HEATWAVE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

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When we get an actual summer in the UK, we call it a 'heatwave', just as an FYI... Today I'm doing a bit of an off-the-cuff post on some of my beauty essentials for the warmer weather!

- FACIAL SUNSCREEN -

Obviously there are a million sunscreens in here: you know me! I recently cracked open a new tube of the Coola Classic Face Sport White Tea SPF 50 | £30 | and remembered why I've always loved it so much. It's hydrating, it's water-resistant (so doesn't run and get in my eyes) and has a clear melting gel finish despite containing broad spectrum high protection. This is my go-to for hot days when I'm going out for a walk or going on one of my runs whilst the sun is out because it isn't going to stream down my face as I work up a sweat. Underneath makeup, my favourite at the moment is the Hello Sunday the One That's a Serum Face Drops SPF 45* | £20 | full review coming soon. I love how this is a sunscreen that doesn't even feel like a sunscreen; it melts right in with no white cast and gives my skin a gorgeous glow, acting as a beautiful primer underneath makeup (that's really when I use a more elegant formula like this that isn't water-resistant; when I'm out for lunch or heading to see a friend) whilst giving high, broad spectrum protection!

In my handbag I have my Ultrasun Face UV Protection Mist SPF 50 | £18. I've bought a couple more of these because I just can't be without it. It's affordable, it's well-tested, it contains high protection (broad spectrum, of course), it's totally transparent and it works so well for over-makeup top-ups because it's got a super-fine mister. I can't rave about it enough!

- OTHER SKINCARE - 

Something about the heat or the sun exposure seems to dry out and sensitise my skin a little, and the Axis-Y New Skin Resolution Gel Mask* | £22.50. This is a light, cooling gel mask you can pop on for 15 minutes. It contains soothing, calming, hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and centella asiatica, to reduce redness and strengthen the skin barrier. I love how it immediately takes down that irritation, plus gives me soft and hydrated skin. 

As an everyday pick-me-up, I love the Apothaka Skin-Quenching Essence* | £32 | which is formulated with natural moisturising factors to hydrate and replenish the skin, soothing cucumber and panthenol, which helps the skin retain hydration. What I love about this product is that it feels waterlight but somehow still has substance to it, so when you splash it on, you really feel that calming hydration, and it lasts, rather than disappearing off into the aether (like so many other 'hydrating' products out there). 

Next, I have a new favourite that's already captured my heart: the Monday Muse the Juice Daily Serum* | £40. 'The juice' is such a perfect name for this product because it gives my skin a healthy, juicy glow. It's also calming and hydrating, plus plays well with other serums if you want to layer. There's panthenol and niacinamide (at a gentle, every-day appropriate level), centella asiatica (to sooth and calm redness), prebiotics (to encourage a healthy skin barrier), red algae for hydration and manuka honey to nourish and provide antibacterial benefits. It's just a stunning all-rounder for plump, healthy, hydrated skin. A beautiful moisturiser for summer on my normal-dry / dehydrated skin is the Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream | £25. This has a melting cream texture that feels so light but packs a punch with ingredients like squalane, glycerin, jojoba esters and hyaluronic acid. It leaves my skin with such a lovely, dewy glow too.

- BODY & HAIR - 

As I often say, the only safe way to tan is to fake it! The Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops in Medium* | £20 | can be added to your face and body moisturiser with up to 12 drops (I like to go for 4 as I prefer a natural glow). They give a natural, even, non-streaky gradual tan effect that I love for that 'have you caught the sun?' look.

My go-to body sunscreen this summer has been the Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion* | £15.59. This is a really great sunscreen: it's not thick, it doesn't feel tacky on my skin, it melts in easily without leaving behind a white cast. You're getting the broad spectrum SPF 50 and the formula is water-resistant, so you know that it will stay on your skin whilst you exercise. I personally really like the coconutty holiday scent too!

There are a couple of things that just live in my handbag, too. The first is the Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 50 in Nude | £16. This is surprisingly nice for a a high-protection lip balm - the after-taste is minimal, it is slightly thicker but doesn't feel waxy or unpleasant. It has the teensiest hint of warm nude and gives a glossy finish. I also keep the Hello Sunday the One for Your Hands Hand Cream SPF 30* | £8 | around because, even if my body is mostly covered, my hands are one thing that's basically always exposed. This is a lovely hand cream in and of itself, light, moisturising and it sinks right in. I have really dry hands, which means I keep the protection topped up throughout the day just by applying hand cream as I would do anyway.

Last, but not least, I have a hair product. As I type this post, the weather has been humid today, which often means frizz. I also have quite dry hair, so any nourishment is always going to be welcome. I feel as though the IGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Air-Dry Styler | £25 | is great for both. It's nourishing for my lengths and ends but also provides a bit of hold. You apply it to damp hair before blow-drying to seal in your style or you can scrunch it into wavy or curly hair and let it air-dry for maximum definition. It's a huge help when there's dampness in the air!

Are you enjoying the warmer weather? What are your beauty essentials right now?

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Read more posts from this series here!