Essential Products and Techniques

Summer officially knocked on the door a few days ago, which means that months of enjoying the beach and sun with occasional refreshments in the sea are ahead of us. It is a time of rest, enjoyment and feasting, but also a crucial time for skin care.

Many consider summer the most challenging season for long-lasting makeup and overall preparation before applying makeup. We adapt our skincare and beauty routine to the hot and humid weather, and we want to prepare the skin so that the makeup lasts as long as possible and looks flawless at all times.

Whether you're going to a formal event or simply love applying makeup and want to continue that routine over the summer, we've brought you a few tips for skin preparation that will help you achieve that desired glamorous and stunning look you deserve that can withstand the summer heat.

First step: cleansing and exfoliation of the face

Before you start doing anything on your face, cleaning it thoroughly and preparing it just like a real painting canvas is important. To wash your face, choose a gentle product that will remove all the dirt, grease or leftover makeup from the previous day.

Then, since we sweat much more often and more in the summer, there is an increased production of oil, so it would be useful to exfoliate your face two to three times a week. Exfoliating will help remove dead skin cells and keep your skin smooth and glowing. But don't overdo it with intense scrubs that can irritate your skin. You will achieve the same results with a mild peeling that will not cause irritation and will perfectly prepare your skin for the remaining steps in the skincare routine.

After cleansing the face and peeling, the next step is skin hydration, with a cream with a protective factor, one of the most important steps in skincare.

Second step: Hydration

Hydrating the skin well throughout the year, especially in summer, is essential. When considering a moisturizer, choose a light, oil-free moisturizer or gel that provides enough hydration without feeling heavy or greasy.

The lighter the moisturizing cream or gel, the better and "lighter" you will feel, and therefore more comfortable during the hot summer months when it is too hot for us to sit on the terrace and drink our third iced coffee of the day.

When browsing options, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps retain moisture, and antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which offer additional protection against environmental damage, in the cream or gel.

Often in the summer, our face is swollen from sleep and heat, or we feel a certain heaviness in the air that we hardly bear. In that case, massage the cream with a Gua Sha massager, ideal for increasing blood flow and tightening the skin.

Third step: Cream with a protective factor always and forever

Never, never skip applying a cream with a protective factor. It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer outside, always wear a cream with a factor - especially during the summer when the influence of the sun's rays is much stronger, and therefore more harmful to the skin.

Protecting your skin from UV rays is key, even on cloudy days. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply liberally to your face, neck and all exposed areas. Apply the cream several times throughout the day, ideally every two hours. Look for a cream with a light, non-comedogenic formula that won't clog pores and cause pimples.

After applying a cream with a protective factor, it's time for makeup, which you may also need to adjust to the season and use products that are somewhat more resistant to sweating, heat and all other factors that we associate with summer.

Start the makeup with a primer so that the makeup stays on the face as long as possible

Remember to include a primer in your routine for your makeup to remain stable during the summer heat. Choose a primer designed for your skin type, whether oily, dry or mixed; the primer is an important preparation for other makeup.

We use primers because they create a smooth base for makeup. Still, they also help control oiliness and conceal imperfections on the face, giving us a flawless look at the end of the process

Replace heavy bases with light powders or tinted creams

Since you want your skin to "breathe" during the summer, we recommend choosing light, breathable powders or tinted moisturizing creams that will not dry your skin. Heavy powders can "suffocate" the skin and are more likely to melt in high summer temperatures.

Therefore, choose products with a natural or dewy shine that will allow the skin to breathe. If you need additional coverage, use concealer only where necessary to cover imperfections and make your skin look natural.

Setting with powder will help keep the makeup in place for several hours

In the summer, we sweat, and sometimes it is impossible to avoid unwanted shine. Still, there is a way you can fight this problem and extend the duration of your makeup, and the best way to achieve this is with a setting powder. When applying powder, focus on areas prone to oiliness, such as the T-zone.

However, be careful not to use too much powder because your face and makeup look unnatural. If you are not a fan of loose powder, you can also try a makeup setting spray that should help you enough.

Apply the makeup setting spray directly to the make up sponge and apply light pressure over the entire face

Try to use as much waterproof makeup as possible during the summer months

During the summer, it is best to opt for waterproof products to prevent smearing and various stains from sweat or moisture. Look for waterproof mascaras, eyeliners, and lip products in stores and drugstores to keep your makeup intact, even if you're profusely near water or sweating.

Use paper towels to absorb excess grease

Suppose you sweat a lot during the day and want to avoid removing and reapplying your makeup every time. In that case, one of the good solutions is to use absorbent paper towels. These towels will help absorb excess oil and grease, won't remove your makeup, and, best of all, you won't have to struggle and repeat the whole process again. Press them on specific face areas to remove excess oil and keep the face fresh and matte.