RI Beauty Expert: Summer S.O.S.

RI Beauty Expert: Summer S.O.S.

Prolific writer Henry James called “summer afternoon” the two most beautiful words in the English language. But summer afternoons are also responsible for beauty buzzkill with their sweltering days and brutal sun. Here are some common beauty emergencies with first aid suggestions:

Emergency #1:  You applied the wrong shade of self-tanner and now you look like a Cheez-It

Your first urge will be to sand off the color but don’t reach for the exfoliator just yet. First, try a few drops of baby oil gently rubbed into the skin. Let the oil sink in for a few minutes and follow up with a mild cleanser and then a gentle scrub. Nivea Touch of Renewal Body Scrub is humane but will remove orange staining even around the ankles on the knees.

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Emergency #2: You finally found a new sunscreen with the right SPF and you didn’t get burned – you got zits!

Most likely you need an oil-free sunscreen instead.  Try Clinique City Block Sheer which does not contain mineral oils. Treat the zits with a vanishing treatment cream but don’t stop moisturizing – acne meds don’t absorb well through dry skin. The right sunscreen for your skin type will prevent new breakouts.  Macy’s

Emergency #3: Your pretty make-up from this morning, melted off by noon

Super-sultry days call for reinforcement. Go easy on the creamy foundations which turn greasy in humidity. Instead, use a little bit of concealer in a shade darker than the one you use in winter, and spot cover only. Skip the cream blush and opt for a powder one. Show your face whose boss with a swirl of translucent face powder to set your make-up and then slick on a deep-as-night waterproof mascara. CoverGirl LashExact Waterproof mascara will get you long-lasting fringe that defies the weatherman’s dewpoint predictions. Rite-Aid

Emergency #4: The beach seriously bleached your warm highlights and now your hair is the color of washed-up driftwood

UV light harshes your hair’s mellow in summer. Protect expensive highlights with a sunscreen spray just for hair. Shiseido Refreshing Sun Protection Spray keeps your tresses golden-blond with all the depth your hairdresser intended. Nordstrom

Emergency #5: Your sexy nude manicure has yellowed

Sadly, there’s no quick fix for this. Best to remove the nail polish and start over with colors that don’t have the resins that cause hideous yellowing. Fortunately, Zoya Professional Lacquer is free of toxins and come in juicy melon colors as well as your coveted chic nudes. Ulta

The spectrum of possibilities on a summer afternoon are endless. Don’t let warm weather beauty challenges be the monkey wrench of your gorgeous summer style or fun.

Donna Macdonald is a freelance writer who enjoys covering topics of interest to women, especially fragrance, style, beauty. She has also written marketing material for a women's book that hit the New York Times Bestseller list and netted her an up close and personal discussion on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Donna currently writes her own personal blog, alovelyinconsequence.blogspot.com, where she also writes about issues close to a woman's heart. Donna believes that when a woman finds beauty in the world, she will find beauty in herself.