Easy Breezy Summer Beauty

Published by admin on Tagged Body, Beauty & Health hair removal make up perfume tanner

Sundresses, the smell of sunscreen, scratching mosquito bites. Long tanned legs and gin-and-tonics. We show more skin and take off our clothes… If any season is erotic, it’s summer, when The Body moves to center stage. Are you ready? Here’s a simplified beauty routine plan to get you polished and pretty.

Hair Removal

Nair is too messy. Nad’s is too scary. Magic depilatory is too smelly. Unless you’re getting waxed at the salon regularly, simplicity is all about the good ol razor. Discard blades after three shaves, or as soon as you feel “drag” and the razor doesn’t move smoothly down your leg. Bikini line? The secret is shave with the direction of the hair, never against. That takes care of those prickly little bumps.

Hair color 

It’s all about blonde in summer. Even if you are dark, dark, dark, a few highlights add so much. A friend paints white blonde streaks on just a few pieces of hair around her face and the effect is entrancing. Grab some L’Oreal at the drugstore, mix up the peroxide, and experiment.

Skin

You know you don’t get to tan, right?? Or at least, don’t burn. Smugly, I’ve been out of the sun for nearly 15 years and wear sunscreen every day (Skinceuticals 30 SPF with Zinc – mixed with a blob of foundation). Fake tanner is okay, but time consuming. I find bronzer (MAC Golden compact) does the trick much faster. Swish it across cheekbones, nose, forehead, chin, down the neck and in the cleavage. It’s the look-‘n-feel of tan, without the pesky cancer issues.

Clothes

Bare it. Nothing feels so sexy as wearing a little less than normal. We love to buy armfuls of little T’s, tanks, and halters in the Juniors department or discount stores where they’re so cheap. For $30, you can have a slew of pale blues, yellows, turquoises, and hot corals. Match with capris or white jeans and sandals and you’re good for most events. You need a cute little bag, too. This summer’s standout is a pale blue, boxy linen number.

Teeth 

Whiten up. If you’ve bleached your teeth before, it’s time for a touchup. If you haven’t yet you’re in for a treat. It looks so great against bronzy skin. A few nights with bleaching trays will see you through the next six months, or Crest Whitestrips. At the very least use a whitening toothpaste ($9) which takes teeth up to 5 shades whiter.

Make up 

Sheer color looks so fresh right now and more fun than boring old neutrals. A little pale green shadow, pinky lip color, and bronzer. Oh and gloss. Get those lips wet! And don’t use powder to cover up glowy skin – the sheen really does make you look younger. I was converted when I read that Rose McGowan said she has taken years off her friends’ looks by demanding they quit using powder. The funny thing is, she’s right.

Scent

Ditch the spicier scent for a lighter, more summery cologne like Armani’s Gio or Carolina Herrera’s new Chic ……and old standby Inner Realm (made with human pheromones – NO humans were harmed in the making of this cologne!). It’s also fun to pick up a cheapy cologne at the drugstore for retro fun…Windsong…Vanilla Musk…even Charlie. Keep that in the fridge and spritz liberally. Who can say no to the 70s? 

May 20th, 2007