If you, like most, have been getting your faux-glow on the last couple of months, it's time to start going easier on the self-tanner. Instead of slathering on face tanner like Banana Boat Summer Color Sunless Lotion $7.49 as usual, simply dab a couple of drops of the product into your moisturizer then apply. Diluting it this way will make your tan less intense, and help you ease into fazing it out completely. That way you won't suddenly wake up pasty (and feeling blah) and the transformation will look natural.
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Tip: Reposition your bronzer
During the summer we create a sun-kissed glow by applying bronzer to the apples of our cheeks and areas where the sun naturally hits our face. To update your look, Stapleton says to "move your powder bronzer off your cheekbone and start using it under the cheekbone as a contour." More sculpted looks are perfect for fall and winter, and using bronzer to contour is a great baby step into taupe and brown blushes, which you can use later in the season, says Stapleton.
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Tip: Transition your nails
Summer's nail trends were all about blue (with retro aqua being the favorite), concrete shades (silvery/gray hues), and mauve, says Stapleton. An easy way to shift into fall-toned nails is to go with slightly darker or more metallic version of your summer favorites. "Move into teals that are metallic and go deeper with the concretes -- closer to gray," says Stapleton. Or "take a 180 and get back to basic red," he adds. It's a fall staple that still feels fun, like summer.
Summer makeup tends to be light, which usually means less emphasis on the brows. In preparation for fall and winter, start to let your brows grow in a little so that you're on-trend come October. "It's always that going-to-battle look -- [brows are] bushier, tougher, more boyish," says Stapleton of fall/winter trends. This doesn�t mean they should look unkempt, he warns, just start to "fill them in a bit and brush them up with a clear gel." Try Ulta Eyebrow Gel, $6 to instantly get that fuller, Brooke Shields-esque look.
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Tip: Cover up summer-skin damage
To look "fall appropriate" you should aim to get rid of telltale signs of summer sun damage. Hopefully you slathered on SPF like it was going out of style and don't have too much, but if you have obvious hyperpigmentation you can cover it up until your skin brightening treatments or peels (try Kiehl's Over-Night Biological Peel, $43) do their job. Stapleton suggests using a heavy concealer (applied after your foundation) and a small brush to "break up the skin discoloration by stippling the product [creating small dots] over the damaged area." Try one of these top-rated concealers to get flawless coverage. Finish by setting the foundation and concealer with powder.
If you're thinking: "Whoa, summer is ending � already?" Yes, we're here to remind you, that it is (sorry). It's time for fall makeup trends and new school supplies. But there's no need to panic or pull out your mohair sweaters just yet. You still have a solid month left to wear your favorite coral lipstick and white linen shorts.
But because we all know that time flies (with every new wrinkle and crease that appears around our eyes we're reminded of that fact) -- we should accept the seasonal change as gracefully as each new candle on our birthday cake (ugh).
So yes, it is officially time to start thinking about how to transition your makeup look and get your face fall-ready. One of the things we hate to let go of come fall is that pretty summer glow. Whether it is real or from a bottle (kudos for tanning the safe way), it takes work to get that sun-kissed makeup look down pat. That's why we went to MAC Senior Artist, John Stapleton, to find out how we can keep our glow going post-summer while looking appropriate for fall. He also shares tips on how to camouflage common skin issues associated with too much fun in the sun.
Check out these post-summer makeup tips now and learn quick ways to update your look -- no overhaul necessary -- as well as which shades should be booted from your caboodle (yes, as scary as it is, we still have one, do you?) sooner rather than later.
