With summer comes the expectation of lots of sunshine and hot, humid days. At least in the summer that I know best. However, when I started to write this piece, I had just been caught in a hailstorm. In July.
This week brings a massive weather change, though, and with a week of scorching temps here in Blighty, traditional summer does seem to finally be here, at least for the moment.
While I usually love applying “my face”, in warmer times, it can be hard to work up motivation for a full face of make-up. Particularly as I find that foundation and powder can melt in the heat, leaving my skin looking patchy, which is not exactly the look I’m going for. Often, my choice is simply moisturiser and sunscreen, but on the days when I don’t want to be bare faced, I have found a reliable combination of products to keep me covered and cool.
It goes without saying that whenever I apply make-up, I start with a freshly cleaned, moisturised and sun protected face. To begin my make-up routine, I apply a primer all over my face, including my eyelids, giving my make-up extra staying power. This is particularly important when summer heat and lack of air conditioning conspire to dissolve everything that I have taken time to apply.
In addition to giving my make-up something to hold onto, primer turns my face into a seamless canvas, smoothing fine lines and blending out pores. This is a key step for me no matter what the weather. If you are looking for a primer to try, some of my favourites include: Becca, Hourglass, Laura Mercier, Murad, Smashbox and Too Faced.
Rather than use my regular foundation when the mercury rises, I choose a lighter substitute, like a tinted moisturiser or BB cream. While I had a few well-loved bits in my kit already (Hourglass, Bobbi Brown and Kate Somerville), I thought this piece provided the perfect opportunity to try something new. So in the name of research, I’ve experimented with products from Estee Lauder, Urban Decay, Chanel, Boscia and Dr Jart+.
Which is my favourite? I would say that Chanel is tops in terms of product formulation. It feels like silk when I apply it to my skin. And Urban Decay has the best colour match for my skin. It looks invisible while providing great coverage. Hourglass gives the most glow, making it my go to for evening application. And Kate Somerville has seen me through winter and summer this year.
Like so many people, I find my t-zone can get shiny during the day, so I use a bit of powder to keep this from becoming too prominent. While I ordinarily fix my foundation with Laura Mercier powder, I love this Bobbi Brown powder as a topper for my summer make-up. I also enjoy the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder, which contains Asian fruits to hydrate and prevent shine simultaneously.
Once I have completed my make-up application, I always finish it with a setting spray. I’ve been rotating through a selection of products from Ren, Coola, Supergoop!, Pixi and elf. Spritzing my face really helps to keep things in place. As a bonus, sprays are great to keep in the fridge for a cool blast when I’m feeling particularly warm.
So that's my warm weather make-up routine. Do you have a favourite summer product?