Let’s be real, we all struggle with beauty in the summer. Not all of us look Instagram-worthy with no makeup on, but we also don’t want to spend 30 minutes at the beach trying to get our eyeliner perfect. Here’s a list of beauty hacks that are sure to help you through the summer months:
The Sleep Styler
Using curling irons and straighteners during the summer is something no one has time for. Who wants to be on vacation having to blow dry and straighten their hair before a nice dinner on the town? NOT me. Luckily, the hit show Shark Tank has found us an amazing solution to the crazy hair problem. The Sleep Styler. The Sleep Styler is a set of eight soft rollers that style your hair without any heat. The huge selling point with this invention was that you could put these in your hair at night, sleep on them, wake up, and your hair would look perfect. I tested that out, and it works! I woke up with perfect spiral curls that looked soft and smooth. But, as someone who moves around a lot in their sleep, I wasn’t too comfortable wearing them all night (even though the rollers are pillow soft!).
I let my hair air dry until it is damp, then I put the rollers in. I watch TV, work on summer homework, clean my room… really anything just until my hair is all the way dry, which really only takes 45-hour. Then, I remove the rollers, and go to sleep (if it’s night time) or go on with my day. As someone who has fried my hair since middle school, this is a HUGE breakthrough. I’ve used the rollers only three times, and my hair already looks healthier and more shiny.
So, here’s what you can do:
- Jump in the shower and wash and condition your hair
- Towel dry your hair until it’s damp (or close to it!)
- Do your makeup
- Get dressed
- Remove rollers! Depending on how long it takes you to do your makeup and get dressed, your hair should be close to dry.
Definitely give these a try, your hair will thank you!
It Cosmetics CC+ Cream – Illumination SPF 50+
This was my holy grail last summer, especially during my time at the beach, and on those pool days! This CC cream is comparable to a full coverage foundation. It’s light on the skin, and gives off a radiant, bronze summer glow while preventing sun damage. I have lots of freckles and a birthmark on my face, and this cream was able to cover everything up! Not to mention, it smells really good. Apply this with a BeautyBlender to achieve the perfect summer glow for everyday wear. A full size tube of this CC cream retails for $38 at Ulta. While it is a little more expensive than our college budget likes, it is a great product that will last you the entire summer, probably longer!
St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse – Medium
Don’t have time to make it to the beach this summer, but still want that summer glow? Check out the St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse. This stuff gives a beautiful, natural tan at an affordable price. Avoid pricey spray tans and sun damage by picking this up for $12.99 at your local Ulta. Shower, dry off, and apply this evenly with a tanning mitt to freshly exfoliated and moisturized skin. The self tanner starts working instantly, so you’ll notice a little glow fairly quickly.
Tint your eyebrows – at home!
If you’re like me, you didn’t get the good eyebrow genes in the family. My eyebrows are thick, but lighter than my hair color. So, when I go without filling them in (with Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade, of course), it looks like something is missing from my face. After watching several YouTube videos, I found a way to get the perfect eyebrow color without having to spend the time filling them in each morning. Tinting your eyebrows. I’ve seen this on the services menu at salons before, but I could never justify spending $30 on such a small part of my body (I know, eyebrows are important, but college budget over here…). Luckily, the amazing beauty community on YouTube shared an amazing, and affordable hack.
Stop by a local drugstore and pick up the Just For Men Mustache and Beard dye in whichever color will work for your eyebrows. Yes, I’m serious. Stay with me here! Mix up the dye as instructed, using just enough for your brows (don’t mix the entire tubes of product!). Place some Vaseline around the outline of your brows to reduce the chance of getting any dye on your skin. Using the small brush that came with the dye, place the dye on your brows. Apply a healthy amount evenly across both brows. Let the dye sit for 5 minutes, and then wipe it off with a warm wash cloth. And there you go! Perfectly tinted brows that will naturally complete your look for a few weeks!
Unbounded Ambition 