Summer is here, and the British habit of complaining about the weather hasn’t diminished. The downside of rising temperatures – especially if you live in the city – is that the scorching heat can cause your make-up to melt. But if you follow these five tips, that won’t happen.
Wear less makeup
It sounds obvious, but we need less of everything in the summer. As our skin becomes brighter, there is less need for foundation, especially when humidity is high. If you feel bare without a base, consider a stick formulation like ILIA Beauty’s Skin Rewind Complexion Stick, £48, which is both concealer and foundation in one and comes in tons of shades. Apply carefully to problem areas such as the sides of the nose and chin, and buff pores thoroughly with a brush or beauty blender.
Or try Jones Road Beauty’s Face Pencil, £24. Some people find it too drying under the eyes but I love it, especially in summer as it gives a soft matte finish and you don’t need a lot. You can also pop it in your back pocket for touch-ups without worrying about leakage.
If you prefer to go with moisture rather than work against it, then a sheer BB cream or tinted moisturiser is a good option. Chantecaille’s newly formulated Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15, £60, is sheer yet velvety on the skin, creating a soft, semi-matte finish that doesn’t feel the slightest bit oily. It’s expensive but a little goes a long way.
Clinique Lash Power Mascara, £25; Ilia’s Lip Sketch Hydrating Pencil £26
Prime with a small amount
A good facial SPF will act as both a skin primer and moisturizer in one product (the last thing you want to do when it’s hot is apply too much skincare product). New ones won’t clog pores or leave an oily film. Some of these include Mecca Cosmetica’s Broad Spectrum UVA & UVB Defense Skin-Perfecting Sunscreen, £35, which has a slight tint. Tatcha’s The Silk Weightless Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 is £65 and is extremely lightweight and decadent on the skin, but it dissolves quickly into the skin, although it may be too pink-toned for some skin tones.
There are quite a lot of great clear SPF gels this summer that don’t leave white marks and provide high protection. Allies of Skin The One Invisible Sunscreen SPF50, £43, is packed with antioxidants and skin conditioners and is water-resistant. Two others worth trying are Murad’s Multi-Vitamin Clear Coat Cream SPF 50, £33.60, or Glossier’s Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF50. £32.
Rhode Pocket Blush Bright Coral, £24; Just Skin Tinted Moisturising Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15, £60
Mattify lips, blush cheeks
There’s an undeniable chicness to matte lipstick against dewy skin. Not only does it look incredibly put together, the contrasting textures add an element of surprise. Ilia’s Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon, £26, is perfect for summer. A bold lip liner designed to outline and fill in lips in a choice of eight pretty shades. The soft peachy Pampas is universally flattering, but for something more bold, Classic Red is a warm brick tone that looks just as flattering on blondes as it does on brunettes and redheads. Violette FR’s Bisou Balm, £29, is equally good at providing a soft, comfortable matte finish that doesn’t feel tattoo-like like some mattes, but stays in place.
Hourglass Veil Soft Focus Adjustment Spray, £48; Styled by Aimee’s Easy Glide in Rich Brown, £19
All five shades are wearable, but Betise TDF is a warm berry stain. For blush, either double your lip product on the lips or invest in a bright blush stick for the apples and bridge of the nose, which requires zero skill and can be reapplied as needed throughout the day. Rhode Pocket Blush in Bright Coral, £24, suits everyone.
Waterproof your eye makeup
Probably the most annoying side effect of hot weather is your mascara falling off. If you’re on vacation, a long-term solution is to eliminate the need to apply mascara, or most importantly, remove it.
Instead of lash tinting, tubular mascaras are less drying than traditional waterproof formulas and easily come off at the end of the day in warm water without the need for eye makeup remover. Clinique Lash Power Mascara, £25, is an oldie but a goodie – its thin brush gives deceptively strong definition that lasts all day without falling out, plus it comes in a rare dark chocolate shade that works well on tanned skin (most brown mascaras are too warm). Or try the Hourglass Lock-Free Instant Extensions Mascara, which comes in a handy travel size for £16.
If you have steady hands, replace your usual eyeliner with a liquid eyeliner that will give a soft and lasting cat eye look, such as Sculpted by Aimee’s Easy Glide in Rich Brown, £19. For evening, try layering with something smudge-proof, shimmery, like Fenty’s Glitty Lid Shimmer Liquid Eyeliner Boozy Bronze, £19, or Chanel’s 3-in-1 Eyeshadow Liner, £34.
Violette FR’s Bisou Balsam, £29; Allies of Skin The One Invisible Sunscreen SPF50, £43
Fix with fixing spray
If you’ve made your make-up waterproof you might not need much else, but a setting spray can help set everything in place. For those who like to powder up the T-zone, Terry’s Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder, £42, infuses skin with moisture while seamlessly setting oily areas so you don’t end up with a cakey finish. Or if you’re heading straight out of work, try a setting spray like Hourglass’s Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray (£48) or MilkMakeup’s Hydro Grip Setting Spray (£20), both of which will last up to 24 hours.