BEST BRONZERS
The secret to finding a believable bronzer shade is to match the colour to your décolleté area, not your face, says Ricky Wilson, Dior’s celebrity make-up artist. “That way, your facial glow is consistent with the rest of the body.” Apply a BB or a CC cream, then sweep powder bronzer on the areas of your face where sunlight hits naturally: the forehead, the bridge of your nose, cheekbones, and chin. For a touch of flush, top your bronzer with a powder blush. Avoid creamy versions, which can accentuate pores and oil in the heat.
ANTI-MELTDOWN EYE MAKE-UP
Update your kit with the season’s waterproof must-haves. For a smudge-free evening eye-opener, trace your lash lines with Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Kajal Liner (the black shade suits most eye colours, but Pacific flatters brown). Follow with Givenchy’s mascara, and finish with Benefit Brow Zings (RM115), which comes equipped with a soft wax that seals brow powder and defines the arches. Since waterproof mascaras are notorious for clumping, apply Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum (RM104) first, says Wilson. It not only ensures fluttery lashes, but makes the removal process easier thanks to the protective base coating. With major eye make-up, keep skin dewy and lips nude.
LONG-LASTING LIP SHADES
Finding the right warm-weather lip product can be a challenge. Lip gloss can be sticky and require multiple touch-ups, and lipsticks can feel too heavy. Liquid lip colours offer the best of both worlds; these bright formulas stay put for hours, and their lightweight texture feels invisible. Prevent colour from bleeding into fine lines with Wilson’s trick: First, trace and fill your lips with a clear pencil such as Make Up for Ever Lip Line Perfector, then apply colour to the centre of your mouth, and press lips together. Complete the look with bronzer and mascara.
INSTANTLY LUXE LOCKS
Give your blow-dryer (and your hair) the day off. No, we’re not suggesting you sport a wet head to your next cocktail party. Instead, opt for the tried-and-true ponytail. Combat humidity by slicking back the crown and flat-ironing the tail. Or allow your tresses to air-dry, then use T3’s Body Waver ceramic-infused curling iron, available at Sephora. It removes frizz, adds body, and increases shine in five minutes for blowout-like results without the dryer, says Dan Sharp, T3’s celebrity hairstylist. Insider trick: Wrap your hair around the iron away from your face, and hold each piece for three to five seconds for a soft, even wave. Delicate gold hairpins lend shine.
VIBRANT HAIR COLOUR
You wouldn’t show up to a party in a faded dress, and the same should go for your hair colour. As water is your hue’s biggest enemy, cleanse away chlorine and salt build-up with pigment preserving products. Redken Color Extend Magnetic Shampoo (RM63) improves brunette tones, while blonde streaks benefit from Kérastase Elixir Ultime Serum (RM138). If you’re a redhead – the fastestfading shade – go one step further with Pureology’s weekly five-minute colour-depositing conditioning
treatment, to boost vibrancy between salon visits.
SEXY SCENTS
Accessorise your summer wardrobe with a light fragrance. Acqua di Parma’s is a unique, graceful blend of bergamot, mandarin, and iris, with vanilla infusion and ambrette crystals. Chloé’s floral fuses bergamot with jasmine and vanilla, and Dior’s is a sultry spritz of fresh mandarin, jasmine, and blackberry. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia Eau Fraîche