Even the most long-wearing make up would find its staying power somewhat compromised in this summer-in-the city heat. But rather than piling on that extra layer of foundation – or constantly reapplying throughout the day, the trick is to keep make up as pared back as possible.
Swap foundation for a tinted moisturiser or BB cream. Lighter, fluid, barely-there bases allow skin to breathe in the humidity, making for less congested skin at the end of the day, and less skin-slipping throughout the day. Choose from the flurry of recently launched BB creams, we’re particularly fond of Estee Lauder‘s DayWear Antioxidant BB £32, new featherlight foundations – we can’t get enough of Yves Saint Laurent‘s Le Teint Touche Eclat £28, and tinted moisturisers – try the much-loved classic by Laura Mercier £25.
Wick away shine with blotting paper. Forget mattifying skin that’s a little-too-glowy with translucent pressed powders, and instead wick away shine without disturbing your make up with a handy anytime-anywhere blotting paper. The original gold-infused Japanese Origami Blotting Papers £11.50 by Tatcha will keep skin balanced and blotted, whilst oilier skins will love the ultra-absorbing and salicylic acid addition of these Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets £2.99.
Spray Spray Spray. The heat and city grime can strip skin of much-needed moisture, replace it with a refreshing spritz of Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray £3.50 or Vichy’s Thermal Water Spray £7. For skin that requires a little more boosting, try L’Occitane’s Angelica Hydration Face Mist £15 which combines a water spray with essential oils for heightened hydration and skin soothing.
Choose skin-mimicking textures. If you’re going to apply bronzer, blush and a lip colour, choose formulas that work with, not against, the skin. Switch your standard powder bronzer and blush for creams, gels and tints. Givenchy Mister Radiant Made-To-Measure Glow £24 and Chantecaille Radiance Gel Bronzer £49 will give you the tan tone of a powder without the sitting-on-top-of-the-skin texture.
Equally, Urban Decay‘s AfterGlow Glide On Cheek Tint £18 gives skin a pigmented shot of colour without the potential for slipping and sliding in the heat. For lips, reapplication of a hot and melted lipstick is far from glamorous, instead stick to one of the glossy pencils, you can’t beat Clinique’s Chubby Sticks £16, or try Topshop’s Lip Markers £8 for hues that are totally on-point for this season’s trends but won’t require lip-guarding.