Who else spends less than 5 minutes on their skincare routine but 20 minutes or longer on their makeup to go out? Okay, I’m guilty! However, it’s super important to make sure you’re working with a good base. I like to say the best foundation you can wear is radiant skin. I believe everyone can achieve a healthy glow but daily habits, poor hygiene and the wrong products for your skin type can throw it all out the window! If you want that holiday skin keep on reading!
First off let’s start with one of my fave cleansers from The INKEY LIST: FULVIC ACID BRIGHTENING CLEANSER. The INKEY LIST is a U.K based beauty brand founded by Colette Laxton and Mark Curry in 2018. This product only launched earlier this year and is a gel based cleanser to be used in your first step of your routine. It’s suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin (like myself) and perfect for dull and uneven skin tone.
CLEANSER
Why use this cleanser for summer? It’s really in the name…Brightening! The key ingredients include: Aloe Vera which is known to hydrate and calm the skin, Liquorice root extract to brighten the skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation, Nordic beauty peat which contains high levels of fulvic acid to reveal smoother skin and provide anti-inflammatory properties and finally Kakadu plum complex which is rich in vitamin C and therefore boosts the skin’s radiance.
Reveal your glow with this affordable brightening cleanser available at boots for £10.99 and online sites – Feelunique, Lookfantastic, ASOS and Cult Beauty.
TONER
Next step is to tone it up with the GLOW TONIC from Pixi – another summer classic! Buy this now for £18, available at boots, M&S and online sites – Lookfantastic and Cult Beauty.
This cruelty free, iconic brand was founded over 20 years ago in Soho, London by Petra Strand. This toner from the glow range is perfect for summer and aims to exfoliate and purify the skin whilst removing excess build-up of oils and impurities. What’s even better?
The key ingredients range from Ginseng which boosts blood circulation and aids in collagen production to Glycolic acid known to gently remove dead skin cells and reveal brighter, smoother skin!
It’s suitable for all skin types although if you haven’t used AHA’s like Glycolic acid before I recommend introducing this slowly into your routine. Seriously though, this is my holy grail!
SERUM
My all-time favourite serum is Hyaluronic acid (especially during summer). Why? Because it helps lock in moisture which is vital to save our skin during the hot weather (and even all year round)! This HA will keep your skin hydrated and plumped whilst also reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Fun fact: Hyaluronic acid retains up to 1000x its weight in water, thus absorbing and drawing moisture into the skin. Sounds like a win win to me!
Check out the No7 HYALURONIC ACID & CAMELLIA OIL Facial Capsules: No7 launched by Boots, UK in 1935 have developed these 95% plant based and plastic free capsules. The product provides hyaluronic acid as well as camellia oil which also shares its amazing moisture retaining ability. Suitable for all skin types, this is a must have in your summer routine and I’m totally loving the packaging!
Available at boots in-store and online, £19.95.
EYE CREAM
Eye creams are used for the delicate and sensitive skin around your eyes. They can help
hydrate under the eyes, reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and
puffiness. Another product from No7 is the Lift & Luminate TRIPLE ACTION Eye Cream: This eye cream is formulated with Shea butter, Hyaluronic acid, Ginseng extract and Anti-oxidant complex to firm the skin around the eyes, visibly reduce wrinkles and create a healthy, even, youthful look.
Available at Boots in-store and online, £18.95.
MOISTURISER
Treat yourself this summer to The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser: This British Cosmetic, Skincare Company has an amazing vitamin C range and this vegan moisturiser is just one of the great products from there. Infused with a rich source of vitamin C from camu camu berries which improves the overall skin tone.
From dull, dehydrated and tired to energising, refreshing and bright summer skin! This is suitable for all skin types and will leave you with an unforgettable summer glow! You can get your hands on this from Body Shop in-store and online for £16.
SPF
Let’s not forget our SPF! It can be easy to miss this step out or you might have SPF as part of your moisturiser. However, when people ask me I always advise them to apply it separately after. But why? Surely if my moisturiser contains 15+ SPF this will be enough? Firstly, I suggest an SPF of at least 30 and above. Studies have shown an SPF of 15 will only block 15%of UVB rays whereas an SPF of 30 can block 97% UVB rays.
Remember, if you are spending long periods of time outside in the sun then it's best to reapply throughout the day. My go to sunscreen is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Hydrating Sun Cream SPF 50+"Even though this brand was not founded in the UK, it can be found all over London! What I love about this sunscreen is how light-weight the formula is, personally I don't like SPF that is too thick and greasy. This sunscreen provides high protection and is a very hydrating formula which makes it ideal for dry/very dry and sensitive skin (like myself). For those with oily or blemish prone skin then I recommend the alternative version: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Sun Cream Gel SPF 50+. Both leave no white marks and are sweat and water resistant making it a perfect summer pick. Available at Boots and Superdrug for £13.50 as well as online sites - Lookfantastics and Feelunique.