Thoughts of carefree summer days spent lounging in your bikini, your hair flowing and your skin glowing, seem within reach until the solstice nears, bringing the first hot, humid blast. From then on, your looks are thrown into a tailspin with out-of-control tresses, skin problems and misbehaving makeup, all seeming to need time-consuming fixes. Though the summer's annoyances may seem endless, they're not so. We put an end to those pesky problems once and for all, so you can sail through the season beautifully.
makeup
Summer SOS: I'm melting!
"Makeup does not behave well in hot climates," says Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist Julie Hewett, confirming what most of us know only too well. "But melting makeup and shine don't mean you should be a slave to a powder puff," she adds. Hewett's solution: Take a vacation from too-matte skin. Instead of fighting a losing battle with heat and humidity, embrace a bit of sheen.
Look preservers "Pare down your makeup essentials for summer," Hewett suggests. "You'll save time with a fuss-free look and feel cooler overall." For face: Apply a sheer, lightweight tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation. For a sun-swept look, go one shade darker than you normally wear. (Try Clarins Colour Tint, $34; clarins.com; Joey New York Pure Pores Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, $32; 800-563-9691; or Diane von Furstenberg Skin Tint SPF 15, $38; saks fifthavenue.com.) Then, with a clean fingertip, top with your favorite concealer to spot out any redness or discoloration. If you find your skin breaking out, try treatment makeup, like the new Almay Clear Complexion Blemish Healing Makeup ($12) and Concealer ($7; both at drugstores). Both are oil-free and contain salicylic acid to fight acne, as well as soothing botanicals aloe and chamomile to help calm the skin.
For eyes: Long-wearing and waterproof eye products (from shadows to mascaras) are essentials for the season; they last through heat, humidity and even swimming without running or creasing. We love: Lancome Colour Dose All Day Wear Crem Eye Colour & Base ($16.50; lancome.com), Maybelline New York Waterproof Liquid Liner ($6.30; at drugstores) and Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof Mascara ($5.82; at drugstores).
For lips: Glide on flirty lip shines with a warm glow--and protective sunscreens. Summer's best bets: Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15 in Verbena, a rich mauve ($11; aveda.com); Clinique Moisture Sheer Lipstick SPF 15 in Tulip, a tawny peach ($13.50; clinique.com); Estee Lauder Amber Bronze LipTint Balm SPF 12 in Berry, a reddish pink ($16; esteelauder.com); and Chanel Aqualumiere Sheer Colour Lipshine with SPF 15 in Hawaii, a pale coral ($23; gloss.com)
hair
Summer SOS: Frizz is my middle name.
High humidity often means a bad-hair day for those with curly or wavy hair. Because hair is porous, it absorbs moisture, which activates curl. Knowing which products to use--and which ones to store away until winter--is key. "The wrong styling product [e.g., gels that are activated by moisture] will only amplify the tendency for humidity to make hair frizz," explains William George, owner of the James Joseph Salon in Boston.
Look preservers The better-hydrated hair is, the less susceptible it is to absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Use a conditioning cream or leave-in spray conditioner to moisturize hair and weigh down curl (try Paul Brown Hawaii Stay Straight Anti-Frizz Molding Creme, $9.70; 800-338-0033). You'll also need an anti-humectant styling product with silicone to lock in your style and make hair smooth and glossy. "Silicone creates a moisture barrier that won't let external moisture in," explains George. "Because humidity is sealed out, it doesn't have a chance to cause frizz." Best frizz-fighting bets: Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum (best on wet hair; $6) and L'Oreal Vive Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Serum (good on wet/dry hair; $6; both at drugstores). Just apply either product to your palms and spread through hair, starting at the ends and massaging up.
Summer SOS: My highlights have gone haywire.
Intense sunlight affects hair color on a molecular level, removing base pigments that cause color to change--and not for the better, warns Brad Johns, artistic director of Avon Salon & Spa in New York City.
Look preservers "If you spend time outdoors, the sun will tamper with your color if you don't take precautions," Johns says. "The idea is to slow down this process as much as possible." How to do this: First, shampoo less often during the summer months--a bit of pigment comes out of color-treated hair each time you lather. When you do shampoo, use a color-depositing product like Goldwell Color Glow Treatment ($10; goldwellusa.com) or Artec Color Depositing Shampoo ($12; lorealpro.net) to help replace lost pigment. (These are available in a wide range of shades.)
Leave-in hair products with sunscreen also can buffer the sun's damaging rays; we like John Frieda Beach Blonde Life Preserver ($6.50; 800-521-3189). But don't stop there: Wearing a hat or colorful scarf is a fail-safe way to extend color's life expectancy. And since hair grows faster in warmer weather, plan to get color touched up more often than usual.
Summer SOS: My ends are dry and fried.
Damage from sun, chlorine and salt water can wreak havoc on the health of your tresses--and particularly on the ends (the oldest, most brittle part). The effects are magnified for chemically processed hair, which is more susceptible to breakage and wear.
Look preservers The No. 1 way to prevent dry, damaged ends is to get regular trims every four to six weeks. Then, protect and moisturize hair with leave-in conditioners like Bobbi Brown Beach Leave-in Conditioner ($15; bobbibrown.com) or Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil ($20; 800-55-PHYTO). Using a deep conditioner weekly will help smooth the hair's cuticle to make it appear silkier. You also can leave in your regular conditioner after shampooing if you're going to be out in the sun; it will protect hair and deep condition it. And no matter what else you do, skip blow-drying this season; it further stresses strands, and the weather's too hot anyway.
Summer SOS: Chlorine is coloring me green.
While swimming may be low-impact for the body, it's high-impact for your hair. Laps in the pool put hair through its paces--no matter what your color--and can be very damaging. If not treated properly, highlighted and naturally blond hair can acquire an unpleasant lime hue after spending time in chlorinated water.
Look preservers "Never go into a pool with dry hair; it acts like a sponge, and chlorine will penetrate to the core," warns William George. Pre-swim, wet hair with fresh water to help buffer strands against chlorine damage. "After swimming, rinse hair immediately with club soda to help get the chlorine out," Johns adds. When you get home, use an anti-chlorine/anti-saltwater treatment like Ultra Swim Replenishing Shampoo and Ultra Repair Conditioner ($5 each; at drugstores). If you're a regular in the lap lane, wear a bathing cap for better tress protection.
skin
Summer SOS: I'm breaking out on my face/body.
Sweltering temperatures increase sweat and oil production, which can clog pores and cause breakouts. Warm-weather clothing and accessories often make matters worse--a hat or tight-fitting workout clothes can plug pores fast.
Look preservers Twice daily, use a cleanser for oily, breakout-prone skin. Good ones to try: Biore Blemish-Fighting Cleansing Cloths with salicylic acid ($7; at drugstores) or Estee Lauder Sparkling Clean Oil-Control Foaming Gel Cleanser ($22.50; esteelauder.com); they'll help treat current breakouts and prevent future ones. To conceal and heal, spot-treat pimples with a blemish-fighting formula such as Clinique Acne Solutions Concealing Stick ($13.50; clinique.com).
And though you should don that floppy beach hat to protect your skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, be sure to swipe your forehead afterward with handy salicylic-acid oil-blocking wipes, such as Neutrogena Maximum Strength Oil-Controlling Pads ($4.79; at drugstores), which help remove oil and pore-plugging dead skin cells. What also can help to keep body skin clear: showering immediately after workouts with an exfoliating salicylic-acid body cleanser, such as Stridex Body Focus Shower Gel with Acne Medication ($5; at drugstores).
Summer SOS: My skin looks sweaty, not dewy.
When you sweat, the sebaceous glands produce extra oil to help protect the skin, says dermatologist Frederic Brandt, M.D., a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami in Florida. As the day wears on and temperatures spike, perspiration and oil create a sticky film, taking "dewy" to an unflattering extreme.
