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Q: My makeup never seems to stay on during the summer months. What can I do to help it last longer?

A: Skin tends to get oilier at this time of year, which makes whatever's on it shift around or settle into the skin more, so it seems to disappear, explains Kimara Ahnert, a New York City makeup artist. But you can look your best all season long with these tips.

* Control oil. Skip moisturizer (if skin tends to be oily), or switch to a lighter, oil-free lotion that contains an SPF of at least 15, Ahnert says. Try Neutrogena Moisture SPF 15 ($11.49; at drugstores) or the matte-finish SCO Oil Free Face Shield SPF 30 ($42; 866-966-SCO8). Oil-controlling moisturizers, makeup primers and foundations with added powders can also help absorb oil. Look for Prada Hydrating Gel Cream/Matte ($40; neimanmarcus.com), Cynthia Rowley Clear Filter ($20; sephora.com) or Cover Girl Clean Oil-Control Make-Up ($4.88; at drugstores).

* Apply powder formulas, lightly. Dust pressed or loose powder over foundation to help seal it (or use alone as a base if you need less coverage). "A fan brush [try Sephora Collection Professional Fan Brush, $20; sephora.com] gives you lighter, smoother and sheerer coverage than a big fluffy one, and is better for summer," Ahnert says. Stick to powder blushes as well; cream formulas tend to make oily skin look even greasier. (They'll last longer if applied over powder than if worn over foundation alone.)

* Prep eyes and lips. Eye-shadow primer that's slightly waxy (like Ahnert's own Eye Fix, $19; kimara.com) keeps away oils that can cause creasing. Also look for long-wearing formulas like Styli-Style L3 Shadow Pen, blendable color that stays in place until you take it off with makeup remover ($8; at drugstores). And long-wearing lipsticks are also heat- and humidity-proof; try Maybelline's new one-step Forever Lipcolor ($8), which comes in 24 shades, and Max Factor Lipfinity Lustre Collection ($12.75), both available at drugstores.

* Be prepared for quick touch-ups. As skin oils mix with makeup, shades can look darker, says Ahnert, who advises carrying around a makeup sponge (available at drugstores). It smoothes creases and blends makeup so you can then touch up with pressed powder if needed," she says. "Don't just layer the powder over oily skin."

Q: Should my eyebrow color match the color of my hair?

A: No, in fact, your hair and brows shouldn't match exactly, says Anastasia Soare, a celebrity eyebrow and makeup artist and owner of Anastasia Skin Care & Body Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif. "If hair is dark, brows should be a shade lighter," she says. "Otherwise they look heavy, and features look dark." Blondes, however, should go a shade or two darker. "Brows frame your face," Soare explains, 'and if they're too light, they disappear."

When it comes to changing your brows' hue, apply a gel, powder or pencil. To lighten brown brows, choose a taupe or blond shade, and to darken, look for medium-brown hues. Shu Uemura Eyebrow Manicure is waterproof and comes in eight shades ($30; 888-540-8181), and Revlon ColorStay Browcolor dual-ended pencil and gel ($8.50; at drugstores) comes in four shades and won't smear or smudge. If brows are very dark, opt for light-colored brow powders or a highlighter, Soare suggests, Try her Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Lights Matte ($21; anastasia.net) or Maybelline Ultra-Brow Brush-On Color in Light Brown ($6; at drugstores). And though many salons offer brow tinting and dyeing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any products (even temporary hair dyes) for this use: Your eye area is sensitive, and dyes can cause irritation or, if they get into your eye, can result in blurred vision or even blindness.

RELATED ARTICLE: Thinking of permanent brow makeup?

Micropigmentation -- which recently has become more popular -- involves having color tattooed on your face for cosmetic purposes (e.g. filling in brows). But, like any tattoo, it can be painful and carries a number of risks, including infection from unsterile instruments, allergic reaction to pigment and scarring. It's also not easily removed if you don't like the results. Some states even ban facial tattoos for these reasons. (Visit micropigmentation.org/legal.htm for more information.) But if after considering these risks you still want to get it done, look for a member of the American Academy of Micropigmentation (micropigmentation.org/members), an organization that provides training, certification and quality-assurance standards. Filling in brows costs $600-$800.

Send your beauty question to Shape, Beauty O & A, One Park Ave, 10th Floor New York, NY 10016, fax to (212) 725-9228, e-mail: to BeautyQ&A@Shape.com