. Finally, look for the right makeup – you want makeup that’s made for oily skin, and there are increasingly more options available to you.

Dry Skin? 
Dry skin can be a hassle when trying to get your makeup just right also- it can make you look flaky and dried out. If you have dry skin, make sure to wash your skin every night, drink plenty of extra water, and moisturize your skin every night before bed. Apply sunscreen before going outside, and keep your showers cool and short.

Want To Go Bold? 
For a bold look this summer, you can either highlight your lips or eyes. To highlight your lips, go for an all-natural face paired with bright, shimmery lips. To highlight your eyes, keep your face and lipstick matte, and then choose dark or bold colors for your eyeshadow, with plenty of mascara.

Foundation Doesn't Match Anymore? 
You should always go one shade up from your winter shade during the summertime. This is because spending extra time out in the sun leads to a darker complexion, while during the winter, most people tend to (naturally) be less tan because they spend less time out in direct sunlight. It’s unlikely that you’ll have the good fortune of using the same foundation in the Winter and Summer, but if you’re really opposed to buying new foundation or your complexion changes often, you could always use some bronzing liquid to darken your existing foundation.

Foundation Too Runny? Or Too Thick? 
If your foundation is too runny, you can add ¼ of teaspoon of cornstarch or flour to thicken it up without drastically changing the coloring or look good properties it contains. If it's too thick, you can add ¼ of a teaspoon to a full teaspoon to your bottle to loosen things up a bit. Add just a smidgen at a time do you don't overdo it though.

Want Some Good General Tips? 
Stay hydrated, and eat right. Remember that what goes into your body, must come out- and it comes out through your skin. Everyone should wash their face and moisturize every single night. Steer clear of slippery lip gloss during the summer months because it will be even more prone to slipping and sliding off of your lips. Always go minimal. The less foundation, powder, concealer, or whatever it is that you put on your face, the less of a chance you run in clogging your pores.

That's it ladies! Those are our summer makeup tips and tricks, we hope you enjoyed them! If you have anything you'd like to say about our tips, or if you would like to offer up some of your own, please feel free to do so in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!

Author Bio: Amanda is a skincare fanatic and author of SkincareHQ.org where she shares her favorite beauty products and tips and tricks. Aside from writing about cosmetics, Amanda loves to travel and one day dreams of visiting Africa. Questions or comments for Amanda? Feel free to  connect with her @Skincare_HQ on Twitter!