Freshen up your face - Look naturally polished with the perfect makeup for the pool and beyond.

Tap into the benefits

Show me some skin When the mercury rises, heavy foundations can feel as suffocating as a parka, while water-based mixtures such as Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15, impart light coverage. For a second-skin effect, blend with a foundation brush, says Julie Hewett, a makeup artist in L.A.

Acquire a natural finish Some cheek stains and gels are chockablock with water, leaving a flushlike pigment behind. As their name promises, they stain, so dab color on the apple of your cheek (smile!), then quickly tap it into skin with your fingertip.

Make makeup last Wet an eyeshadow brush, then sweep it across beige (if you're pale) or taupe (for darker skin tones) powder shadow; fill in your top lid, lash line to crease. Adding water creates a secure base for any products layered on top.

Avoid the washouts

Prevent a mascara meltdown. In the heat of summer, attempting to keep regular formulas intact all day can leave you feeling batty. Opt for a water-resistant version, so you can plunge in for that impromptu swim. For a barely there result in a blink, use a tubing type, which utilizes thin, plasticlike polymers that encapsulate each lash like shrink-wrap. (Try Stila Convertible Mascara.) To remove, splash your lashes with water several times and gently rub with your fingertips, then watch tubes slide off. (Don't worry; they'll stay put through every lap or leap off the high dive!)

Keep color in place. "If you're perspiring or your skin gets wet, your makeup may start to dissolve," Hewett says. "Wiping it dry simply erases more." Sop up excess moisture and oil with blotting papers such as Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets.