How to stop make-up melting off your face and six other summer beauty tips to make you look amazing
Summer-proof your beauty regime with tips from the experts
LET'S face it. We Brits aren't the best with heat.
We spend all year moaning how cold and wet it is, then dash to the nearest patch of shade when the weather finally turns. Well, until now that is...
Ease up on exfoliation
While it’s true that exfoliating makes skin look brighter when it’s tanned, it can also make you more prone to sunburn.
“Using aggressive exfoliation may damage outer layers of the skin, making it more susceptible to sun damage,” explains plastic surgeon and skin cancer expert Dr Marko Lens.
“Glycolic acid can also make the skin sun-sensitive, so avoid using it as an exfoliant. Formulas with enzymes or non-plastic micro-beads that work gently are a better choice for summer.”
Simple Kind To Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub, £3.29, uses rice granules and multivitamins to softly brighten the complexion.
Or for a mask that sloughs away dead cells with fruit extracts, try Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, £32, which leaves skin feeling soft and looking refreshed.
Try DIY foundation
Even the most ardent sunscreen user may find that their regular foundation looks pasty come summer. Rather than forking out for another one, try this money-savvy tip.
“Most women have an unused foundation that’s a shade too dark,” says make-up artist Daniel Sandler, whose clients include Naomi Campbell and Rachel Weisz.
“Blend a few drops into your regular foundation so you can customise your colour as the tone of your skin warms up.”
If you haven’t mis-purchased in the past, invest in products you can personalise.
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Gelée Bronzer, £33, has a sheer texture that will add warmth to your foundation.
Or Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36, which comes in a whopping 24 shades, is pure pigment that can be added to any liquid make-up to perfectly match your tan.
Stop allergy irritation
Pollen doesn’t just irritate your sinuses – it can cause red, itchy rashes, too.
“When sensitive, your skin can even react to products you’ve used before without problems,” says skincare specialist and celebrity facialist Debbie Thomas, whose clients include Jourdan Dunn and Poppy Delevingne.
“During this time, avoid perfumed and coloured products, and instead look for a simple cleanser and hydrating fluid or serum, plus a light, non-chemical sunscreen for use during the day. Once hayfever has calmed down, reintroduce your usual products.”
Knowing that histamine, which is released by the body to fight allergens but can cause skin inflammation, increases at night, La Roche-Posay has launched Toleriane Ultra Nuit, £17.70, a gel containing inflammation-calming neurosensine – so you won’t wake up with itchy skin.
For daytime relief, try a spritz of Sönd Hydrating Face Spray, £24, formulated for sensitive skin.
Avoid make-up meltdown
“The UK’s muggy climate, plus the fact we forget to change rich winter skincare for lighter versions, means that make-up doesn’t stay put when it’s warmer,” says Daniel.
“Look for cosmetics labelled ‘oil-free’ and ‘long-wear’, which last better in the heat.”
Primers add a layer of slip prevention, too.
“They bond with make-up to lock in colour as well as keeping shine at bay. Again, oil-free, silicone-based formulas are best.”
Daniel Sandler Retexturizing Face Primer SPF20, £20.50, fills in pores and tones down redness, while Bourjois Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer, £9.99, is oil-free and gives you an airbrushed-looking base to help make-up last.
Finish with Estée Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist, £24, to set your look.
Prevent dark patches
It’s peak season for pigmentation problems as the sun triggers melanin production.
This gives skin its colour, including a tan, but can also appear as brown patches and spots.
“Pigmentation is worse during summer because UV exposure is more significant,” explains Dr Lens.
“Use broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB rays. Choose formulas containing ingredients such as vitamin C, as that will also help to prevent marks appearing. And stay away from skincare containing glycolic acid, as it may increase sensitivity to the sun and actually encourage pigmentation marks.”
Nuxe Splendieuse Anti-Dark Spot Cream SPF20, £30, includes vitamin C to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural protection.
Boost your barrier
It’s not just sunscreen that helps defend skin. Research by the University of Manchester shows omega-3 fish oils can also boost immunity to sunlight and could even protect against skin cancer.
“Omega-3 helps strengthen cell membranes,” explains Debbie.
“That means making skin more resilient against attack from free radicals, which leads to sensitivity, ageing, breakouts and pigmentation. Omega-3 also reduces inflammation that compromises the skin’s integrity, again leading to faster ageing and sensitivity.”
Fortify skin from the inside out with Holland & Barrett Extra Strength Omega 3 Capsules (£16.99 for 60). Of course, SPF is still essential.
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Fight post-wax rash
For many, waxing is a summer essential, but it’s a harsh treatment that makes blood and melanin rush to the surface.
“Waxing causes inflammation, redness and sensitivity,” says Debbie.
“If you go in the sun while skin is still in this sensitive state, it’s much more likely to be damaged by harmful UV rays. This can manifest itself
as pigmentation, and the area may come up in a bumpy rash that can take days to calm down.”
Stay out of the sun for 24 hours after de-fuzzing and if you do have a reaction, try Magicool Body & Face Cooler, £3.99.
The spray soothes irritation fast – and is gentle enough for kids suffering in the heat, too.
Also, Dr Organic Aloe Gel With Tea Tree, £6.49, reduces redness and fights infection and ingrown hairs.