How To Avoid Looking Like A Mess This Summer

 Summer is officially here. Or, well, it has been for a while. But I only really spent a good amount of time outside today and OHMYGOD it is hot. A few hours outside and I was a sweaty mess by the time I got home. So I thought I'd put together a post sharing a few of my tips on how to look and feel your best while it is sweltering outside. This probably isn't for you if you're one of the lucky few who don't have to travel by local trains/sit through long college lectures/walk around unsheltered under the sun.
 Also, this isn't about protecting yourself from the intense heat. Everyone knows sunscreen is great. And I'm no skin expert. These are my tips on how to look a little less disgusting during this crappy season.

1. Go Waterproof

  A lesson I learned the hard way -waterproof makeup is a must in this humidity, especially if you're a face sweat-er like me (TMI?). If nothing else, make sure that at least your eyeliner and mascara are waterproof. And concealer, perhaps, if you do heavy duty concealing. I recently used the L'oreal Super Liner and created a pretty winged liner look only to have it spread all over my face (literally) and make me look like I'd been crying whilst in the middle of a thunderstorm. It was not as embarrassing as it was funny, actually (detailed post with pictures coming soon).

2. Get That Hair Off Your Face

 Meet my new best friend: The Topknot. I honestly can't be bothered to style my hair everyday, not only because of lack of time, but also because there's nothing I hate more than when my hair sticks to my sweaty face, or worse -neck. Hence the best solution is to just tie it all up. I like to tie my topknot a little higher than usual just because I like how that looks. I then secure unwanted flyaways with bobby pins. Probably not as glamourous as perfectly straightened or curled hair, but convenient as hell, believe me.

3. Hairspray

  On the rare occasions I do end up doing something fancy with my hair, I make sure to spray it with some hairspray to just lengthen its wear. However, crispy hair is no fun either so use a nicer hairspray that won't do that to your hair. I like L'oreal's Elnett Hairspray. 

Other than the tips above, I'd say experiment in areas that don't get destroyed by the heat. Your nails, for example. Bright nail polish makes everything so much better. I currently have on OPI's Big Apple Red. 

 For clothing, I'm a big fan of monochrome blacks and whites. But I've been trying to inject some colour into my wardrobe. 

And finally: sunglasses. They are fashionable and make you feel less like you're staring into death itself whilst out in the sun. I've been looking for a pair myself. Forever 21 have some really cute, inexpensive ones but the ones at Aldo Accessories are my fav. 

That's all I can think of for now. A few more days in this heat and I may come up with a bunch more. But the monsoons will be hitting Mumbai soon. Looking forward to that (not). 

Do you have any beauty tips to beat the summer heat?