Summer Beauty, Decoded

Summer Beauty, Decoded

08/16/2019

Here, solutions for the most vexing hair and skin problems of the season. Then indulge in a dose of sheer makeup fun.

How to De-Puff Your Face

One unwelcome side effect of summer travel is extra baggage, and not just the kind you have to check.

“Puffiness is the No. 1 complaint I get during the summer,” said Melanie Simon, a celebrity facialist and the founder of ZIIP Beauty. “Puffiness from planes is 100 percent going to happen.”

Add in seasonal allergies and free-flowing rosé and you have a recipe for bloat city. Good thing Ms. Simon has pro tips at prices high and low.

At Any Price: For the most aggressive fix, Ms. Simon suggests investing in a device that delivers tiny electrical currents that speed circulation and, she said, can help flush out lymph nodes. The trick is in how to use it.

“If you have puffy eyes, you can’t just work on the eyes,” Ms. Simon said. “You have to start working on everything below it so the fluid will actually drain out of your face.” Begin at the base of your neck and move horizontally outward with each stroke, working your way up your face. “You’re pulling it to the outside edges where the majority of your big lymph nodes are,” she said. (Her own ZIIP nanocurrent device sells for $495.)

Not ready to commit to a device? You can replicate the same movements with a face massager, Ms. Simon said. Her favorite is the Joanna Czech Facial Massager, $189, but she has found vibrating face rollers on Amazon for much less. “You kind of can’t go wrong,” she said.

Follow the same steps as with an electrical device but finish each stroke with a gentle press, to massage the lymph nodes at the outer edges of your neck and face. “While you’re rolling, you want something on your face that’s slick,” she said. “You don’t want to pull on your skin.” Try the recently introduced Prima Night Magic oil with CBD, $88, from Christopher Gavigan, a founder of Honest Beauty.

On a Budget: If you’re saving your dollars for a vacation, feel free to use your fingers, Ms. Simon said. You’ll still want to use an oil or other moisturizer, though. Indie Lee Squalane Face Oil, $34, is simple but effective.

For a quick under-eye fix, she recommends lightweight gel moisturizers that contain caffeine or a calming agent. See Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift, $69; the new Codex Eye Gel Cream with cucumber extract, $65; and Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches with caffeine, $22.

Practically Free: “Get some gauze and soak it in an ice bath of one part white vinegar and two parts purified water,” Ms. Simon said. “Squeeze out the excess before putting it on the skin. Repeat several times for your own kind of sheet mask.”

The Pro Way to Tame Your Frizzies

Like ice cream and barbecues, summer and frizzy hair go hand in hand. Oscar Blandi, a Manhattan stylist, has three tips for keeping strands sleek.

1. Frizziness is actually a product of dryness. “You have to work on your hair the same way you work on your skin,” Mr. Blandi said. And perfectionists start early.

“I have clients with curly hair who start coming in during the cold months, like January and February, and we start doing deep conditioning treatments,” he said. And regular at-home hair masks can help.

“You’re playing catch-up now, but start deep conditioning at least two times a week from now through the rest of summer,” Mr. Blandi said. Look for those without drying alcohols. DevaCurl’s Melt Into Moisture Matcha Green Tea Butter Conditioning Mask is excellent for curly hair, $36. Or add Olaplex No. 3 Hair Protector, $28, to your usual shampoo and conditioning regimen.

2. Treat your hair kindly. “Make sure your hair is about 70 percent dry before starting your blow-dry,” Mr. Blandi said. “And never let the nozzle sit on your hair. It should be a quarter-inch away. Start with hot and end with cold air.”

3. When you’re spending time at the pool and beach, a silicone-based protective cream or oil — on the ends only — can seal in moisture. Klorane Sun Radiance Protective Oil, $18, and the new Kérastase Soleil Crème UV Sublime, $37, offer hydration with UV protection. For muggy days, try R+ Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray with a smoothing polymer blend, $32.

Makeup to Try Before Labor Day

Hit pause on winter’s full-coverage foundations and matte lipsticks. Summer should be about fresh, transparent color.

“The summer heat can create challenges for the durability of lots of products,” said Beau Nelson, a makeup artist who is known for his work with Kristen Stewart. “So you want things that are long wearing, like stains, long-wear foundations and self-setting eye shadows.” Of course, he has his favorites.

Look for a water-based foundation like Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint, $65, for the barest hint of color, or the oil-free Estée Lauder Double Wear Light foundation, $42, when you need more coverage.

Top off with a transparent cheek stain like Benefit’s Benetint or Posietint, $30 each, or sheer bronzer. The new Tom Ford Glow Tone Up SPF 45 Cushion Compact, $87, is billed as a foundation but is actually a beautiful blush meets bronzer.

When it comes to eye shadow, Mr. Nelson likes the creamy yet lightweight texture of Milk Makeup Eye Pigment, $24. For summer eyeliner, he likes formulas that are blendable but will also set for a crease-proof finish.

“I apply liners at the base of the lash line and then smudge with a brush to get a gradient finish with most of the color at the base of the lash and becoming more transparent as you move upward,” he said. Check out the ones by Marc Jacobs, $25, which come in a range of finishes.

Give your lips a swipe with Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss, $30. It offers a good amount of pigment with a highly reflective, yet nonsticky, finish.

If you’re trying to simplify your summer makeup routine (all the more time for actual R & R), Mr. Nelson suggests a multipurpose long-wear product. He particularly likes Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Color, $18, by Danessa Myricks Beauty.

“You can use it on eyes, lips or cheeks,” he said. “Sometimes it’s the only thing I use, and sometimes I put shadow on top of it. It’s a great base to start from.”

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