Ever wonder why all the Victoria’s Secret bikini models look flawless in their swimsuits? Don’t worry, the beachy waves, glowing skin and all around summer siren look can be yours, too! These sneaky makeup, skincare and hair tricks will help you achieve sun goddess perfection in ten minutes or less. The key is not to look like you’ve done anything other than throw on your two-piece and pack a cooler with your girls.
Naturally Plump and Colorful Lips
Although bold colors are the name of the game this season, reapplying sticky colored lip gloss while sea- or poolside not only makes you seem high maintenance, but it also puts a hold on all the outdoor fun with your friends. You don’t want to dive for the beach volleyball with hair sticking to your lips, do you?
Instead of a bold, Nicki Minaj pop of color on your pout, use these subtle tools to draw attention to your lips and smile. All of these expert and collegiette-approved tricks involved household or drugstore items.
As Cosmopolitan.com Beauty and Style Editor Carly Cardellino explains, tangerine is the declarative color of summer 2012.
“For a fail-safe pop of tangerine that isn’t completely opaque, try this lip stain,” says Cardellino of the Topshop Lip Marker in “Hot Shot” for $15.
For a little added gloss, slather on a beauty basic; lip balm! Adding a couple extra layers will give you smooth shine without any unnatural stickiness. Grab the ChapStick brand in Ultra 30, one of the highest concentrations of SPF in a lip balm, for around $1.99 at drugstores.
An Effortless Smoldering Stare
Nothing ruins frolicking in the waves or a slow-motion exit from the pool ladder like smudged raccoon eyes, flushing your “natural beauty” façade down the drain. Avoid the smeared emo look with these quick mascara maneuvers.
Cover Girl Lash Blast is one of the top-selling drugstore lines of mascara; surprisingly economical at around $6 a tube.
Say you have a certain brand that’s your die-hard beauty must-have but doesn’t come waterproof. The professionals at Anastasia Beauty of Beverly Hills have got you covered. Their Lash Genius Clear Waterproof Top Coat Mascara can be applied over any mascara, making it waterproof in an instant! This product is recommended by the HC founders personally and is available online and in Sephora stores for $21.
In addition to waterproof, you want to stay away from the usual black mascara and opt for a more natural shade, like Rebecca Rago, a freshman at Tufts University, does:
“Clear mascara separates your lashes and often doesn't dry down as quickly as black, it gives a dewy appearance to your lashes as well as making them look fuller.” With a small smudge of brown/golden mascara on your lashline, it defines and opens your eyes without a heavy appearance.
It may seem like an oxymoron, but clear mascara is one of the oldest tricks in the beauty book. You can use it to shape up your brows, separate lashes, even tame fly-aways and cowlicks around your face. For $6, Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara will work invisible magic.
A pop of neutral brown or sunny gold opens your eyes and will accent your eye color if you have brown or hazel peepers, or provide contrast to blue and green eyes. For this effect, try Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Waterproof Mascara in Gold ($9).
