Summer is here, brought in this year by a brilliant strawberry moon! It's the season for sunning, swimming, and relaxing.
Unfortunately, for a lot of us, it's also the season for sweating, panting, and melting.
High temperatures, humidity, and strong sun can make us feel more sticky and fatigued than sun-kissed and carefree, and they also bring their own unique problems to our beauty routines, even the most minimal of them!
You probably know all about summer tips to keep yourself safe and healthy in the summer, like how to prevent sun poisoning and how to keep your pooch from overheating.
But what about when you simply want to go out without wilting, without sweating off your makeup, or without feeling just gross?
Well, you're in luck. These 11 summer tips will not only help you feel cool and breezy, they'll also keep you looking fresh so you can spend less time worrying about your looks and more time having fun. And they're also super-easy to integrate into your daily routine.
Read on to learn some new tips, and let us know if you've tried any, or if you have some summer beauty secrets of your own!
Cover photo via Flickr / Paul Downey
Summer Tip #1: Swap Your Foundation For A Tinted Moisturizer
If you wear makeup, you know how it can melt and slide in the heat.
A tinted moisturizer like a BB cream is perfect for summer because it's lightweight but still provides a bit of color.
As a bonus, many include some SPF, so they do double duty as sunblock, too.
Summer Tip #2: Use Deodorant To Prevent Chafing
Deodorant is great for keeping your underarms fresh, but it can work other places, too!
To prevent your thighs from chafing, sweating, and being generally unpleasant, smooth a bit of deodorant on each side wherever they rub together, and you'll feel cooler, dryer, and more comfortable all day!
Summer Tip #3: Soothe Bikini Rash With Chilled Chamomile Tea Bags
Getting razor burn on such a sensitive area is not only annoying, it's also not a great look with your bathing suit.
To soothe the irritation, steep a chamomile tea bag or two in hot water, remove, and chill for about 20 minutes in the freezer so they're cold, but not frozen solid.
Lay the chilled tea bags on the irritated area, and the chamomile will calm your skin right down.
Summer Tip #4: Cut Down On Shine With Milk Of Magnesia
The summer makes you sweat, and that can make your face look shiny, even under makeup. This is especially the case if you have oilier skin.
Milk of magnesia, made for upset stomachs, is actually a great way to keep your skin matte under makeup.
Simply rub a fingertip-ful into the areas of your face that get oily and shiny, let dry, lightly brush off any excess dried residue, and then apply your makeup as normal. You'll stay matte all day.
Summer Tip #5: Powder Everything — And We Mean Everything!
No matter their body shape, everyone has those places that just get swampy. To prevent sweating, chafing, and staining your clothes, baby powder is the best.
Give yourself a thorough powdering anywhere that gets sweaty. You know the places we mean!
The best time to powder is before you go out, or right after you towel off after a shower, so you can stay fresh the whole time.
Summer Tip #6: Invest In Blotting Sheets
OK, but what if you don't wear makeup? No problem. Blotting sheets are your new best friend.
These little squares are designed to soak up excess oil from your skin whether you're wearing makeup or not, and cut down on shine anytime, no water needed.
Simply pull one out, press against the shiny places on your face, and go!
Summer Tip #7: Correct Self-Tanning Mishaps With Baking Soda
Self-tanner is a safe alternative to the sun's rays, but it also comes with the risk of the occasional uneven blotch.
Make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub it into the uneven area. The baking soda will lift the self-tanner and let you apply again.
Summer Tip #8: Try A Dry Shampoo For Oily Hair
Dry shampoo, which is like shampoo in powder form, is great for hair that gets oily fast.
The best way to use dry shampoo is at night. Spray (yes, it's a spray) it on your roots, and overnight it will soak up excess oil and sweat, leaving your hair clean and ready to go in the morning.
Summer Tip #9: Protect Your Hair From Chlorine With Olive Oil
Chlorine does all kinds of damage to hair, especially light-colored and color-treated hair. It dries it out, and gives it that greenish tint.
To prevent that, coat your hair in olive or coconut oil, or with a leave-in conditioner, before you jump into the pool. The oil will keep the chlorinated water from soaking into your hair.
When you're done swimming, shampoo it out and you're good to go!
Summer Tip #10: Remove Sweat Stains With A Lemon
Staining your clothes is the worst, but it doesn't have to be permanent.
Squeeze some lemon juice on the stained area before tossing your garment into the wash, and the juice will lift the stain without damaging the color of the fabric.
Summer Tip #11: Use Kool-Aid For A Lip Stain That Won't Smear
Lipstick in the summer can melt and slide around, or wear off almost immediately if you're drinking a lot of water.
Opt for a stain instead. It's more lightweight than lipstick, and it won't get goopy like gloss. And it's super-easy when you use Kool-Aid. We recommend the red flavor.
Simply dip your finger or a damp Q-tip into the powder and rub onto your lips. Let sit a minute, then rinse. The stickiness will wash off, but the color will remain all day.
And because it's a thin layer, it will really just add a red tint to your natural lip color.
If you want to stay feeling cool and looking your best this summer, try these tips. And if you have a summer trick that keeps you comfy during the hot weather, let us know in the comments.
And of course, SHARE these clever tips with your friends and family so they can beat the heat, too!
