Summer Beauty: Wear Less, More Confidently

With it being June in just a few weeks, I wanted to share some of my favourite beauty products and tips, things that I enjoy switching to when the weather warms-up.

All too often we see messages about being 'Body Ready', the dread some of us feel at the very thought of having to don a bathing suit for the beach. But what about our faces?

I live in London where we see the sun for about 10 days of the year (that's what it feels like anyway). Under my makeup, my skin is in pretty good condition but I look like Casper. I'm so pale in fact, I'm almost transparent.

This got me thinking; I'm so used to seeing myself in a full-face, that scaling-back the layers for the warmer months feels daunting. Catching sight of your reflection and not feeling like 'you'. But there are options, and having been ‘makeup minimal’ for 4 weeks now, I’m starting to enjoy this.

"Beyond all, I want to feel good and feel like ‘me’, but without the makeup."

Sun exposure can result in a long list of potentially negative and dangerous consequences, and I’m certainly not going to dispute that – but having returned home from a few weeks in the sun, I have to honestly say that my skin has never looked better!

For me, summer beauty should tick the following boxes: protect against the sun’s harmful rays (I don’t want any premature ageing, thank you!), be lightweight, easy to apply & stay-put in the heat. Beyond all, I want to feel good and feel like ‘me’, but without the makeup.

> Shop Tom Ford Summer Beauty

Dare to bare: Summer Beauty Tips

Starting with this primer that also doubles as a day crème and contains SPF 50 – the Armani Prive Maestro UV combines all 3 elements in once easy dropper bottle. The product is incredibly hydrating and yet lightweight. If you have great skin and want to go without a foundation, this would be great for you on its own.

If you want to go without foundation, but have issues you feel you want to address before you go bare – such as paleness, dark circles, acne or pigmentation – there are a number of solutions you can consider.
Firstly, if you are pale after the winter months, a good self-tanner for the face can give you the confidence to reduce or stop wearing foundation. The key is to find a tanner that doesn’t clog pores or create dryness. St Tropez I find to be excellent and reasonably priced, resulting in a natural looking tan. Try their Gradual Tan for the face, it’s honestly incredible and you can build the colour to get the depth that suits.

"try skipping foundation but use a concealer that gives you a little coverage without being too heavy."

For pigmentation, dark circles or acne, whether you are light or dark skin toned – try skipping foundation but use a concealer that gives you a little coverage without being too heavy. I like Charlotte Tilbury’s The Retoucher – it comes in a good range of colours, is medium coverage, lightweight and dries matte. A great solution for men is from Tom Ford – their concealer stick can be used to mask and perfect under eyes, as well as razor nicks.

With generally less makeup on in the summer, I feel wearing a more colourful lipstick can add a playful summer vibe. I particularly like Tom Ford lipsticks – they are very hydrating on, they don’t tend to budge when things warm-up and they have a beautiful range of colours. My favourite is Casablanca – a deep nude pinky-mauve with red and brown undertones. This with some bronzer and a little mascara is perfect on a summer’s evening.

"exotic, rich, sweet and fragrant – invoking thoughts of fragrant blooms carried on a warm night-time breeze."

I also like to change the perfumes I wear, switching from woody scents to complex, fresh, fruity and uplifting ones. My absolute favourite for summer 2017 is Tom Ford ‘Noir’ – it’s exotic, rich, sweet and fragrant – invoking thoughts of fragrant blooms carried on a warm night-time breeze.

Next time you are passing a Tom Ford counter, take a moment to smell the new SS17 Portofino & Soleil Blanc fragrances – both designed for the summer months with Italian influences and both are beautiful!

Do you have any tips for makeup in hotter climates?

If you are a full-face makeup type of person, do you know that feeling of not feeling “you” when you try and reduce the amount you wear down? What are your tips on getting around this?