beauty addict

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The latest trends, techniques, and insider secrets—revealed.

Beauty and the Beach
When the tide is high and the heat is rising, the prettiest looks are light, loose, and easy.
By Jennifer Riley

It’s been more than 40 years since Ursula Andress emerged from the sea in Dr. No and set the stage for generations of beach beauties to come. Decades later, modern bombshells—from Elle Macpherson to Giselle Bundchen to Halle Berry (who re-created Andress’s legendary scene in Die Another Day)—have all taken their beauty cues from Honey Ryder’s sultry, natural-looking ocean-goddess look. Behind the scenes, of course, these seemingly flawless creatures have unlimited access to world-class makeup artists, hairstylists, and other experts. Which might explain why, in real life, many of us appear sweaty and disheveled on the beach, rather than resembling a seaside icon. The good news? We assembled our own think tank of beauty gurus, who spilled their secrets, so you can reap the same benefits as Elle, Giselle, and Halle.

Fresh Faced
When it comes to seaside makeup, the number-one evil to be avoided is an overdone face. But thankfully, beach bunnies and surfer girls needn’t forego their cosmetics completely. “Just keep it simple,” advises Sephora celebrity makeup artist Jo Strettell. For inspiration, she points to Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, and Demi Moore in Charlie’s Angels 2: “I think of these women as timeless beach beauties—subtle but striking.” To re-create their fresh, sun-ripened look, “think glowing skin, flushed cheeks, and moist lips,” says celebrity makeup artist Natalie Miller. Keep in mind, however, that this may require you to set aside some of your staple base formulas. “Most foundations and powders separate when they come into contact with water, so you want to avoid them,” Miller notes. “If you need some coverage, try an SPF tinted moisturizer instead, and if that looks too shiny, use one with a matte finish, like Mark C-Thru-U.” To combat dark circles or blemishes, both experts recommend opting for waterproof or oil-based concealers, rather than water-based versions.

Splashes of Color
In addition to using a light hand, the beach calls for a more measured, strategic use of color. To enhance eyes without risking a raccoon look, Strettell likes to “curl lashes first, then apply Bourjois Pump up the Volume Waterproof Mascara.” Although this should be enough to anyone’s make eyes pop, “if you want to play, dab a peachy gold or bronze cream shadow on your lids,” Miller suggests. Unlike powder shadows (which can look flat) or eyeliner (which can be too heavy for the beach), cream and mousse shadows, such as Stila Shadow Pots, tend to be water resistant and are perfect for adding just a hint of shimmer. Along these lines, cream, gel, and liquid blushes and bronzers, such as Nars Cream Blush and Sephora SuperStars Super Sheen Bronzing Mist, are also more beach-friendly than their powder counterparts. Prior to applying your lip gloss, Miller recommends using an SPF lip balm, or starting with a stain, like Mark KissInk Lip Tintmarker: “This way, if the gloss wears off, your lips will still have a freshly bitten look.” To amp up your makeup for evening, follow Strettell’s lead: “Rim your eyes with a smudgy black or brown kohl pencil, then blink; apply a little Benefit Moonbeam on the high cheekbone and browbone; and finish with a hot, sexy gloss.”

Seaside Strands
The most angst-inducing challenge for many beachgoers (aside from the beach goddess's official itsy-bitsy uniform, of course) is dealing with unruly hair. The best approach? “Go with what you’ve got,” says Mitch Stone, an Academy Award–winning hairstylist and avid surfer. “The worst styles are the ones that attempt to fight the hair’s natural texture. Try as you might, moisture will always win out.” At the same time, Stone points out that the beach offers a unique opportunity for tresses. “It’s one of the few places where you can get away with a look that’s not so polished and perfect,” he notes. “In fact, nothing looks better on the beach than chunky, textured hair—that’s why everyone from Bumble and Bumble to John Frieda is making their own surf spray.” What’s more, a day at the ocean can offer deep-conditioning benefits. “Coat your stands with a leave-in conditioner that has UV filters, and not only will you achieve that messy, sexy look; you’ll get an instant heat-conditioning treatment.” To keep your stands out of your face without falling back on the usual pony, “Wear a couple of tiny jaw clamps on your temples with a backwards twist,” Stone suggests. Or you can opt for something more classic: “The Marilyn scarf always looks great.” Once the sun has set, he recommends spritzing on a hair refresher from Bumble and Bumble or Tigi: “They’ll make it easy to comb and add great shine.” But whatever you do, “Stay away from the Bo Derek look,” he urges, “or at least wait ten more years for it to come back into style.”

Broad Spectrum
Most important on the beach and beyond is safeguarding your skin from damaging UV rays. While you might think your SPF 30 delivers adequate protection, Dr. Jim Baral, director of the American Dermatology Clinic in New York City, recommends using sunscreens with an SPF of 60. Because the key filter in these products, Meroxyl, is still awaiting FDA approval, such products aren’t on the U.S. market yet, but Baral’s sunscreen of choice, Anthelios, can easily be ordered online. Regardless the SPF in the product you choose, though, you should always use a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen (SPF refers only to the product’s UVB protection), so look for ingredients such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (Parsol 1789). And for best results, remember that any sunscreen must be applied liberally and often, which means slathering on one ounce from head to toe every two hours. In addition, “protective clothing and an umbrella go a long way toward protecting your skin,” says Robert Scott, aesthetician, wellness expert, and owner of Robert Scott Face/Body in Los Angeles and Bend, Oregon. If you take these steps, you’ll dramatically reduce you risk of sunburn, but if something does go wrong, Scott recommends misting the affected area with a cooling, anti-inflammatory mix of cucumber and water in a spray bottle.

The Bod Squad
When it comes to getting a safe, sun-kissed look, “there’s nothing like a combination of Olay Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer and Touch of Sun Body,” Scott asserts. “The facial moisturizer will give you a guilt-free glow plus SPF 15 protection, and the body lotion delivers allover color without streaks or orange effects. These products don’t drastically change the color of your skin; instead, they enhance your natural tone, building up the color gradually each day.” Plus, “they’ll keep your skin well-moisturized, so they’re really doing double- and triple-duty.” For smooth, sandalworthy feet, manicurist Carla Kay, who polishes many of Hollywood’s A-List at the Bungalow Salon in Los Angeles, offers up her tips: “To combat the drying effects of salt water and sand, use a moisturizer made with mango butter or hemp lotion, like Spalina Repair Crème, and keep a bottle of cuticle oil in your beach bag—it only takes seconds to apply and gives your toes a fresh look.” To keep your feet in top-notch condition all summer, “get a pedicure at least every two to three weeks, and use a pumice stone and a sugar scrub every few days to reduce calluses and slough off dead skin.” And when choosing your seaside polish shades? Tangerines, oranges, and fuchsias are all hot this year, Kay reports, as well as the classic French pedicure, “which looks great in open-toed shoes.”

Photo credit: Joseph Brewster

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