Summer Beauty Essentials

Arguably the most important part of your day to day skincare/beauty routine – sun protection. The sun presses fast forward on our aging process and can leave skin looking older and damaged. Your skin does not even need to burn to feel the effects and you could end up with wrinkles a lot sooner than you wanted if you spend too much time out in the sun without protection.

Avoid the usual SPF you can buy for your body and opt for a facial SPF – we recommend factor 50 for the best protection. Facial SPF comes in a variety of forms from Kiehl’s Ultra-Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 cream which is light and can be used before makeup to the Ambre Solaire SPF 50 facial mist that just feels like a light misting of water. Most facial SPF’s are non-comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) but always check the label for this to make sure it is compatible with your skin type.

The last thing you want on a hot summer’s day is to feel like your face is caked in makeup. A light coverage foundation helps to blur imperfections without feeling heavy and uncomfortable. It sets up a base for your makeup and gives you a nice canvas to work on.

Our favourite is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light. This foundation even has a built in SPF, so you get extra coverage from it! Some more affordable options are the Mac Face and Body foundation and the Makeup Forever Water Blend foundation.

Some people are blessed with perfect skin but not all of us are that lucky. Illuminating, hydrating, light coverage concealers are a life saver if you need to cover under eye darkness or pigmentation. opt for a hydrating formula to counteract the dryness you can get around blemishes.

We recommend the YSL Touché Eclat for a buildable coverage or the Este Lauder Youth Brightening Serum and Concealer. Use the serum first to add hydration and plumpness and then add the concealer for some colour.

During the summer months, we want glowing, dewy skin that looks fresh and light. Cream blush is a fantastic product to have to hand as it can be easily worked into the skin, can be made as sheer or as pigmented as you like and can be patted back into place throughout the day.

Make sure to add your cream blush on top of other creams such as your foundation as adding it on top of powder will disturb the makeup underneath. We recommend The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain for a flushed look or the Glossier Cloud Paint for something more workable.

Give yourself that summer, goddess glow with shimmery body oils, creams, primers or highlighters. Make your cheekbones pop with Becca’s shimmering skin perfecter – this adds a lit from within glow without being too in your face.

You can top this with the pressed version for something more prominent. Add some glow to your body with the Fenty Body Lava or the Sol De Janeiro Body Oil. This smell’s heavenly and adds a luxurious shimmer to the high points of your body.

This all depends on your skin type. Oilier skin types should opt for a powder or mattifying setting pray. Apply a loose setting powder on your oiliest area’s and pack some blotting papers for touch ups throughout the day. If you are dryer or combination, powder the T-zone and use an illuminating setting pray to add some extra glow to your skin.

Bronzer is a summer staple and can make or break a look. Go for something too warm and you look orange and go for something too cool and you can look ill. We recommend opting for something slightly warm with a matte finish to mimic the effect of catching the sun. Try something creamy for easy blending like the Soleil Tan De Chanel or the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick. You can set this with a powder bronzer like Benefit’s Hoola or Nars Laguna.

Mascara is an instant way to make your eyes POP. Give yourself length and volume and use a waterproof formula to avoid smudging or running. For something volumizing we love the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise mascara or the Loreal Paradise. Add some length with the Smashbox Superfan or the NYX worth the hype mascara. If you are going to wear eyeshadow, we recommend something subtle and defining.

Add some of your bronzer through the crease of the eye and lightly pat some shimmer on to make the eyes stand out. Line the eyes with a brown kohl liner and smudge to add some definition.

Finish your summer look with a pop of colour! Whether you like to keep it neutral or dare to go bold, apply something moisturising and comfortable. You can find the perfect colour for you at any of your favourite brands – we love a soft coral or a classic red lip!

What is summer without a golden glow? Whether you prefer gradual tan, spray tans or a bit of body makeup – a sun kissed glow makes everything better. Apply a gradual tanner after each shower to create a natural, lit from within kind of glow for every day. If you are attending an event or going on holiday you might want to choose something a little longer wearing. Instant tan that you apply at home and let develop overnight gives you a darker colour that can wear for up to a week.

For something buildable our go to is the Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived gradual tanner or the Bondi Sands Everyday Tanning Milk. These offer hydration along with colour so your skin will be silky smooth. If you want to commit to the tan, we recommend Skinny Tan Instant Mouse or the Bbold Smart Mouse which develops AFTER you wash it off which means no sticky residue.