Summer is just around the corner, bringing with it (hopefully) sun-drenched days, garden parties and beach picnics with friends. Time to think about shedding our winter coats, brightening central heating-weathered skin, ready for the big unveil.
The key to getting summer-ready skin is all in the prep and we’ve got you covered. The Spa Spies share our favourite spa-inspired summer-ready products to keep your skin hydrated, protected and gorgeously glow-y.
Whoever said cleanliness is next to godliness was onto something. When the weather warms up, we tend to spend more time outside soaking up the sunshine. While this is great for topping up our decimated Vitamin D supplies, it can lead to the skin being exposed to more dirt and pollutants, not to mention a build-up of grease and sweat. Cleansing, morning and evening, should be number one in your skincare armoury.
We love: ESPA’s Yuzu and Ginger Cleansing Sorbet (100ml, £40) for its balm-to-oil consistency that turns creamy and silky once you add water. The ginger and mango notes will transport you straight to a tropical Thai island. The Yuzu oil is a hybrid of mandarin orange and ichang papeda from East Asia and melts away impurities and make-up, leaving the skin super clean. It’s also enriched with Espa’s Vital Nutrients Omega + Essential Vitamin Complex - a potent green blend of broccoli seed oil, spirulina and extracts of kale and spinach.
Exfoliation is your friend, especially during the summer months. Once a week, slough off dead skin cells and build-up to reveal the healthier, brighter layers of the skin. Exfoliating the face will also help to keep blemishes at bay during the summer months and keep your complexion vibrant.
We love: Templespa’s brand new MOST REVEALING Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel (50ml, £40). This bold orange coloured cocktail contains a concoction of AHAs, botanical extracts and Mediterranean oils to resurface, refresh and re-energise skin. It also claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin brighter and more radiant. Smooth on, massage in and leave to bubble and fizz, before removing with a warm cloth.
For the body, try Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub (226g, £25.37). This bathroom beauty contains coconut and Moroccan rose and is great for dry areas that need extra nourishment – thanks to pink clay and shea butter.
Don’t skip the toner! It’s no secret you sweat more in the summer. Mix in excess oil, dirt, stubborn make-up and breakouts are bound to happen. Toner leaves skin squeaky-clean and tightens pores, which not only makes the skin visibly smoother, but also prevents debris penetrating it.
We love: Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner (200ml, £18). This summer fav’ contains Salicylic Acid, grape polyphenols and organic essential oils which work to unclog impurities deep within the pores and clear imperfections. The refreshing and lightweight formula also boosts hydration, leaving skin feeling clear and fresh.
There are three VIP letters you need to remember when it comes to summer skincare - S, P and F. We should wear an SPF all year round, but the sun’s UV rays are much stronger in the summer months, so the risk of skin damage increases. Keep your skin healthy and protected by applying an SPF every morning over your moisturiser and reapplying throughout the day if you are out and about.
We love: Skin Regimen Urban Shield SPF30 anti-pollution UV fluid (40ml, £43) which offers UVA/UVB protection and use dandelion extract to shield the skin against pollution and everyday stress.
For max protection with a slight tint, we love Comfort Zone’s Sublime Skin Color Perfect SPF50 (60g, £58). This 2-in-1 is great for sensitive skin. You can apply as a primer under your make-up or use alone for a natural glow. Enriched with Palmitoyl Glycine, an anti-age active ingredient, it also helps to ward off wrinkles and sunspots – winner!
It’s time to pop the lid firmly back on the thick, rich creams you’ve been relying on during the winter months. Elevated temperatures tempt the skin to pump our more skin oils. Throw in a heavy skin-suffocating moisturiser and pores can easily clog. Summer is all about lightweight moisturisers – particularly if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Hydration, however, is non-negotiable, so choose your seasonal moisturiser mindfully.
We love: Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Sheer Fluid: Broad Spectrum SPF 25 (50ml, £97) uses stabilised ascorbic acid to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production to reduce wrinkles and plump skin. It also provides a summer tint. Summer Spy reports: “It’s got everything I enjoy in one bottle: vitamin C and citrus scents, SPF and a tinted moisturiser. It takes a moment for the tint to adjust, but afterwards my skin is left with a post-facial glow. At the weekend, I’d use this moisturiser and go make up free.”
OTO Ritual Day Cream (30ml, £69) is a lightweight, grease-free cream that blends pure CBD with botanicals like rose, baobab and rosemary oils. CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-sebum properties – calming and hydrating the skin. It also helps boost your skin's natural elasticity, repair oxidative damage by the environment and protect sensitive skin to reduce signs of ageing.
Use Comfort Zone’s Body Strategist Contour Cream (200ml, £45) to replenish the skin from the neck down. A revitalising blend of Organic Tamanu Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and strengthening Centella Asiatica aim to keep the body moisturised as they improve the feeling of stressed skin. A great option for stretchmarks and loss of elasticity.
A good mist is a summer skin-prep staple. Pop it on your desk, bedside table or in your handbag and spritz at will. Not only will it refresh your skin, it’s also a great way to top up your moisture levels throughout the day.
We love: Cult classic Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist (100ml, £59) provides an uplifting mist of neroli, sweet floral rose and orange blossom. The brand’s patented Healing Concentrate™ claims to infuse minerals deep into skin to promote firmer, younger-looking skin. Plus, the limited-edition pink flowers bottle is ‘shelfie’-worthy.
Hydration goes beyond the skincare. Once the sun is out, it’s easy to reach for the cocktails and wake-up hungover with dull and dehydrated skin.
Wild Life Botanicals® is a pioneering sparkling wine that is set to raise the bar by introducing the exciting new concept of #BubblesWithBenefits®.
Ultra-low in alcohol, this unique English bubbly crafted in Cornwall, is infused with an uplifting elixir of vitamins, minerals and botanicals each chosen for their health-giving properties. At only 0.5% ABV and less than 35 calories per glass, both your skin and body will thank you for it.
Scarlet Spy
25th May 2021
Spy Likes:
Nature-inspired spas, cold water plunges, sound baths, deep tissue massage, delicious food.
Spy Dislikes:
Thin walls in treatment rooms, loungers hoggers, bright lights
