Author: Sarah Hechler

I love rap music, dogs, and college...in that order.

Creative Ways to Make Your Summer Tan Pop

It’s Sunday night—just got back from a week-long beach vacation. You’re desperately trying to figure out ways to make your tan from the last week of laying out pop with Monday’s outfit. We’ve all been there. This summer, I’ve been focusing on finding new—and trendy—ways to make sure my hours in the sun pay off.

Obviously, but sometimes not-so-obviously, wear white! White and lighter colors will make your exposed skin look tanner in comparison. Plus, summer is part of the short time period during which it’s acceptable to wear all white, so take advantage.

I’m not sure why or how, but I’ve always noticed that wearing shinier silver jewelry, like rings, make your tan look more glowy. For real, try it out. This also follows this summer’s trend of stacking boho rings to create a cluttered jewelry look.

Light gray, white, and neon nail polishes help to make your skin look darker as well. Plus, they’re super fun and summery (and make me super happy).

Wear statement pieces to draw attention to areas that naturally tan more easily. Personally, my legs always tan much more quickly than the rest of my body, so wearing a statement shoe or cute pair of shorts helps to highlight that.

If all else fails, spring for a self-tanner. There’s no shame in giving your skin a break from the sun and opting for a moisturizing tanning lotion instead.

Any of these tricks have you glowing? Show us on social media! Don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista.

Shrink Your Makeup Bag For This Summer Glow

In the world of extra, it’s hard to find a balance between having all of the products necessary to create a ‘natural’ makeup look and going broke. The steps to achieving a natural summer glow can get crazy. It should only take four products to be ready for your day… that’s it. Learning how to maximize each product makes all the difference difference.

  1. BB Cream 

We all know tossing our foundation in the summer months for a BB Cream alternative is a must. It’s lighter on the skin, easier to apply, and full of benefits. Leave your moisturizer and primer at home with a regular BB Cream. For more oily skin, go for a matte version that will allow you to skip powder as well. Applying the cream only where you have problem areas and leaving rosy cheeks bare eliminates the need for a blush.

  1.  Bronzer 

For all the girls that can’t go a day without contour, this is for you. Using a big, fluffy brush, lightly emphasize your facial features by applying bronzer under your cheekbones, on the temples of your forehead, and underneath your jaw (making sure to blend down your neck). Not only will this give you a more ‘chiseled’ facial structure, it’ll make you look tanner, too. Adding a little bit to the crease of your eye using your ring finger eliminates the need for darker eye shadows and creates a natural looking effect.

  1. Highlight 

Ah, yes, the most important step of every single makeup look. Here’s where the glow comes in. Apply a shimmery highlighter (no chunky glitter, please!) to the high points of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and your cupids bow. Put a little extra in the inner corner of your eyes to act like a lighter eye shadow.

  1. Mascara 

Honestly, mascara is optional. If you’re going to the beach or the pool, I would say skip it. Curl your lashes as close to the base as you can, then apply your mascara. Start at the root and move your hand back and forth, wiggling your wand up your lashes until you get to the tip. Let them dry, curl again, and add more mascara. Do this until you’re satisfied with how your lashes look. When applying mascara to your bottom lashes, press the wand up against your bottom lashline (before wiggling down) to act like an eyeliner.

Cutting down on the amount of products in your makeup bag makes beach trips—or any trip—less stressful.

Trying out this makeup look on your next summer adventure? Show us on social media! Don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista.