summer makeup tips

scorching temps, barely bikinis and melting makeup? who's ready for summer?

summer fun has its place, but your makeup does not have to melt off your face. keep makeup simple and beautiful with these five face-friendly tips.

1. prime time

neglecting this savvy makeup step is so yesterday! a great makeup primer will provide a smooth and ready surface for longer-lasting makeup. try VAPOUR favorites stratus instant skin perfector and stratus soft focus instant skin perfector. these 3-n-1 moisturizer, primer and no-color foundations balance skin for a smooth, luminous look on their own or as a beautiful base for color makeup.

2. living light

use foundation to even skin tone and perfect. find light-as-air formulas like VAPOUR atmosphere luminous foundation that gives skin a luminous glow and natural finish.

3. beautifully bronzed

a bit of bronzer = fresh-from-the-beach glamour. apply to the high points of your face where the sun touches: forehead, cheekbones, chin and nose. use VAPOUR solar translucent bronzer for a sun-kissed glow on face, shoulders, decolletage and legs.

4. multi-tasking

go natural looking or add a pop of color, but keep texture simple with easy-to-blend cream (VAPOUR aura multi-use blush for cheeks, eyes and lips) or soft mineral cheek colors.

5. soft set

set it and forget it. a light dusting of oil absorbing powder keeps makeup fresh. sarimotley favorite: secret set mineral buffing powder glides over foundation with a candlelit finish.

for more great tips on summer proofing your makeup, email sari@sarimotley.com or visit our contact page.

Professional Makeup For Photography, Part II

Last month I blogged about photography makeup and the benefits of hiring a professional Makeup Artist. However, it is not always feasible to hire a professional, so here are some important tips for having your skin look its best on camera when going at it on your own.

First, know that less is more! Piling on extra makeup wont make you look your best; it's likely

to lead to a cakey mess. Also, makeup that looks great in real life may not look as good in photographs, you may want to experiment a bit.

Always start with clean, moisturized skin. Then prepare your skin with a makeup primer. Primers are so important in photography because they help to smooth skin and give the makeup something to hold onto for a longer-lasting application.

Once you have prepped and primed, it's time to work on the "look" you want to create. It may be a natural look, something glamorous, a boudoir photo session or your bridal portraits. Play with color that accents your favorite features. For eye shadow, use colors that flatter and remember to blend. Do not use shadow that has too much shimmer or frost; these do not appear as flattering on camera.

Apply foundation evenly over the face, blending into your neck. Make sure that the foundation matches your skin tone appropriately. Remember that your skin is not one-dimensional; this is where contouring comes in handy. Contouring is great for helping define the natural dimensions of your face. Use a darker color that your foundation, but one that is tonally correct. Apply under cheek bones and other areas you want to sculpt.

Finally, use a lip color that makes you feel comfortable. The color should be at least a shade deeper that your natural lip tone. Avoid colors that are lighter than your lips since this will make them appear washed out on camera.

For more information on professional makeup application or to schedule a makeup lesson, contact sari@sarimotley.com.