Some of my summer beauty essentials for you here. Note that I use the word “essential” very loosely; because the only real summer beauty essential is sunscreen.
But here are some useful little things that I’ve had on standby to make my summer that bit easier in terms of looking vaguely pulled-together.
One of my most-used sunscreens for sunny summer days: the trusty ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk by Shiseido. This is also the sunscreen that I took with me to Okinawa last month (see my photo diary of it if you missed it). I use it on my face and body.
I’m not a user of tension or cushion compacts, but the newly revamped MISSHA All Around Safe Block Toning Sun Tension with SPF50+ PA++++ is what I’ve been keeping in my bag (although I don’t often use it). It’s a sunscreen cream with a sheer beige tint that is handy for touching up your SPF and makeup “on the go”.
NUXE’s Huile Prodigieuse Or is a beautiful dry oil with gold shimmers that leaves skin with a non-greasy sheen. It just smells like summer. I use it on my hair as well — I put a tiny bit between my palms, rub them together and then spread my palms over the lengths of my hair. A bottle lasts forever!
Point Magic PRO Pressed Powder UV SPF50+ PA++++. I’ve featured this little pressed powder many times in the past couple of years so regular readers will be no stranger to this recommendation. You can read my rave review here — I think it’s brilliant — and the little fluffy puff that comes with it is actually quite good!
If you have naturally sparse eyebrows and you find shaping and filling them every morning a bit tedious (or the makeup wears off too quickly), then LUK 168 Tattoo Eyebrow is for you. You use the felt-tip marker on clean, bare skin at night then wash it off in the morning. A steady, well-practiced hand is needed — it contains dihydroxyacetone (the active ingredient in self-tanner) to stain the skin overtime — but the result is natural-looking brows that lasts about 2 days on me.
Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment, I love the smell and formula of it. My current favourite is Coral, which is one of the most pigmented in the line. It gives my lips a nice pop of warm orange-y coral colour. It’s very moisturising and has a nice buttery sheen. The SPF15 is nice added bonus (that’s what it says online but I can’t find this printed anywhere on the packaging).
I don’t have oily skin, but my bag always have a pack of GATSBY Powdered Oil Clear Paper to take care of inevitable summer shine. They’re actually marketed for men, but I much prefer these — I’ve used them for years.
Biore Makeup Refresh Sheet. This is brilliant if you’ve been out and about all day, but have plans later in the evening and need to revive you face makeup. The first thing I do is to gently blot (don’t wipe) with this. It’s a wet towelette enriched with watery lotion that absorbs sebum, sweat, and oxidised foundation while freshening the skin. Afterwards, face makeup reapplies and blends better without looking heavy, cakey, or dry.
Finally; not so much of a beauty product but a pair of polarised sunglasses is quite the summertime essential. Polarised lenses make all the difference because they greatly reduce light glare, so everything looks crisper and clearer (and your eyes are less tired). These Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer Liteforce feel extremely lightweight and hide a multitude of sins.
