LOW-MAINTENANCE LOOK FOR SUMMER

Dear Jellybean,

I want a low-maintenance, everyday look for summer. I'm going away all summer to work (most likely outdoors) and I want to keep up my beauty routine, but I know I won't be able to maintain it perfectly. I need to know how to protect my skin (dry-combination, sensitive, burns easily) and hair (VERY thick, wavy, blonde, dry-ish) from the sun. Also, I'm a makeup-wearer who isn't willing to go completely au-naturel in the summer months- how do I get the right SPF and decent coverage, mascara that won't smudge off, and something for my lips that won't chap? When it comes to clothes, I'm assuming I'll end up in shorts and a tee-shirt for work, though I don't want to be too frumpy. I'm horrified of coming back to the city looking like a scarecrow- leather skin, straw hair, the whole bit. What's the best summer look for a working girl? Please help me out!!
-Beauty Queen Who Needs to get Clean

Dear Beauty Queen,

That's a great goal - a low-maintenance look for summer that keeps you looking cute, but doesn't waste hours of daylight to maintain. I've got a few suggestions that you might want to try.

Be Real

First, as you say, don't expect perfection. Summer isn't about looking perfectly groomed, it's about that "easy breezy" attitude and look. You'd actually look bizarre, walking around town in perfect makeup, when most other girls are sporting bronzer and braids. So don't worry about looking your best - just aim for looking fresh.

Skin Care

Skin protection should definitely be your main goal in summertime. Not only will this prevent painful (and non-beautiful) burns, but keeping your skin from frying will ward of future wrinkles, so you'll look cuter for many more summers to come. You should be wearing a high-SPF sunscreen every single day, on your face and any other areas of skin that are being exposed to the sun, and keep it on your person so you can reapply it regularly throughout the day (check the label to find out how often). There are tons of sunscreen brands out there. Since your skin is sensitive, you might want to consider using an all-natural sunscreen with no chemicals. These can be found in health food stores or by doing an online search. Burt's Bees makes a good one in SPF 30. I've also heard good things about Blue Lizard Sunscream for Sensitive Skin. Sephora (online and in their retail stores) also carries a great selection of organic, high-SPF sunscreens made just for sensitive-skin.

Hair Care

Dry hair needs extra TLC in the summertime, when the sun's rays can make it straw-like. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (look for "moisturizing" or "for dry hair" on the label), and once a week, treat your hair to a deep conditioning masque or hair treatment (many brands are available at drugstores). Also use a leave-in conditioner with SPF (such as Bobbi Brown Leave-In Hair Conditioner SPF 15) to keep your hair protected all day long. For a special treat your hair will love, on some days you could apply a blob of regular conditioner to hair after you towel-dry, comb it through, then twist hair into a bun or weave into braids. The conditioner will work all day long, and your hair will be fuss-free too. Plus, when you let hair down, you'll have conditioned, beachey waves.

Makeup Routine

A summer makeup routine should be simplicity itself. Skip the foundation and go bare-faced. If you need to cover uneven patches or blemishes, use a foundation stick or a cream concealer in the exact shade of your natural skin tone to go over specific areas and just blend it well. You can also apply a self-tanning cream, or do the Mystic Tan spray-booth thing, to get an all-over tanned look on your body and face that covers a multitude of skin flaws, and looks great for summer. (Just be sure to keep applying your high-SPF sunscreen every day - self-tanners do NOT protect skin against sun damage). Choose a waterproof mascara for lashes (it won't smudge or run when you sweat). Push the brush against the base of lashes before drawing it through them, and poof, you've got instant waterproof liner too. Keep lips shiny and protected with a lip balm containing SPF. That's really all you need by day. You can always add glitter, or eye shadow, or whatever else you like, for nighttime.

Clothing

Tees and shorts are summer staples for a reason - they're weather appropriate, and they're cute! Just make sure yours fit you well, with no pulling or bagging, and you'll look your best. Since shoes pull a look together, also choose a pair of sneaks or sandals that look good, as well as giving you support and traction. There are oodles of options available at shoes stores and online.