The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, people are having mental breakdowns due to the impending stress of finals…. These signs can only mean one thing: summer is practically here! You’re super excited, and rightfully so! This means that you can sleep in as late as you want—and that you actually have time to have some much-deserved fun. You can even get back in the swing of “primping” if you so choose: putting together outfits, attempting new hairstyle/make-up routines, et cetera. Hey, let’s face it: NO ONE takes the time to dress-up during “Death Week,” AKA Finals Week. But that doesn’t mean that you should let random beauty adventures take the place of your summer fun! So, this summer, be adventurous, be fun, and be effortless!
1) Put the aerosol down. Give your hair a break! Trust me, it will thank you.
Up until now, I was the queen of heat-styling: drying, straightening, curling, et cetera. Not only was it time-consuming, it was detrimental to the overall look and feel of my hair! Before long, I was vaguely starting to resemble one of the front-men for a classic 80s hair band. Yeah, not cute. At all. So, I decided to stop with the excessive styling and try letting my hair do its own thing. And I’m so glad that I did!
If you have long hair like me, try pulling your hair back into a French braid while it’s still somewhat damp (If you braid it when it’s completely wet, it will never dry!).
Leave your braid in for a minimum of two hours. This may seem rather extensive, but don’t write it off just yet! This gives you the opportunity to get stuff done while your hair styles itself. You can lay out in the sun, read, finish your getting-ready routine, finish some of your chores, or just about anything else you could want to do! After the two hours have passed, carefully undo your braid one section at a time. Once you have finished, flip your head upside down and shake out your hair in order to give it some volume—or if you just want to feel like Beyoncé. Once you’re finished, you should have a head full of long, flowing waves. And the best part? They’re au naturale!
If your hair is too short to braid, then your solution for perfect, flowing hair is just as carefree! Simply apply a small amount of sea salt spray to your hair. For a more voluminous texture, use your fingers to scrunch and sculpt curls. If you want more of a natural look, simply shake your hair out and allow it to dry as it pleases.
2)Take off the mask. Stop lacquering on the cover-up.
First of all, you’re clogging your pores. You know what that means: Mt. Zitmore! Second of all, you’re hiding away your beautiful sun-kissed skin! So, let your skin breathe. Ditch the full-coverage foundations and concealers for a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. Rather than masking imperfections, these products are designed to improve skin-tone as well as the overall health of your skin. Not too shabby, if you ask me. If you feel like it, you can also dust on a thin layer mineral powder if you’re going for a more finished look. And don’t forget to apply a little bit of bronzer to your cheekbones to bring out your gorgeous summer glow!
As for the eyes and lips? Simply apply a champagne-toned eye shadow to your lids and the corners of your eyes. This will naturally enhance your eyes, making them appear bigger and brighter! Finally, apply a single coat of defining mascara (It will give you the least amount of clumps.) and your eyes are set to go! The lips are the simplest part: apply a moisturizing or rejuvenating balm, and you’re good to go!
3) Don’t sweat to death.
Let’s face it; it’s often difficult to wear tight clothing in the summer without burning up. My advice to you? Embrace the “baggy” clothing trend!
Opt for maxi dresses and maxi skirts made of light fabrics like chiffon. Pair with a loose-fitting, draped tank or crop top. Finish off your look with gladiator sandals, retro sunglasses, and a floppy straw hat or fedora—and you’re set for an effortless summer of fun in the sun!