Your sweaters and jackets have been thrown in your closet where they belong, and your shorts, bathing suits, and sandals are back in rotation for another beautiful South Florida summer. But you may want to reopen that closet door and toss your foundation in there for the next few months as well. Applying heavy foundation during warm, humid days is about as appealing as putting on a parka.

The good news? There are great foundation alternatives for summer that can keep you looking and feeling fantastic while protecting your skin from the sun and heat.

BB Creams

Initially launched in Asia, beauty balm (BB) creams have since surged in popularity here in the U.S. It’s easy to understand why they are one of the most popular foundation alternatives at the moment. BB creams are a single application, one-stop shopping for a range of skin benefits and have a unique ability to enhance your complexion over the long term. BB creams typically incorporate skin care necessities such as anti-aging peptides, vitamins and antioxidants, broad spectrum sunscreens, anti-inflammatory agents and makeup primers.

What makes BB cream one of the more appealing foundation alternatives for the summer months is that it provides a uniform base and covers skin imperfections while allowing the skin to breathe without clogging pores along the way. This reduces your odds of breakouts and blemishes and keeps you from feeling the heaviness that can weigh down your summer fun.

Tinted Moisturizer

Like BB creams, tinted moisturizers are jacks-of-many-trades and perfectly suited for warm, humid days. They are as light as a moisturizer while still providing a solid base like foundation. They contain a combination of botanical extracts, antioxidants, and vitamins C and E, and many tinted moisturizers add sunscreen or anti-wrinkle cream into the mix as well. Hydrating, invigorating, and healthy – tinted moisturizers are the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer.

Powders

Just as humanity somehow survived for centuries before the dawn of smartphones and social media, so too did generations of women before the advent of foundation makeup. Our forebears did so with the use of powder, which can minimize imperfections while keeping a natural, sheer look. Mineral powders, readily available at any makeup counter, feel so light as to be almost unnoticeable. They are perfect for hot summer days, as they can reduce facial sheen by absorbing oil and perspiration.

Protecting your skin during the summertime is critical, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Adjusting your makeup routine by ditching heavy makeup for these lighter foundation alternatives creates a healthy summer skin care regimen.

No matter the season, Dr. Mariano Busso is here to help. For more information on summer skin care or to book your next cosmetic dermatology appointment in Miami, contact us at 305-857-0144.