We’ve all seen that girl at the pool. You know the one: with full-on pancake makeup and flat ironed hair, awkwardly positioned on her towel to avoid a single drop of water from ruining the masterpiece. Needless to say, we NEVER want to be that girl! We want to be the one who’s up for anything, jumps in first, and can relax in the sun feeling comfortable and confident in her own skin. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t putting a little work in before we leave the house to make sure we look our best. The trick to looking (and feeling) great at the pool is subtle, waterproof makeup with a solid SPF built in. We consulted with professional makeup artist Nisa Nicole at ROAR Salon to learn her secret technique for looking like you’re not trying at all at the pool. Nisa insists that sunscreen is the most vital part of her approach to poolside makeup: “Protecting your skin from the sun everyday will keep your skin looking years younger and create a smooth surface for applying makeup for years to come. In the summer months, when water is an essential part of enjoying the outdoors, these steps will help your skin to stay protected, keep your face looking naturally fresh (not made up) throughout the day and won’t budge when you decide to take a dip to cool off.” Read below for Nisa’s tips on pool-proof makeup:
- Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
- Rae Cosmetics Climate Control Foundation
- Waterproof Mascara
- Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Lip Pencil
- Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Stain
- Prep your skin with a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 15 (I recommend SPF20 or SPF30). Make sure it is “broad spectrum” coverage, it will help protect against UVA and UVB rays. Choose a moisturizer that is oil free and non-greasy.
- Apply moisturizer/sunscreen to all of the high areas of your face where the sun will hit first (forehead, tops of cheeks, nose, and chin). Blend in with fingers or a synthetic bristled foundation brush.
- Add a lightweight foundation to even out your skin tone. This Rae Cosmetics Foundation is SPF 20, water proof and contains zinc which will block sun rays completely. Tip: Layering sun protectors will ensure full coverage and will better protect skin all day long.
- Using water proof mascara, coat lashes starting at the base. Wiggle mascara wand back and forth at base and then use light upward strokes to fan out lashes at the tips. Concentrate most of the product at the base of the lashes and keep the base dark to make lashes look fuller.
- Use a waterproof lip liner on dry lips. This creates a base for lip gloss and keeps gloss on longer. Line your lip and then fill in with the pencil. Tip: For a more opaque lip color, use a pencil in the same shade as the stain you are going to wear. To shear out color, use a lip pencil in a color one or two shades lighter than your lip color.
- Apply a bold lip color. Use a stain to avoid lips looking too heavy or over done . Start at the center and blend into the corners. This is where your pop of color will be so have fun! Bright oranges, pinks or a classic red will complete this fresh look.
Nisa’s Pro Tip: Lips are very sensitive and can burn easily in the sun. Use a lip balm with SPF to prep your lips before adding color and reapply generously throughout the day.
