Summer is here and the time is right for changing up your makeup routine! With the mercury rising, you should be wearing less makeup and using lighter foundation formulations and brighter colors. If you flip through the magazines, you’ll see that this season the makeup trend is light and bright or bronze and bare. Often, women of color do not know how to interpret these trends to fit our unique beauty needs and skin tones. But, have no fear … I am here to help!

For “Bronze and Bare” I used: BareEscentuals Foundation in Warm Tan, BareEscentuals Feather Light Mineral Veil, Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bronzed Pink (lid) and Penny (crease), MAC Pigment in Vanilla (highlight), MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy, MAC blush in Dollymix, Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Deep, Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm in Bronzed Pink and Bobbi Brown Glitter Lip Gloss in Naked.

 

 

For those of us who will be going on vacation or just want to look casually pretty during a hot summer day, the way to go is “bronze and bare.”

 

 

Shown: Bobbi Brown Pink Collection

Bobbi Brown’s summer collection “Bronzed Pink Collection” is perfect if you’re trying to achieve the “bronze and bare” look. Of course, you don’t have to go to Bobbi to get the same effect. Just be sure that you focus on using these products: natural-looking but shimmery eye shadows, a bronzer that suits your skin tone, a vibrant pink blush and a tinted lip balm. These products will leave you with radiantly glowing skin, coupled with a healthy flush of color.

 

I always encourage women of color to use both blush and bronzer. Most women with brown skin may think that we don’t need bronzers since we already have a “natural tan”. However, a bronzer can perk up brown skin that may look a bit sallow and can add vibrancy and life.

 

Nothing’s better on a summer night than looking like a bronzed goddess! Many companies now make bronzers that cater to darker skinned women.

 

 

 

My favorites this season are Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder, which comes in several shades – one of which is sure to work with your complexion; MAC’s Bronzer in Refined Deeper Bronze and BareEscentuals Warm Radiance, which lends a fabulous glow. Apply your favorite bronzer on top of a bright blush.

 

My favorites are MAC Dollymix, Bobbi Brown Apricot , CARGO Rome, and NYX Mosaic Blush in Love. When you apply a vivid bit of color to the apples of your cheeks and then layer a yummy bronzer on top, you give yourself a lovely naturally bronzed look, with the color peeking from underneath. It is a gorgeous effect on brown skin.

 

 

 

For “Light and Bright” I used: BareEscentuals Foundation in Warm Tan, BareEscentuals Feather Light Mineral Veil, MAC eyeshadow in Warm Chill (inner lid), Blue Flame (outer lid), Climate Blue (crease and outer v); Bourjois Volume Clubbing Waterproof Eye Pencil in Golden Grey Session (to line bottom lashes), MAC blush in Dollymix, Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Deep, MAC Slimshine in Tropic Glow, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bonbon.

shown: MAC Blush

If you want to ramp up your summer beauty a bit, go for the look that I’m calling “light and bright.” While you should still add bronzer to your skin, along with a bright blush, your eye and lip focus should change. For eyes, you can accent your lids in a color that you might not usually try – go for an emerald green, a juicy plum, vivid orange or an aqua blue.

MAC’s Cool Heat Collection, is great for eye shadows that will mimic the colors of the ocean.

 

Urban Decay also makes wonderfully saturated shadows in a rainbow of colors. If you’re too shy to go for such an over-the-top look on the eyes, stick to a bronze shadow, but use a liner in one of those colors. Make Up For Ever has a range of waterproof eyeliners, Aqua Eyes, which will work fabulously and won’t melt in the hot summer sun.

To really accentuate those bright eye looks, use a sheer lipstick or lipgloss in an equally vibrant color. I’m loving MAC Slimshines in juicy oranges, pinks and reds; Laura Mercier Lip Glace’ in Bonbon, Chanel Glossimers and Avon Glazewear in Punch.

shown: MAC Slimshines

Don’t be afraid to go for color or to amp up your bronziness! Summer is the time to go wild with your makeup! Feel free and have fun! Remember: it’s only makeup! Enjoy your summer!

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