It’s Time To Get That Glow: My Top Summer Products

Yesterday’s video and blog post were all about how I like to attempt to rival J.Lo in the glow stakes (emphasis on ‘attempt‘) and yes, today’s post is much of the same because I’m obsessed. These ‘summer sheen’ themed posts are usually prefaced by the author mentioning how when the summer rolls around they like to embrace a natural gloss to the skin, but for me it’s something that I encourage all year round. I can’t quite believe that back in the day I would reach for a loaded powder brush at the sign of any oil gland on my face producing some of the good stuff. Matte was in, glow was out and we all slathered on primers, powders and hydration-zapping foundations to make our complexions look as parched as possible – what was all that about? Now I do understand that for those out there who err on the side of extreme oiliness, powder is still a life-saver, but as I get older my skin’s ability to look ‘juicy’ has begun to dwindle. So that’s where these guys come in…

Let’s talk body first. For the cooler months of the year I embrace my natural fuzz and allow my body hair to reach yeti-like lengths. I don’t bother with tanning, I don’t bother with waxing and I always forget to moisturise, so the texture of my skin resembles that of a snake (ain’t Mark so lucky?). For the one out of 10 days in the UK of blindingly brilliant weather I like to wear a skirt, so for that one day I go into a flurry of prepping, primping and shaving. Once my fur is removed I use a combination of the St Tropez Express Tan Mousse and the St Tropez Sculpt & Glow Gradual Tanner. I mentioned these both in yesterday’s post, but they really are the best faux glowers out there and trust me, I’ve tried loads (and paid the price of looking like an oompa loompa on many occasions). The mousse is great to use as a weekly boost, or a pre-holiday holiday measure whenever I want to really amp up the sun-kissed vibe. The gradual tanner is more of a daily moisturiser for me, but don’t be fooled because after two days of using this I really notice a difference. I like how both don’t completely reek (the gradual tanner even more so than the mousse) and they absorb well into the skin too. Pop a moisturiser on after showering the following morning and you’re good to go.

Next – the skin on your face. Now again I mentioned these products as part of yesterday’s ‘Bridal Prep’ post, but they are so bloomin’ awesome that they deserve another shout out. My skin is looking pretty alright recently and I’m crediting my increase in radiance to these guys (plus drinking a load of water – boring, but true). I’d never used an ‘essence’ before and had always dismissed them as some kind of unnecessary skincare fad, but as it turns out the Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence is so good that it was love upon first use for me. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but it’s almost like a more liquid-y serum that feels like a drink for your face. I use it morning and evening after cleansing and then go in with an SPF in the AM and a serum and a moisturiser in the PM. Speaking of serum, I know I’ve mentioned the Glossier Super Bounce Serum here, there and everywhere; but I’m already on my second bottle of the stuff and I’m genuinely excited that there might be a New York visit coming up just so I can visit the Glossier showroom and pick up another bottle (although I do reckon that the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair is a good easier-to-find dupe for it).

Another Glossier fave is their Priming Moisturiser Rich which is so thick and so emollient I feel like I’m applying butter to my face, but in a good way. I don’t feel the same about the original Priming Moisturiser as I just don’t find the texture as rich (ain’t that surprising, eh?) and I like the clout of moisture that the intense version gives. I find myself applying it early evening and then putting on another layer just before I go to bed because I love the feeling of it that much. Finally I’ve got to give a shout out to my new favourite facial gradual tanner – the Charlotte Tilbury Overnight Bronze & Glow Mask. I use this in the evening after cleansing and applying the Kiehls. I go straight in with this and my skin looks like you could see your reflection in it. Some may say that it looks like you could fry an egg on it, but I kinda love it. The next morning the sheen is still there, but with a bit of a sun-kissed glow left behind too. Score.

I’ve really fallen back in love with the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter in a major way. Not only is a great priming base that gives serious amounts of luminosity to the skin, but it’s a great foundation mixer-inner too (see me demo in my wedding day makeup look here). If you’ve got something that you’re worried might look a little heavy in the stark summer sunshine, then mix it with a pump of this and you still have something with decent coverage, but with a more flattering skin-like finish. In terms of actual bases though, I don’t think they make ’em dewier than the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser. Although I have to be having a pretty awesome skin day to crack this out, it leaves such a gorgeously glossy finish on the skin which actually lasts pretty well for a tinted moisturiser.

Highlighter-wise there’s two that have my heart. There’s the classic – BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone. I’ve pretty much used this exclusively on my (non-existent) cheekbones for the past two years of my life. I love the tone of it, I love that it’s subtle but buildable and I love how it looks like a natural build-up of sweat on my skin. However, if I want something creamier and a little more glossy – and actually a bit more obvious – then I go for the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz. You’d think this would be the more natural looking out of the two, but there’s something about the shine and reflection that it gives to the skin that makes me find this one the more full-on one. It’s fab for when your skincare, sleep and water-intake has failed and you need something to fake all of those things.

See? Over 1,000 words on glow-givers, pounded out on my keyboard in less than half an hour. I told you I was obsessed…

Photos by Lauren Shipley

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