Skin Care and Makeup for... the Summer Time!

Okay, you fantastic Baby Boomer women and Young Women friends,

First, I must tell you that I wanted to 'lighten up' my blog for the Summer, so here is the new look! :-)

This article was initially called “Makeup for Mama”. However, as I was thinking on summer skincare and makeup, the tips and ideas apply to EVERYONE.

Everyone has a different skin tone; whether you’re Asian, Black, White, Latino, Native American – it doesn’t matter. And, in each group our skin colorings vary. Nevertheless, the majority of women share many skin-protection concerns.

Yes, most of us (including African-Americans) need sunscreen. Lighter or lightest white skin may need sun block to minimize skin’s ability to burn. Plus, if you apply sunscreen or block at 9:00am then go swimming that morning, you’ll need to reapply product after you swim and probably again in the afternoon.

As an African-American I was surprised at fifteen years old when, after being in the sun all afternoon, my nose felt very sore and sensitive to touch. I looked in the bathroom mirror to see a red nose that appeared a little swollen. Mom said to put ice on it; if it didn’t feel better the next day we were going to the doctor. It turned a reddish brown, then started peeling. My mom and dad laughed that I had been sun-burned. Wow!

Don’t stay in the full sun too long! Find shade while cooling down with a bottle of water when you’re not romping in the sun or going for a swim. This will protect your skin better than anything.

Light colored clothing and light natural fabric like cotton are a big help too. Keep in mind: light colors reflect the sun, dark colors absorb the sun’s heat.

Below are my skin & makeup tips:

1) Cleansing your face & neck: First thing, BE GENTLE to your skin. The French women have the right idea about it. Do not scrub your face, ears and neck! Gently cleanse your skin. Clean your neck with a gentle, upward motion barely touching your skin. Softly cleanse your face, especially around areas that are sensitive to aging; such as outer eye area, nose, cheeks, and smile areas.

2) Cleansing Products: Before I expound on this product type, a great idea is to have all of your skincare products in the same line. If you use Olay, use everything Olay. If you use Almay.. well, you get my drift.

Cleansing lotions, creams, soaps, you name it are available to remove makeup or just take the day’s bacteria off your skin. In the summer, the lighter the texture of the product the better, unless you have very dry skin.

3) Toning – Skin fresheners, toners, or astringents are good for two things: a) to remove any skin-cleanser residue left after you’ve cleansed and, b) to prepare the skin to accept your moisturizing by delivering it properly to your pores.

4) Moisturizing – Again, use light-texture moisturizing if you can. Many have a good SPF sunscreen to provide sun protection. Moisturizers soften skin, and I truly believe they slow down the aging process. Though older skin usually requires more moisturizer, you can adjust with less for the summer.

5) Masque - Now this is something extra special for the skin. Sometimes skin appears a bit dull, not bright and fresh the way you like it. A skincare masque (or mask) sloughs off the dead skin cells plus pulls out impurities and attacks free radicals. Most are rinse-off, scrub-off (gently now), or peel-off types. The best idea is to find one in the skin care line you're using so all of the ingredients are compatible. This will minimize skin breakouts due to allergic reactions.

Hey, what is SPF? That stands for ‘sun protection factor’. It is the degree to which a sunscreen protects the skin from the direct rays of the sun. If you don't protect your skin, those ultraviolet rays – the invisible but intense rays of the sun – can cause damage such as deep wrinkles, dry rough skin, liver spots and more serious disorders such as no cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin tumors.

While you’re slathering product all of you, don’t forget the kids and grandkids! Their skin needs protection as much as yours does. And put some protection on your man! (teehee! How does THAT sound??) Don't let him believe that he's a tough guy where his skin can stand up to the sun. He's got the same skin concerns that we have.

Now, about that summer makeup: light texture all the way. If you really must have some foundation to even out your skin, try this makeup trick: mix a little of your moisturizer with your foundation then apply to your face. Let it dry. This gives you a light version so that when you sweat you will minimize getting makeup streaks.

Also! When you tan or your skin darkens from the sun, you’ve GOT to consider going to a darker foundation or powder. I’ve been trying to get away with using my same powder as I wear in the fall/winter and it always looks too light by the middle of summer.

If you’re a baby boomer, please consider going with brown or brown/black eyeliner or eye pencil. Same with mascara – these are softer tones which look much better on older skin than the blackest black.

Lighter colored lips, blush, and eye shadow are the answer for summer. Throw in a little glitter for nighttime outings and you’ll look fantastic!

Well, have I missed anything? If so, or if you have any questions, give me a shout! Just wallow in the summer and have loads of fun!