Your go-to summer beauty guide

BB CREAM, lippie and fake tan. Carene Chong speaks to the experts to bring you the best tips and buys this summer season.

Image credit: G33G via Flickr

As the mercury rises, trench coats and boots are stashed away, while summer dresses and sandals are making a comeback. Like your wardrobe, the change in season also signals an overhaul of your beauty regimen as your skin adapts to the warmer weather.

Luckily, we’ve got your summer beauty essentials on a budget.

Be Sun Smart

The most important product to have in summer is without a doubt a good sunscreen, especially if you’re frequenting beaches or outdoor sites.

With Australia’s high UV levels, leaving the house without some proper protection from the sun, especially at the peak of the season, is the last thing you want to do. But that doesn’t mean you need to slap that strong smelling stuff you slather onto your body at the beach onto your face.

“Purchase a sunscreen specifically for your face, as it will be skin friendly, non-greasy and won’t cause break-outs,” says Melbourne-based makeup artist and blogger Georgia Walsh.

In fact, most moisturisers and skincare products come with SPF-protection, which does the job perfectly. Better yet, invest in a good BB cream, which is the super makeup for the busy modern woman.

BB (which stands for Beauty/Blemish Balm) Cream is a tinted cream that’s currently taking the beauty world by storm. It acts as a light coverage foundation, sunscreen and moisturiser. Some brands are even equipped with acne healing and wrinkle filling properties.

For those who dislikes the idea of piling chemicals on their faces, look for zinc instead.

“Zinc is a fantastic natural product that will not harm the skin and creates a barrier to protect from UV rays,” Georgia says.

So instead of a heavy duty foundation, slap on some BB cream or zinc to keep the face feeling fresh all day with the protection and hydration it needs. Don’t forget to top it off with a dusting of face powder.

“If you use a mineral powder, your skin will love you on a hot summers day,” she says.

Try:

(L to R) Rimmel London BB Cream $12.95, Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear $19.95

Keep It Simple

As mentioned in our winter beauty piece, winter is a fantastic time to pull off smoky eyes and heavier doses of foundation, but as the warmer weather arrives, you might want to tone it down a little bit.

“Thick makeup applications won’t look as natural when the temperature rises, so go back to basics and pare back your makeup to only the bare essentials,” says Natio Australia national trainer Linda Riddell.

On top of swapping your foundation for a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream, Linda suggests skipping eyeshadow altogether and reaching for the bronzer to achieve that perfect summer glow.

“Sweep the bronzer over your cheek bones, bridge of the nose and décolletage for a sun-kissed glow. Then finish with lashings of mascara on your top lashes and a slick of bright lip gloss,”  Linda says.

Try:

(L to R) Natio Mineral Pressed Powder Bronzer $19.95, Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express Waterproof Mascara $19.25

Tan-talising Skin

Nothing screams sexy like a fake tan in summer when bikinis are a vital part of your wardrobe. Note the emphasis on fake. Burning yourself to a crisp in the sun isn’t sexy or healthy any season, so the only colour our experts recommend is fake!

First of all, you need to rejuvenate the skin that you have ignored and kept hidden under layers of winter clothing.

“Rough, dull skin is every girl’s beach nightmare,” Linda says.

“Reveal soft, smooth skin by exfoliating regularly two to three times a week. If you have dry or sensitive skin, try once or twice a week, followed by a hydrating body butter to replenish moisture.”

Next step, get your tan on. If you’re not willing to fork out wads of cash for a professional do, yet are keen on gaining the perfect Gisele Bundchen bronzed skin, the only answer is to Do It Yourself!

As Georgia explains, getting your tan right is just a matter of being aware of the type of product you use, the degree of tan you wish to achieve and the amount you slather/spray on.

“For those a little wary of self tanning, I’d go for a gradual tanning moisturiser,” she says.

Gradual tanning moisturisers or lotions allows you to gradually build up to desired skin shade after several applications, while keeping the skin well hydrated and soft. That way you don’t have to worry about overdoing it on the first try.

For those of you who are a little more confident, Georgia recommends trying out tanning mitts (mitts with product that you slather straight onto your body), “airbrush in a can” type home spray tanners or instant tanners like a bronzing custard, which is easy to use and foolproof.

Try:

(L to R) Natio Wellness Body Scrub $18,95, Le Tan Gradual Tan Body Lotion $4.69

Burst Of Colour

While the experts advise against heavy makeup in summer, they don’t recommend looking boring and unattractive. Nail it with a kiss of colour (pun intended) on the lips or digits to contrast your bare face.

Georgia suggests reaching for a loud lippy that will instantly brighten your look.

“It makes the whole face happy and provides warmth without you having to fuss around with eyes when it’s hot outside.”

For girls who are uncomfortable with bright colours on the lips, Linda suggests looking to your hand for the best solution.

“Highly visible nails are the perfect canvas to convey personal style that can be changed on a whim,” she says.

“If you can’t decide between shades try rainbow fingers by applying a different colour on each finger.

“Otherwise, nail art, nail wraps and textured or marbled nails are definitely gaining a lot of momentum.”

Try:

(L to R): China Glaze Nail Polish in For Audrey $10.95, MAC lipstick in Morange $24

The Perfect Summer Mane

Come summer, every girl’s ideal hairstyle would be a wavy and messy surfer girl beach hair that’s fairly easy to achieve and maintain. But if you’re frequenting the beach often, the sea water and summer heat could do more damage than you think.

Without proper maintenance, hair dries up easily, especially under the scorching sun. This leads to hair breakage, so don’t forget to give your hair some TLC this summer.

“Invest in a fantastic hair care routine and aim to do a deep treatment at least once a week,” Georgia says.

Just like there are BB creams for the face, there are UV protecting sprays for your mane. If your hair is as stubborn as a mule and won’t style as you wish, keep it up in a top knot, messy bun or ponytail, and keep the front and sides fly-away-free with hair product.

“As long as the front is tidy and sleek, not slick, your hair will look fresh and stylish,” she says.

Try:

(L to R) Matrix Smooththerapie Deep Smoothing Leave In Cream $29, De Lorenzo Elements Water Ocean Mist $23.95

What is your go-to summer beauty product? Share with us in the comment box below.