Summer skin care routine

The summer holiday aesthetic is all about staying au naturel – heavy makeup has no place on the beach and you don’t want to be wasting precious holiday time perfecting your skin with a case full of products. But a combination of air conditioning, harsh sun exposure and air travel can wreak havoc on your skin – your skincare choices have never been so important.

Discover the essential multitasking products that will make your holiday skin glow in next to no time at all.

1 PROTECT

The biggest tool in the fight to slow down the ageing process is sun protection. Go for SPF25+ to ensure harmful UV rays won’t burn or break down the precious stores of collagen and elastin that keep your skin looking young and smooth. It’s also time to substitute your foundation for something lighter. A BB cream will not only provide light coverage but will also protect your skin from both UV rays and dryness.

2 HYDRATE

You might not want to use the rich creams you’ve relied on all winter, but now is not the time to stop moisturising altogether. Choose a light cream that will hydrate skin in dry or humid conditions, and a smoothing body gel to cool and soften. On the days you’ve had a little too much sun, rub in an after-sun lotion, which will help your skin repair.

3 FAKE TAN

Before using fake tan, exfoliate from head to toe so that the canvas is as smooth as possible and the tan won’t develop in patches. Your heels are also prone to streaking – prepare with a hydrating cream 24 hours before tanning. If you find tanning cream tricky, try a tanning mist – it’s easier to stay even and cover every area. Start with your feet and work your way up – bending from the waist will cause streaks across your stomach otherwise!