SUMMER MAKEUP 101

Ria Bhatia brings you expert-approved tips and tricks to ace your summer makeup game

- Ria Bhatia

Makeup and the summer are like chalk and cheese, like a relationship that's always in trouble. Hot and humid weather has never been good for makeup to stay intact, and our tropical weather just makes things worse. But then, summer also entices you to put on a bright mouth and look at the world with dramatic eyes. We reached out to celebrity makeup artists Sandhya Shekar, Mehak Oberoi and Arti Nayar to help you live out your best-face-forward fantasies this summer.

SYNC WITH THE SEASON

Summer demands a change in your routine. "During summer, use lighter products with a watery or gel-like consistency, something that is light and moisturising," advises Mehak Oberoi. "Sometimes though, at night, I use a heavier cream so that it preps my skin well for makeup the next day." Arti Nayar believes in switching up the skincare routine for the summer. Sandhya Shekar, who believes our lifestyle has intensified our skin's transitions, adds, "You have to be a little intuitive with your skin in terms of what it's feeling every season."

MELT MAKEUP WOES AWAY

A melting base is one of summer's biggest makeup-related peeves, but, happily, there's a hack to ace everything. Yes, your base as well. "Skin prep is essential for the base to stay on," says Nayar. "However, you need to give your skincare routine (and products) at least 30 minutes to settle in and work its magic.

A primer is the key to keeping your makeup intact, and you have to powder - setting your dewy wet skin dreams aside - to lock in the base." Shekar says, "I'm a firm believer in being super minimal with your skin in summer. Your foundation and base products should follow this rule too. No skin needs a lot of makeup, not even acne-prone skin. The trick is to put on as little as possible and blend it seamlessly."