This post is sponsored by Dove® ClearToneâ„¢ Deodorant — designed to visibly reduce underarm dark marks and even skin tone.
Spring’s in full swing, and I’m lovin’ almost everything about it. love the gorgeous green hills, the wildflowers springing up everywhere I turn, the sunny skies, sunsets and longer days, but ah! — that’s not all spring brings. It also brings some seasonal — pardon me — ah-choo! — challenges.
Challenges like…
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1. Smudgy eyes
Around this same time every year I develop an inconvenient allergy to nature — pretty much all of it, judging by my watery eyes, itchy throat and incessant sneezing.
Zyrtec usually saves the day, but when it doesn’t, watery eyes often leave me with smudgy eye makeup.
Sure, I could skip wearing eye makeup altogether in spring, but where’s the fun in that?
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When my eyes turn to “Aye!” I turn to these time-tested eye makeup-saving tricks…
First, before I apply my makeup, I prime everything — and I mean everything — to lock it down. I apply primer on my lids, in my brows (helps the brow powder stay put), along my lower lash lines and even beneath my eyes. Then, I follow pretty much my regular makeup routine but using long-wearing and/or waterproof eyeshadows, liner and mascara.
2. Fading foundation…
I like these longer days, but the extra sunshine keeps me going from 6 in the morning till 9 at night. My foundation’s gotta last, so again I turn to primer.
Here’s a trick to help your foundation last a little longer: after applying foundation primer, wait 10-15 minutes before blotting with a tissue and applying your foundation.
I’m not exactly sure why, but the extra time seems to help the primer do its thing. My foundation lasts longer before fading, and I find I even use less of it, too.
3. When it comes to hair, wind blows
It’s getting gusty out here in northern California, and when I wear my shoulder-length hair down, it usually ends up in my gloss. On really windy days, I like headbands, low ponytails and braids.
And if you also suffer from allergies (I feel your pain!), mine don’t seem to bother me as much at night when I wash my hair before bed.
Guess it gets rid of the pollen and other stuff hanging out in my coif.
4. Dark underarms are the pits
Every spring tanks, tube tops and sleeveless shirts burst from closets worldwide (well, across the northern Hemisphere), freeing millions of arms from their long-sleeved oppressors!
Don’t let dark underarms hold you back. They’re usually caused by a buildup of dead skin cells and/or thicker hair than elsewhere on your arms. exfoliating can help to lighten the area, as can waxing or plucking (instead of shaving), as both remove hair below the skin’s surface, making it less visible, and your underarms appear less dark.
5. Bah! Blemishes!
As the mercury rises, and my skin shifts into acne-prone overdrive, I switch from the heavy duty moisturizers I wore in winter to lightweight, oil-free moisturizers and sunscreens. I also add a face wash, toner and gels or creams with pimple fighting properties and ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
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Now, armed with these beauty bugbear-defeating tips, go forth and spring!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen