I'm hoping your tan is fake, as there's nothing as damaging to the skin as the sun. You must must must wear sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher, broad spectrum) at all times. But suppose you do have a tan (it's unavoidable if you spend enough time outside) or at a least a faux one. Can you put on the same type of makeup on tanned skin as you would on wintery pale, cadaver-esque skin? Well, of course you can, but here are some suggestions that might suit better.
When you're tan, your overall coloring (that is to say, the collective sum of hair color, eye color, and skin color) has more intensity, as opposed to untanned skin. So you need less makeup, because you don't require as much color. Too much makeup can look dated, heavy and chalky (this is true at any time, but moreso on tanned skin). What you need is not more makeup, but rather, brighter shades, so makeup doesn't look washed out on your skin. Also look for sheer, blendable textures that meld into your skin.
Tan, healthy-looking skin, usually requires very little makeup. If you are still a little pale, you can sweep a bronzer where the light would hit it. Creams work well, because when blended, they look like second skin, but choose a shade that doesn't have too much orange or red. Bobbi Brown makes wonderful bronzing sticks that look very natural. Guerlain makes the best powder version. Otherwise, keep it to a minimum: tinted moisturizer if you're dry or a light flurry of powder for the more oil-prone. A tawny-mauve blush, like Versace Glam Touch Blush, or Nars Malibu Multiple will affect flushed skin, but is subdued enough to go well with a tan. Rub a bit all over, like a bronzer, and you need almost nothing else, it complements and highlights tan skin so well. A highlighter or shimmery blush, like Benefit High Beam or Nars Orgasm Blush, give you skin healthy sheen, but skip them if you tend to be oily. Highlighters are better as an evening option, to layer over your daytime blush or bronzer for an extra touch.
Put your eyeliner away, and switch to a waterproof mascara (Max Factor 2000 Calorie Aqua Lash is quite indelible, as is Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof). Your skin is the centerpiece, and you don't want to detract too much attention away from it. The same goes for lips. You want sheer shades that are subtle and understated, preferably with a slight sheen. Glosses work fine. Use richer, warm, golden shades that look more convincingly natural than cooler, paler shades. Burnished roses, sunkissed peaches, soft corals, watery tangerines and pinks, subtle fawns, sheer bronzes and golds, and if you're dark enough, soft chocolates and muted plums. If you want color, corals and soft greens are good venues during summer. Light blues, also, are best worn in summer, rather than other seasons.
Some shades: Versace Glam Touch Blush [$30] Nars Multiples: Copacabana, South Beach, Malibu, Cannes, Mustique... [$33] (all of them, really) Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder [$32.50] Bobbi Brown Bronzing Stick [$28] MAC Blot Powder [$14.50] (to keep shine away) Stila Eye Glaze [$24] (soft, lots of pretty summer shades) Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Ink Eyeliner [$18] (if you insist upon eyeliner, this one won't meander) MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass [$12.50] (most wearable coral out there) Maybelline Wet Shine Lipstick [$6~7] (they have lots of summery shades) Stila Eyeshadows: Shell, Sun, Kiwi, Popova Eyeshadows L'Oreal Moonglow QuickStick Face & Body Blush Chantecaille Aurora and Hibiscus Lipsticks
For night, you may decide to add a little more to the eyes, a pastel near white shadow (shimmery white that "flash" another color) on the lids would look stark by day, but adventurous by night. The Body Shop (limited edition),Trucco, Christian Dior, Nars, and Shiseido all have a few. Just keep it simple. Instead of white, of course, any pastel shade would work. Mint green, sky blue, lilac, lemon yellow. A heavy wash on the lids, with just gloss and mascara, looks surprisingly chic. You don't need to add much, the very paleness of your shadow will probably provide enough contrast to be a legitimate evening look. Thursday, April 18, 2002 ยป0 comments
