Primed for exposure: the best skincare & beauty products for summer in the city

09 Jun 2020 | Updated on: 27 Sep 2022 |By Mhairi Mann

Tailor your skin regime for summer's balmy climes, whether seeking a dependable SPF, protective hair treatments or a little expert assistance in creating the perfect sun-kissed glow

Facial SPF

It still remains surprisingly rare to find a lightweight SPF 50 sunscreen that won’t leave your skin feeling greasy or claggy. For everyday use, Eve Lom’s Daily Protection cream is the very best that I’ve tried. It swiftly absorbs on the skin and has all of the benefits of a very good moisturiser – brightening, hydrating and firming – with the added assurance of reliable defense against UVA and UVB rays, as well as protecting against pollution and environmental damage. The sleek, lightweight tube is also wonderfully handbag friendly.

For those not in need of quite such high protection, Clarins, Natura Bissé, Kiehl’s and Susanne Kaufmann all offer premium creams with SPF 15-30 sunscreen.

From left: Clarins Dry Touch Facial Sun Care SPF 30, £30; Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30, £26; Eve Lom Daily Protection cream SPF 50, £70; Susanne Kaufmann Day Cream Skin Renewal Protection SPF15, £255

Bronzer

Charlotte Tilbury has debuted an Airbrush Flawless Finish Bronzer, which reportedly amassed a 5,000-person waitlist ahead of the launch. It joins the bestselling Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, one of which is sold every minute in the UK. Like the powder, it dusts gently over the skin for a smoothing, pore-minimising effect, as opposed to settling into creases like many bronzers often tend to do. It is also innovatively infused with moisturising hyaluronic acid for a silky, glowy complexion. The bronzer is packaged in a retro-suffused gold clamshell case and comes in four shades: fair, medium, tan and deep.

Further favourites include Tom Ford’s Soleil Glow Bronzer and the beautifully packaged Dolce & Gabbana compact, which is like a little shot of sunshine in your handbag.

From left: Dolce & Gabbana Solar Glow Ultra-Light Bronzing Powder, £53; Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer, £54; Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Bronzer, £35

Body exfoliator

With travel plans cancelled, let Acqua di Parma’s new Capri Body Scrub transport you to the bougainvillea-framed, Mediterranean coastline. The marmalade-like scrub is deliciously scented with zesty citrus, caramel and cardamon, while brown sugar, jojoba seeds and orange peel exfoliate the skin. Elsewhere, Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Scrub will leave your bathroom smelling beautifully of citrus fruits, and uses a natural blend of bamboo stem extract and pumice to leave skin perfectly polished.

From left: Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish, £32; Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri Body Scrub, £50; Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, £27

Fake Tan

Millie Mackintosh swears by Tan Luxe’s Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, which can be added to your daily moisturiser for a natural glow. For a head-to-toe tan, the revolutionary Tan-Luxe Water offers a quick-drying formula that is completely colourless, meaning that it won’t stain your bed sheets or clothing. It is infused with hydrating vitamins and omega-rich raspberry oil for a soft, streak-free finish.

Tan Luxe’s Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, £35 and The Water, £33

Haircare

Rahua takes its name from the oil that derives from the Amazonian nut, regarded by indigenous tribes as the secret to thick, lustrous hair. The brand’s plant-based products are produced in sustainable partnership with the Quechua-Shuar tribe to support the preservation of the rainforest. For hair like an Amazonian goddess this summer, try the new anti-frizz, leave-in conditioning treatment, which is ideal for smoothing and strengthening dried-out locks during hot weather, as well as providing heat protection.

Read more: 7 cult hair brand to know

From left: Michael Van Clarke Leave-In Styling Treatment LifeSaver UV, £19.50; Rahua Leave-In Treatment, £42, DAVINES MELU Shield Heat Protection Spray, £26, Rahua Hydration Conditioner, £34

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