Look & feel your best for wedding days, festivals & everything in between
This article is sponsored by Laura Mercier, NUXE, Garnier Hair, Lancaster, Ghost, DryBar, Hello Sunday, Fenty Beauty, bareMinerals & Charles Worthington
The summer season is full of things we dream about all year round (think beach days, back garden barbecues and holidays). And as you start to have fun in the sun, you may notice that your beauty bag could do with a little summer shake-up.
Maybe your hair could do with a little TLC for an upcoming event? Perhaps you’re struggling to find an everyday SPF that you can really rely on? Or what about a tropical perfume that’s perfect for holiday season? That’s where we come in!
Your 10 summer beauty essentials
It’s time to get that summer beauty bag in check with our top tips and beauty picks.
1. A holy grail for wedding season
With wedding season in full swing, we can expect a few tears (happy ones, of course!), a little bit of sweat and a whole lotta dancing. Our advice? You’ll want to embrace the celebrations equipped with a holy grail product that will keep make-up in place all day long. Whether it’s a setting powder, power primer or setting spray, find the wonder product that’ll take you from ceremony to after party.
Try: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
• Size: 29g
• Available in three shades
• Transfer-resistant
• Ideal for oily skin
• Zero photo flashback
If weddings are the centre of attention this summer, then you’ll want a make-up product that stands the test of time. Beloved for its flawless, soft-matte finish that controls shine for up to 24 hours, the UK's number one prestige setting powder* is a must for your beauty bag. Exceptionally milled to deliver incredible staying power without weight or texture, rest assured that come rain or shine, tears or sweat, this make-up icon has you covered.
2. A holiday shimmer
There are a few reasons why we love a body shimmer oil. Not only are they super moisturising and smoothing thanks to their plant oils, but they also melt seamlessly into the skin, giving a golden glow. This makes them the perfect holiday staple – think illuminated skin by the pool or a subtle shimmer while sipping cocktails by the beach.
Try: NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Floral Gold Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil for Face, Body and Hair
• Size: 50ml
• Rose gold shimmer
• Can be used to nourish the body, hair and face
• Vegan formula**
Enhance skin’s holiday glow into the evening with this multi-purpose dry oil. With a blend of seven botanical oils, including argan, macadamia and sweet almond, this skin-loving formula nourishes skin while mineral-origin golden pearly particles illuminate skin and hair with a gorgeous rose gold glow. The finishing touch? Its infusion of grapefruit zest, magnolia and musk leave behind an irresistible floral scent trail.
3. A summer hair switch-up
There’s nothing like a bit of sunshine to inspire you to care for your hair – we’re talking extra hydration, fighting off frizz and transforming locks with a fresh colour. Whether it’s to complement a festival look, a root touch-up or for a special occasion, do it right with a hair dye that will nourish locks from root to tip while still delivering stand-out colour.
Try: Garnier Good Hair Colour 5.0 Coffee Roast Brown
• Size: 217g
• Applies like a hair mask
• Vegan formula**
If summer calls for a new ‘do, reach for Garnier GOOD Permanent Hair Colour. Offering a stress-free application thanks to its new non-drip formula, the blend of 90% natural origin ingredients† and shea butter gives hair a soft-to-touch, glossy finish. As for the colour, it’s never been easier to achieve 100% grey coverage for eight weeks of long-lasting colour!††
4. An everyday SPF
It goes without saying that SPF should be a skincare staple all year round, not just during the summer months. But what we do know is that it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming finding one that doesn’t break our skin out or leave a white cast behind. Luckily for you, we may have found the perfect daily SPF for you…
Try: Lancaster Sun Beauty Invisible Face Fluid SPF30
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan formula**
• Suitable for all skin tones
• Dry-touch finish
Picnics in the park, road trips and sizzling barbecues. No matter your summer plans, enjoy them all knowing your skin has the best protection with this daily facial SPF from Lancaster Sun. Targeting 100% of the sun spectrum^, this ultra-lightweight and invisible sunscreen helps repair skin from sun-induced damage. Simply apply it every morning as the last step of your skincare routine and you’re good to go.
5. A signature scent
Most of us will have a favourite fragrance. Think about the one you wear day-to-day, or the holiday scent that you just can’t live without. But why not invest in a new signature scent that will become your go-to for any occasion? Finding a fragrance that complements your style can help you make a lasting impression.
Try: GHOST Orb of Night Eau de Parfum
• Size: 50ml
• Fragrance family: floral amber
We all have a fragrance that we save for special occasions, but what about having a signature scent to see you through the summer? With notes of alluring cherry-almond, irresistible caramel, delicate orange blossom and a heart of ethereal florals, this fragrance is the bestseller of the Ghost Luna collection and the epitome of sunshine season – cue the compliments…
6. A garden party go-to
Go all out for garden glam with a swish-worthy summer hairstyle. Will it be soft waves for a family barbecue? Bouncy curls for a garden party, or perhaps you want some loose curls for a picnic in the park? Whatever the occasion, you’ll want to rely on a hair tool that can do it all – and quickly. Just don’t forget the heat protection!
Try: Drybar The 3-Day Bender Digital Curling Iron
• Size: 1.25 inches
• Has a 60 minute automatic safety shut-off
• Warms up to 226°C
• Suitable for all hair types
What if you could achieve your best beachy waves and effortless curls in no time? Then this curling iron will soon become your right-hand styling tool. The rotating clamp quickly styles the hair for long-lasting, salon-worthy results, while infrared technology works to protect against heat damage. Designed with dual ceramic heaters to deliver even heat distribution and ionic technology to smooth strands, your hair is left with a visibly glossy shine, every time.
7. A beach bag staple
We’ll be the first to say that it doesn’t quite feel like summer without a trip to the seaside. So when it comes to packing your beach bag, you won’t want to leave the house without some trusty sunscreen. But why not go a step further and invest in one that’s packed with skin-loving benefits?
Try: Hello Sunday The Illuminating One Glow Primer SPF50
• Size: 50ml
• Fragrance-free
• Can be used with or without make-up
• Reapply every 2 hours
What if we told you that Hello Sunday have created a highly effective SPF that’s also a primer? Perfect for a trip to the seaside, this lightweight, moisturising primer shields skin from UVA and UVB rays, as well as infrared, pollution and blue light! Infused with super hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin C, smoothing aloe vera and calming algae extract, it leaves skin with a soft, subtle glow and a dewy finish.
8. A festival foundation
Festivals call for long days in the sun, dancing until sunrise and soaking up the electric atmosphere, but we know that for some of us, our usual make-up routines can take a backseat. Our top tip? You’ll want to invest in low maintenance, multi-tasking make-up that’s going to go the distance.
Try: Fenty Beauty Soft'Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation
• Size: 32ml
• Available in 50 shades
• Sweat and humidity resistant
• High performance & medium coverage
If there’s any foundations that pass the festival vibe check, it's this glow-giving icon from Fenty Beauty. Benefit-packed and hydrating, this longwear foundation delivers a naturally radiant finish with a second-skin feel, meaning it’s perfect for dancing, sweating and camping – no melting faces over here! The skin enhancing formula brightens and evens skin tone without shine so you can glow a notch above your natural complexion! Golden hour glow? Consider it bottled.
9. A camping champion
If your summer plans are taking you on a camping adventure, whether it’s an annual family trip or a few nights at your favourite festival, then you’ll want to be armed with the best beauty tools to see you through. But it’s no secret that camping isn’t the most glamourous experience, so when it comes to looking put together with minimal effort involved, we’re here for it.
Try: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Size: 35ml
• 98% naturally-derived ingredients
• Clean, oil-free formula
• Available in 20 shades
• Non-comedogenic
Take the no ‘make-up’ make-up look to another level by packing this skin-improving 3-in-1 moisturiser, skin tint and SPF 30. Infused with skin-loving minerals, hyaluronic acid and olive-dervied squalane, skin is left with a dewy, healthy-looking glow that’s free from dryness. Did we mention it's also a vegan formula?** Who says you need a whole beauty bag when you have this?
10. A cocktail party ‘do
Nights out in the summer feel a little bit sweeter thanks to the light and (sometimes) warm evenings. But really, we love any excuse to get glam – and mastering the hair starts with the prep. One thing you don’t want to miss out of your routine is a miracle mousse to give hair ultimate volume that still looks flawless when the night comes to an end.
Try: Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse
• Size: 200ml
• Cruelty-free & vegan friendly**
• Paraben-free
Whether it’s an up ‘do, beachy waves or a bouncy blow-dry, increase volume by 155%^^ with this lightweight and non-sticky hair mousse from Charles Worthington. With heat activated style memory technology, this mousse effortlessly lifts roots and locks body in place all day. Simply apply on damp hair and let the plumping collagen, super boosting kale protein and pomegranate get to work. All that’s left is to style locks to your heart’s content.
Love our edit? Find more summer beauty essentials in our full range.
