June Gloom? I Think Not

~Sunday, June 16, 2013

Nature never rushes, yet everything gets done:  Another great one-liner my yoga instructor expressed that's been living in my mind for a while.  Amazing how nature does get things right, though.  The yoga instructor was referring to patience when she made this statement (as I was sweating it out in plank position) — and I am likewise going to take you down nature's path; however, no worries, no sweating involved.

This journey is going to take you into my world of color —once again, as promised!—applying the shades of nature as my reference for achieving flawless makeup choices this summer.  As an example, when was the last time you looked up at the sky and thought, "Those clouds are all wrong with that sky!" Nope.  It doesn't happen.  Or perhaps the fallen purple petals of the jacaranda trees sprinkled all over the grass made you think, "How awful of that tree to throw those fragrant flowers all over the place!"  Very doubtful you had that thought.  You get my point.

A great starter that parallels how the colors of summer sparkle in cosmetics is the popularity of bronzers.  Who wouldn't want a little extra "sunshine" on their face?  It's the perfect shimmer of color to pair with vivid blue mascara and juicy-beige lip gloss to stir your inner native instincts and

quest for adventure this summer. I also look to the softer  side of the color spectrum in cosmetics this time of year: lemongrass green, lilac, or pale blue swept over eyelids, contrasted with brown eyeliner and brown mascara.  Yes, brown.  (Save the black liner and mascara for dramatic evening effects.) Brown is beautiful with all shades of light blue, green, and purple. 

Is there anything as wondrous as the Sierra Nevada Mountains and their earth-toned lines etched against the clear blue sky?  (Or have you seen the picture of the Grand Canyon on the cover of Sunset Magazine this month?) I can't tell you how many eyeshadow palettes and liners I've purchased with the word "earth" as part of their color description.

We've chosen some "eyeshades," now let's paint your pout and blush up those cheekbones.  Again I swerve to a softer saturation of pigment.  Think yummy summer smoothies while vacationing on a tropical island—like blends of papaya, mango, strawberry, apricot, peach, watermelon, passion fruit—are you tasting it?  No June gloom for me!  If all the flowering annuals and perennials can bask in their glory of orange, yellow, red, and pink, I'm jumping in on the fun!

As far as captivating your mate with enchantment on that perfect summer night, once again I say,"Nature prevails!"  Look no further than earth's blanket of sky and luminous glow of the moonlight. Sweep eyelids with glistening moonlit grays, or starry silvery whites; use the darkest depth of midnight blue as liner; then "pucker up" with the perfect poppy red, or rich raspberry pink on your kisser, and voilá—wait for the magic to happen!

Hopefully, these "colorful" tips get you through the long, hot, sultry days of summer.  Don't think "dog days," instead, take your new glow with you to a picnic in the park, on a sandy walk in the tropics, or simply enjoy swaying on a swing under a starry night on the front porch and admire how nature has a way of getting things right—without a sweat.