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Summer Makeup Tips for Women of Color

Picking the right makeup can often be a challenge for African-American women and other women of color.  So Everything She Wants enlisted the help of Baltimore makeup artist Tamika "Meekeyo" Pinckney for her expert advice:
Model shot by Tracy E. Hopkins 
  1. Lighten the load: Use a lightweight moisturizer to keep your pores clean and blemish free. Stick with water-based or oil free products. Try Aloe Vera gel.
  2. Rock the 'block: Sunblock and sunscreen are very important even for women of color. Skin with a substantial amount of melanin (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American) can burn too! According to dermatologist Dr. Susan Taylor, "Our skin is prone to dark marks and discolorations. Sun makes dark marks darker and keeps them from fading."
  3. No more shine: To get rid of that excessive shine use, blot papers. Instead of using a sponge and patting for coverage, try using a large brush to lightly apply powder foundation all over the face. Also, remember most women are darker in the summer, so pick a warmer shade. Look for products that are oil-absorbing or matte finish in liquids.
  4. Decrease the crease: Keep eye shadows out of the crease by using a primer as a base. Apply shadow over primer and see how it also helps to give the color a little more pop. For intense color pat the shadow on instead of sweeping using a small-medium shadow brush. Also, load up on liquid liners and waterproof mascaras as they have great staying power.
  5. Primer time: In addition to keeping the eyes fabulous, primers can also be used all over to provide an even base for foundation and help makeup to stay on longer and stronger. It's lightweight and doesn't clog your pores.  Tamika's pick: Smashbox Photofinish Primer
  6. A touch of tint: Tinted moisturizers with SPF are a summer favorite as they provide very light coverage and keep skin glowy. These work best with dry to normal to skin conditions.
  7. Lip service: Avoid heavy lipsticks and glosses. Try lip balms and tinted lip balms.  Can't bear to switch from your favorite? Use a lip balm first, then apply your gloss or lipstick only to one lip. Press together for a soft touch of color and shine. Everything She Wants' pick: Youngblood's petroleum-fragrance-mineral oil-and cruelty-free Mighty Shine Lip Gel (available June 1, 2012)
  8. Face off: Waterproof/sweat proof makeup will do it's job of staying all day, and as a result may be a little harder to remove. So to remove just use a makeup remover wipe and then wash with your cleanser.

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