The Bold, Soft and Beautiful Look of Summer Makeup

Our makeup expert shares her tips and helpful tidbits to transition into this summer's trends.

May 27, 2009

by Kathy Krakora
Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio

This season's sheer sexy pastels and intense global brights are everywhere! It's a look that says feminine yet powerful. The key to following this summer's makeup trend is to remember that a little goes a long way. A good rule of thumb for all seasonal trends is to focus on one feature at a time.

Sweep a sheer shadow over the lid or line your eyes with a fabulous new liquid liner color -- wing it, smudge it, glam it -- liner is huge this season! If you're going to go dramatic, gold and gilded is all the rage -- think golden goddess! Add a hint of fresh coral to the cheeks and you're right on trend. Lipsticks are back so polish off your new look with a pale, nude lip color.

Here are a few more tips, tricks and techniques to create and keep that summer-fun look. Enjoy!

Prep, treat and prime

Flawless skin is always in so remember to cleanse, apply an antioxidant serum, SPF moisturizer and foundation primer. Primers can take makeup from so-so to summer sensational! The right primer can help makeup stay all day, minimize skin flaws, reduce shine and diminish the appearance of fine lines while refining skin texture.

Ready, set, glow

• Even out skin tone with a mineral-tinted moisturizer for a light, summer look with additional SPF.
• Flush with a cream blush, warmed by the fingers and blended into the apples of the cheeks.
• Enhance soft, natural brows with brow powder instead of brow pencil for long-lasting power.
• Define eyes with a sheer shadow over your primer to hold all day. If you are going to make a bold eye color choice, remember to balance the rest of the face by keeping it soft and neutral.
• Pout and paint your lips with a nude lipstick or barely-there lip gloss. The super shiny look is oh-so last season! (Thank goodness, I always thought that people looked like they were drooling!) Have a lip color from last season that you just love? Mix it with a bit of lip balm for sheer texture and color.
• It is summer so if you know you're going to get "dewy," set your makeup with an oil-blotting powder.
• If you're a bronzer kind of girl, try the new golden-glow bronzers, lightly applied to all the places the sun kisses -- cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.
• Remember to put your blotting papers in your purse and you can boldly go ... and have some summer fun!

To learn more makeup tricks and techniques, join Kathy at Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio for Scosh School Makeup Workshops, a fun place for a girl's day out! She carries everything you need to create the fresh summer looks described above along with skincare products for every skin type to keep you gleaming all summer long.