That elusive glowing orb in the sky is looking set to stay, so here are the products to help you keep your cool.
Oh we know, it’s terribly British to hark on about the weather, berating the cold and then moaning about the heat, but as much as we’re not, I repeat, not complaining about the long-awaited emergence of Mr Sunshine, the fact of the matter is heat plus day-to-day life equals, well, a slightly frizzy, shiny meltdown. But with some refreshing advice and the revitalising products you need for face, hair and body, you can make it through the haze without losing your cool.
Body Cooler: Those susceptible to fluid retention suffer the most in the heat, especially their legs and feet, so keep limbs happy with a spritz of Thalgo’s Frigimince Spray, £19, which has a refreshing blend of marine ingredients designed to boost circulation. Whilst for a blast of cooling protection (it gives us a rather lovely shock every time we spritz), Nivea’s Protect & Refresh Spray, £11 is your best bet.
Fresh Faced: When it’s 30 degrees in the shade (ok, maybe we’re slightly exaggerating the UK’s capabilities here), a healthy glow soon becomes a sweat so make sure you cleanse religiously to prevent breakouts and keep anti-bacterial wipes at hand to use on your neck and back.
Skin is just as prone to dehydration in the summer so don’t skimp on your moisturiser but do go for a lighter formulation such as Omrovicza’s Elemental Emulsion, £90, which provides long-lasting, oil-free hydration with mineral extract to help control shine and revitalise damaged skin.
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Luxe Locks Hair We Come Don’t be afraid to wash your hair more often than usual as you produce more sebum during the summer. It will make your scalp and hair feel instantly lighter and less uncomfortable. Go for a grease-gobbling shampoo such as Shu Uemura’s Art Of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo, £31, or for a heavy duty revitalisation treatment, Phillip Kingsley’s Exfoliating Scalp Mask, £5.50, eliminates dry skin and shifts dead cells. Finish with a blast of cold water to stimulate the scalp and minimise frizz, and let your hair air dry as the last thing you want to do is blast your hair with 1000 watts of heat.
Flat Vs. Frizz Fighters As much as we may dream of Gisele’s perfect beachy locks the fact of the matter is, heat and humidity are more likely to induce a frizz-fest or at the other end of the spectrum, see our locks fall flat, it’s all about perfecting your cocktail of products.
Hydration means less frizz so start with an ultra-nourishing shampoo and conditioner. Once dry, go for an oil to keep locks smooth – Wella System Professional’s Luxe Oil Light Oil, £16.95, is lightweight enough to be layered up without a greasy finish, whilst the almond and jojoba gently nourishes. For instant touch-ups, try John Frieda’s Full Repair Flyaway Tamer, £10.99.
Finally, it’s not just your skin that needs protecting in the sun so get clued up on your follicular SPFs. Redken’s Color Extend Sun Take Cover Mousse SPF, £13.95, not only gives flat hair a little oomph, it also conditions, and adds shine, whilst Aveda’s Suncare Protective Hair Veil, £20.50, contains a water-resistant formula that protects for up to 16 hours.
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Heat-Proof Make-up Avoid a make-up meltdown by making cooling choices and savvy swaps:
Ace Base Make-up pros preach restraint when the thermometer rises so pick a lightweight, sheer foundation, or better still, combine your skincare and make-up arsenal and go for a BB cream which contains an added SPF such as Clarin’s BB Skin Perfecting Cream SPF25, £28.
Skip the powder – skin should look dewy, not matte or it can start to look fake as things get steamy. For greasy skin use a primer under your foundation such as Smashbox’s soon-to-be-launched Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control, £28, which contains salicylic acid to banish pesky breakouts (for stay-put concealer try mixing an oil-free concealer with a primer).
Finally, apply bronzers sparingly – it’s about using a smaller brush and applying artfully to avoid caking. Or go for a gel formulation such as Sisley Sun Glow Gel, £51.
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Bright Eyes Eyeshadow slips, mascara moves and eyeliner lasts seconds so keep the palette simple and make-up minimal – 28 degrees is no place for complex contouring.
For crease-free shadow avoid applying moisturiser to the lids – instead go for a primer such as Clinique’s All About Shadow Primer For Eyes, £20. Next, opt for a water-resistant eyeshadow such as Maybelline’s Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream eyeshadow, £4.99, which contains a high performance weightless wax texture than goes on evenly leaving a film of colour that has the staying power of a tattoo.
For enduring eyeliner, Lord & Berry’s Smudgeproof Eyeliner, £7.50, delivers intense pigment that is blendable for 30 seconds before it sets where it stays put for 24 hours and beyond.
Finally, finish with a heavy-duty mascara such as Max Factor’s Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara, £18.99.
Lip Synch Unless kept in the fridge, lipsticks tend to be too gloopy. For sun-dazzled days go for a stain for a cake-free flush of colour such as Rimmel’s Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Tint, £5.99, which stays on for up to 12 hours with no reapplying needed. Also, lips burn, too, so keep your pout perky with an SPF such as Bobbi Brown’s Lip Balm SPF15, £15.
Beat The Heat Tip: Keep your skincare and make-up in the fridge (gel-based masks and eye patches are particularly good in the cooler) for a refreshing treat for your face and to make your make-up last longer.
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