This time of year the living is easy and any beauty approach should be, too. New arrivals and old faithfuls combine to create a useful, yet low- maintenance summer beauty kit. These simple moves will have you looking fresh and feeling bright through the sunny season.
Bronze & Glow
L-R: James Read Tan Click & Glow Body; Quoi Makeup Rio de Janeiro Bronzer; Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Lotion Tinted Skin Perfector; Rose Inc Solar Infusion Soft-Focus Cream Bronzer
UK self-tan expert James Read has declared his customers are moving away from seeking a faux tan and are looking for more of a ‘glow’. He says instead of a dramatically baked-looking hue, more people are seeking what he refers to as a ‘lifestyle tan.’ That’s one that fits into a daily routine and works with a regular skincare routine.
The solution? Self-tanning drops that can be added to your daily moisturiser for face and/or body, or gradual tanning lotions or serums that can be quickly rubbed on and forgotten about, and also contain useful ingredients that contribute to the long-term condition of your skin.
When it comes to face colour, it’s just as easy to sweep on a hint of colour with a fluffy face brush. It rinses away at the end of the day and you don’t have to endure it wearing
off in patches.
Swipe on a sheer, shiny lip
L-R: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Pink Honey; M.A.C Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick in Flustered; Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Revitalizing Crystal Balm in Love Crystal; Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Poppy.
For everyday lip colour, swap high-maintenance mattes for the swathe of new sheer, shiny lip colours that can be applied on the go and give a hint of glossy colour. The upside of these options is that they won’t accentuate dryness or creases and lines and are usually loaded with hydrating ingredients.
Clinique’s new Almost Lipstick in Pink Honey is a spin-off of its popular Black Honey hue, the new shade taking a similar approach in that its sheer hue is designed to enhance and flatter all natural lip tones.
Choose leave-in hair solutions
L-R: Joico Defy Damage Protective Shield; Moroccanoil Protect & Prevent Hair Spray; Bumble and bumble Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist; IGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Air-Dry Styler
Instead of time-intensive treatments, reach for easy styling products loaded with nourishing ingredients. It’s a good time to ditch the heat styling as well.
Apply leave-in styling products to hair and air dry, enjoying how they enhance your natural texture and movement. If you’re hitting the beach or a pool, put a touch of protective hair oil or a hydrating mask on your hands and run them through your strands to help form a coating that prevents saltwater and UV damage from drying and tangling your locks.
Spritz a summer scent
L-R: BDK Villa Néroli Eau De Parfum; Ellis Brooklyn Sun Fruit Eau De Parfum; Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Italian Love; Versace Dylan Purple
A pick-me-up scent that enhances summer’s breezy carefree mood is a delight to wear right now. Along with juicy, fruity elements, and bright, shimmering florals. there are those with a more airy, seaside vibe. The perfect example? BDK’s sunny new Villa Néroli Eau De Parfum. “I imagined a garden of orange trees in Capri, a garden of abundance overlooking the Faraglioni, thousand-year old rocks eroded by the wind, the rain and the sea,’’ explains BDK founder David Benedek. “When the sun is barely down, this garden takes on an air of honeyed sweetness.”
Smooth and nourish your body
L-R: Ginger&Me Brave Sugar Body Polish Lychee & Guava; GOOP Goopglow Body Microderm; Clarins Contour Body Treatment Oil; Sothys Hanakasumi Relaxing Body Scrub Cherry Blossom and Lotus Escape
Keeping skin protected with SPF and well nourished should be your body goals in summertime, says Vanessa Feehan-Meldrum, Sothys National Technical Trainer. Yet beyond that, we also need to remember to encourage healthy skin cell turnover, so SPF and perspiration don’t lead to face-clogged pores. However, don’t be tempted to go overboard with a scrub. “We have a tendency to get a bit excited with exfoliation because our skin feels soft, smooth and it helps to let our body products absorb better,” says Feehan-Meldrum. “Exfoliation twice a week on our bodies is enough, we do not need to do this every day – this could increase dryness and dehydration.” Nourishing body oils are arriving on counters regularly and applying them after the shower helps your skin retain moisture.
Swap to a gel moisturiser
L-R: Tatcha The Water Cream; Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel; Kora Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturiser; Avène A-OXitive Antioxidant Water-Cream
Consider a seasonal texture switch from a rich moisturiser used to retain moisture and protect skin in the winter, to a lighter, water-based gel one. They are refreshing to apply, absorb quickly and don’t feel greasy or look overly shiny when your skin heats up.
What’s more, loaded with quenching hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant which helps regulate moisture levels, they’re like a tall drink of water for skin that’s seen an excess of sun.
Gel moisturisers work well for most skin types but typically their absence of oil and light feel makes them extremely compatible with oily and combination skin, not just in summer, but all year round.
