With High School Proms, graduations and weddings on the social calendar, summer is the season of celebration. But with sun-cream being slapped on our faces on a daily basis – and those inevitable break-outs – it’s all too easy to cake on the make-up, rely on a photo filter or head to Photoshop for a touch-up. Stylish Spy discovers the dos and don’ts for a million-dollar close-up.
Don’t… rely on soap and water:
Soap and water won’t cut it during the warmer months, with a routine of cleansing, toning and hydrating the only way to keep skin clean, moisturised - and spot-free. Using an exfoliating scrub now and then will eradicate dead skin cells, too, providing a better base for products.
We recommend: Million Dollar Facial’s Exfoliation Scrub (50ml, £30).
Do… invest in a corrector:
If sun-cream + perspiring = spots, a little help during the summer months may be called for. Correctors are known to banish blemishes and even out skintone; use before bed for a deep clean and flush of nutrients while you sleep.
We recommend: Sothys Detox Energie Instant Corrector (30ml, £39.50).
Don’t… use retinoids or acids:
Retinol might be the new word in effective anti-ageing but it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, making it easier to burn. If you can’t bear the thought of banning your beloved, switch to a low strength retinol (around 0.1 – 0.3%) and use it exclusively at night.
We recommend: Typology Retinol 0.3% Castor Oil (30ml, £33)
Do… top up the sun-cream:
With research suggesting that using an SPF during the winter months can protect our skin from ageing, summer is not the time to skip it. If the thought of carrying a bottle of sunscreen everywhere with you doesn't appeal, buy a travel size and top up on the go.
We recommend: Murad City Skin Age Defy SPF 50 travel size (18ml, £25).
Don’t… be slave to make-up:
Nobody likes being too hot; our skin is no different. Like an irritable toddler, layering sun-cream on top of foundation is likely to make skin misbehave. If you’re used to wearing a foundation every day, consider switching to a lighter fluid, dare to go bare (it’s all the rage right now) or use a tinted moisturiser with added SPF.
We recommend: Million Dollar Facial’s Medi + Shied 50+ (50ml, £39).
Do… invest in a fast-drying SPF:
A day at the beach, by the pool or – our fave – enjoying the outdoor facilities at a spa is going to mean several applications of sunscreen. Avoid cheap versions that refuse to sink in and opt, instead, for a fast-drying liquid that gets to work on contact.
We recommend: Natura Bissé’s Dry Touch Sunscreen Fluid (30ml, £60).
Stylish Spy
13th July 2022
Spy Likes:
Minimalist lines; organic products; facial massage; tranquillity; interesting people-watching.
Spy Dislikes:
Discarded towels on loungers; steam rooms that aren't steamy; mobile phones.
