Beach Beauty: How to Wear Makeup Surfside

Whether you’re lounging poolside or catching the surf, this summer you can get a natural, sun-kissed glow without the help of harmful UV rays. While a full face of makeup is a fashion faux-pas you don’t want to be seen commiting when sprawled out on the sand, you also don’t want to emerge from the sea red-faced and with salt-chapped lips. The aim is to achieve raw, barely-there beach beauty using products that conceal expertly and define features rather than completely cover up. Balmy beach weather means using as little as needed to create a face that is flushed, fresh, modern and real without appearing overly done up. It’s an effortless West Coast approach to beauty that’s polished and pretty with a soft, sheer and subtle finish. 

Swipe on tinted moisturizer with loads of SPF for ultimate protection and redness reduction, while lightly dusting blush or bronzer for softly contoured cheeks like at Michael Kors and Thakoon. While waterproof formulas will be the ones to reach for, avoid heavy too-sticky creams and lotions like your everyday foundation, as it will attract sand and break down faster in the sun, leaving behind a not-so-beautiful burn. Lightweight washes of translucent color on lids and the face for muted definition in bronze, pink and peach offset a summery skin tone and enhance any tan – see Etro, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Matthew Williamson. Lastly, lips get their surfside seal of approval with lip-smacking stains and tinted balms that offer a just bitten look on DKNY and Hussein Chalayan.

Look like a sunnier version of yourself this season using the bare minimum and get glowing with attainable, real girl beach beauty you can recreate thanks to these designer face inspirations on the runway.

images: IMAXtree