Beach make up

[monkeysmama]

I look tired and wan without some make up. I am going on holiday at the weekend and know the pool side look will be very glam. I have sunglasses, costume etc all sorted but am looking for some light make up to wear so I don't look awful.

I will be using my brilliant E Arden 8 hr factor 50 underneath and usually wear Bare Minerals or By Terry depending on my mood.

TIA.

I was thinking about this issue this morning when someone on another thread said to team a swimsuit with "red lippy". It got me thinking about all those style advice pieces in magazines which show a woman poolside with make up and jewellery aplenty.

I look awful without makeup - my eyes without mascara seem to disappear! But neither can I bring myself to wear make up on the beach or poolside as it just feels wrong to me.

What I do is to fake tan my face so that at least I have some colour and my cheeks always look more defined with a tan. Mascara not necessary due to ever present sunglasses but if you insisted then perhaps a clear mascara? I don't believe any mascara is truly waterproof so wouldn't want to venture there. The Coco Rouge lipsticks are fabulous without being full-on and the new Shine range is probably a good bet for poolside glam.

I think poolside glam can be achieved sans make up if the rest of you is groomed to perfection: well-fitting swimwear/cover ups, eyebrows waxed, mani/pedi, and use Kerastase sun protection cream to keep your hair sleek and shiny and prevent drying out.

I think that Guerlain Terracotta (in whatever skin tone suits you) is still the mostest when it comes to a summer no-make-up look. Dye your eyelashes as black as pitch and put a bit of gel on your eyebrows to darken them. Red finger and toe nails always good in the sun IMO.

Before going on holiday to the beach I have my eyelashes tinted blue-black. I have a light spray tan done and bring St Tropez moisturiser if on holiday for longer than a week. Red or hot pink nail colour by OPI. I wear MAC pro longwear foundation to the beach or pool. Body shop body butter for sheen on legs and arms - this is a must. Kerastase hair masque for manageable pool hair.

Get your eyebrows threaded, eyebrows and eyelashes tinted, mani/pedi, a wax and a fake tan (Zen or St Tropez) before you go. If your hair frizzes in the heat or you plan to swim get a a brazilian blow dry or a keratin treatment.

Then just curl your eyelashes, use some clear mascara to set them, and your eyebrows and add something to your lips - maybe a tint thing like Benetint, or Clinique chubby stick, and your good to go! :o

"But neither can I bring myself to wear make up on the beach or poolside as it just feels wrong to me."

Same here. I, too would use a bit of fake tan. I get hot and sweaty in the sun and loathe the idea of anything clogging up my pores, so I never, ever wear make-up by the pool or on the beach. Quite frankly I never notice people's faces in these circumstances and I think you are worrying unnecessarily.

Bobbi brown gel eyeliner (you need the brush too). If you are flying BA or Virgin Atlantic they sell a set with two pots (brown and black) and a little brush for £23 in their inflight duty-free.

hang on though - chlorine will reduce the life of a brazilian blow/keratin treatment...my brazilian friends always wears a swim cap!

All good suggestions. Already threaded eyebrows, waxed legs & bikini line, got pedi (love the Jessica coral shade) on Thursday & have some St Tropez face stuff I think I'll try. Can anyone recommend a good face tanner? Eyelash tint is a great idea. Does it really work? The salon I'm going to on Thursday advertise it. I have a Dior waterproof mascara but it's not perfect. I'm going to have a look at the Chanel lipsticks tomorrow in space NK. Great idea.

I have some of the black Bobbi Brown gel liner too though I prefer powder usually but great idea for beach. Thanks!

Eyelash tint is only really effective if you are fair, in which case it is great!

However, it's not like mascara, and so doesn't thicken, elongate or curl your lashes, so if your after that, your best bet is to get eyelash extensions, which are truly amazing, and definitely worth it.

Eyelash dye recolours the ends of your lashes which tend to get lighter, especially in the sun. So it does have an elongating effect. And unless your eyelashes are naturally jet black, it intensifies the colour.