As the Summer shows no signs of cooling and a warm Fall is on the way, there are products and tricks that can be used to help brides and bridesmaids keep their makeup looking flawless.

Anna was a bridesmaid for a wedding in Key West this summer. While I did not travel with her to the sunny – and humid – Keys, we had a makeup consultation and practice session so that she could apply her own makeup.

The bridesmaids were dressed in aquamarine color gowns, and the wedding took place on the beach. Anna wears minimal makeup on a daily basis and while she wanted to look great in pictures, she also wanted to go with a softer, natural look. I decided that we should go with a sun kissed look that would complement her coloring and fit the style of the wedding.

In order to begin the combat against the humidity, I used Smashbox anti-shine primer. This product helps keeps oil under control and foundation from running. It should be applied after moisturizer and before makeup.

I used a liquid foundation to match Anna’s skin and then opted for a bronzer – instead of a blush – to highlight her cheekbones and give her a sun kissed glow. The eye makeup featured a lighter smokey eye, only lining the top lid and not the bottom. I used several coats of mascara so the lashes would stand out. By going with a lighter eye, we could highlight her skin. The lip color was a combination of brownish pink that looks great and is more of a neutral tone. To finish the look (and my last step in making sure that her makeup would hold up), I used MAC’s Fix+ which is an aqua spritz that helps finish and set makeup.

After Anna came back from Key West, she sent me a note: “I was concerned about the heat and my makeup coming off, however the products were amazing! I just received the album and was pleased that my makeup stayed on all day and night. They are definitely products worth purchasing for any upcoming event you may be attending. Thanks, Tracie, for the tips!”

While this wedding took place outside of Virginia, the products are perfect for the HOT steamy weather of  Northern Virginia.