A few recommendations for waterproof, beach-proof makeup

Hi Beauties! 

If you're gearing up for a beach trip, don't forget to stock up on the good stuff. By good stuff I mean waterproof makeup! And sunscreen, of course. Nothing ruins those cute bikini shots like runny mascara, blotchy makeup or that "huh?" caught-off-guard face. To make sure you're prepared this beach season, I've listed some reliable waterproof products for you check out. Let me know what you think, and happy summer!

Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer, Lancome Aquatique Waterproof Eyeshadow Base, Benefit Benetint lip and cheek stain, Laura Geller Barely There Tinted Moisturizer (great for sensitive skin, aging skin), Laura Geller Waterproof I-Care Brightening Eye Pencil Duo (great for contact lens wearers, sensitive eyes), Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara.

Simplify your beauty routine this summer!

Hopefully, you're spending your days on sandy beaches, at backyard BBQs, or on leisurely bike rides with your one true love. Maybe you've got your toes in the sand, an adorable polka dot umbrella in one hand and a rum punch in the other. Cooler is full of watermelon and Coke in retro glass bottles, sitting on ice ... You're just perusing the latest Cosmopolitan and of course checking in with your fave beauty blog Pretty in Prestige. 

OK, so most of us working adults can only dream of such summer days, but hey, it's still summer, we've got our weekends, and tis the season for funshine (fun in the sunshine. Wear your SPF!). 

And while us beauty addicts love a sultry smokey eye, a vixen red lip, or perfectly stenciled brows, there is one cardinal rule of summer beauty: Hot summer months call for lightweight, natural makeup. Keep it light and keep it simple. That's not to say you won't go into full glamour mode for your BFF's wedding, but for your day-to-day, you need not spend more than 15 minutes on your beauty routine. 

Here are a few tips to trim down your routine to just 15 minutes or less.

All you need is an all-in-one BB cream or tinted moisturizer, cream shadow, mascara, bronzer and a tinted lip balm to create a simple, reliable go-to summer look. 

Here's what I recommend: 

1. Skip the sunscreen, primer, foundation & setting powder multi-step routine. Instead, grab a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. Most have SPF, hydration for your skin, and don't require primer. Check out the Skin79 BB Creams (I believe there's a linked photo in the right column, or just Google them), and for a tinted moisturizer, check out NARS in your local Sephora or online.

2. Instead of priming eyelids, followed by powder, contouring, blending in the crease, highlighting the brows, etc. etc. etc. ... keep eye makeup simple with a long-lasting cream eyeshadow instead, like Tarte's Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow. Tip: apply with a flat synthetic brush, not your fingers. Fingers will deposit oil onto the lids and will cause the eyeshadow to fade quicker. Or hey, skip this step and go to step 3. After bronzing your face, dust a little on your eyes too! Voila -- eye shadow in a hurry. Follow up with your fave mascara, of course.

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3. Warm up your entire complexion with a natural-looking bronzer. You can forgo the blush and dust the bronzer on your cheeks instead. I love Tarte's Park Ave Princess, MAC's Hey Sailor bronzer in Refined Golden, or Physician's Formula (for a budget-friendly alternative). 

4. Bring your lips to life with a tinted lip balm. Just a touch of color, lots of hydration. Just what we need this time of year. Burt's Bees offers some pretty ones available at your local drugstore -- love these and love everything Burt's. Maybelline's Baby Lips are an absolute hit and selling off the shelves; haven't tried those suckers yet but I hear wonderful things! Also, Fresh's sugar lip balm is a best seller for a reason, and the tinted one looks great on anyone, and even has SPF. My husband thinks sugar lips tastes good too! Check it out at Sephora.

If you followed these quick and easy steps, you can look like this girl! Woo!

New BB creams hit U.S. drugstores this summer, plus Sephora offers 2 new beauty balms from Dr. Jart

If you're as BB-obsessed as I am, you'll be thrilled to hear about the newest beauty balms to hit the U.S. market. I've heard from many fellow beauty junkies that American brands are missing the mark with BB creams. As someone who first purchased a Korean BB and then purchased a few different American brands, I can say that I understand why some beauty-lovers are disgruntled, if you're expecting a replica of the Asian products. But I try to erase any preconceived notions of how it should be and give the product a fair try, simply asking myself: Do I like this product? Does it suit my skin? So, that being said ... here's some exciting news in the cosmetic world!

Scoot over Garnier! Drugstore shelves will have to make room for two more BB creams this summer, and they're sure to be a hit. Why? Because American women who haven't jumped on the beauty balm wagon are curious about this new type of makeup, but they may not be ready to drop 40 bucks on a prestige brand. So, they'll peruse the isles of Target in search for a more economical way to experiment with this beauty craze, preferably for under $10. Maybelline will debut it's version of the BB cream this month, and L'Oreal will debut one in July.

I personally enjoy the Garnier BB cream and use it daily with just a little setting powder on top! It's a more affordable alternative to the Too Faced Beauty Balm; it has the same silky feel and slight glow to it. Here's what the new drugstore BBs will look like:

In addition to these new drugstore BB creams, Sephora has added to its ever-growing roster of BB creams. Sephora's Dr. Jart line, a well-loved Korean skin care and cosmetic brand, welcomes two new BB creams in addition to the Premium Beauty Balm and Water Based Beauty Balm. The two newbies are: the Black Label Detox BB and the Renewalist BB ($36 each). For blemish- and acne-prone skin, try the Black Label, and for aging skin, try the Renewalist. Here's a peak at some photos and descriptions:

What it is:

A purifying face cream that provides age defense, and hides uneven skintone and blemishes.
What it is formulated to do : Perfect and protect skin instantly with this all-in-one multifunctional Beauty Balm. This triple-action formula naturally covers blemishes and uneven skintone, and contains botanical actives to purify and calm blemish-prone or irritated skin. Arbutin works to erase unwanted dark spots, while caviar extract and antioxidants protect skin from inner and outer pollutants for an enhanced radiance. Lightweight with sunscreen protection for simple, one-step neutralizing coverage, this soothing cream delivers optimal results for both women and men.

What it is:

A multi-action facial cream with powerful brightening and antiaging properties.
What it is formulated to do: Perfect and protect skin instantly with this all-in-one multifunctional Beauty Balm. Renewalist BB's natural-looking coverage evens skintone and minimizes the appearance of imperfections. Patented platol white-c complex brightens dull skin for a lustrous, youthful glow, while nutrient-rich exotic oils soothe dryness. The niacinamide strengthens skin's moisture barrier, helping to boost collagen levels. Lightweight with sunscreen protection for an ideal base makeup application, this antiaging balm is sure to leave your skin refreshed.

DIY: Create a lemon scrub to brighten, detox skin for summer!

Slough off dead skin, brighten tone, detox pores, soften texture and sooth muscles ... all in this DIY scrub with products you may already have!

What you'll need:

1 fresh lemon

1 tablespoon of olive oil

5 tablespoons of epsom salt

Mix the epsom salt and olive oil first. Once the salt is coated with the olive oil, cut the lemon into wedges and squeeze the juice into the mix. Use generously on entire body and even your face. Skin will feel soft, fresh and clean as can be. 

Check out Aspen's cutting-edge "beauty palace" Cos Bar at Target!

I don't know about you, but I am absolutely in LOVE with Target's new "The Shops" theme. My husband and I love checking out local "mom & pop" shops, and now Target does too! Here's their new shop in the beauty department: Cos Bar. They've got really cool, funky packaging so you won't miss it. Some of the products that caught my eye? Well ... the facial cleansing towelettes of course (can't live without wipes), the body butter in "Blueberry White," the body scrub in "Citrus Orange" and their false eyelashes (a pack of 3 for only $9!). Your local Target has it, or just conveniently click the image below. Online shopping is so much easier. Spend $50 and get free shipping when you click this picture below!

 

Summer's hottest hair trends PART II -- Bobby pins, hair scarves & two-tone!

Part II is here my friends! But before we explore more of summer's hottest hair trends, I'd like to invite you to interact -- find me on Twitter @PrettyinPrestige or simply leave a comment on any post to let me know what you like/don't like and what you'd like to see more of. I'd love to hear from you. Now, onto the good stuff.

You've seen bobs, buns & braids (if not, see post below), and now I bring you Part II of summer's hottest hair trends: Bobby pins, hair scarves & two-tone color. 

Add colorful bobby pins to your style for a retro or funky feel. Don't be shy; grab three or four of them and slide them in side-by-side. Pin up a poof in the center of your hair (via Snooki, toned down a bit), or use them to hold hair out of the face with a deep side part. Stick them in just for looks or use them to hold up loose fly-aways. Not only do they add flare to your hair-do, but they're super cheap. Renovate your look with a few bright bobby pins!

 Hair scarves definitely make you stand out. They've got that hippy, boho style and definitely showcase your personality. Tie a bow in front, or tie a knot in the back letting the ends hang down your back. Try using an actual scarf or check out the accessories section at your local Target or WalMart (anywhere really) where you'll find easy to slip-in headbands made to look scarf-like.

Have you noticed stars doing this left and right? Everyone's doing it. It's the two-tone look, like your roots have been growing in and you never bothered to retouch. I'm loving it. It looks cool, yes, but it's a life-saver too if you color your hair. Now you can just let it grow out and say you're trying the new trend! Hello money-saver $$$$.