Bareessentials
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation,
armani.co.uk This lightweight foundation glides on easily, correcting any imperfections and leaving skin glowing. Charlotte Tilbury Bronze and Glow,
charlottetilbury.com Use the bronzer to contour and the highlighter on cheekbones. The US model and daughter of actor Stephen swaps her minimal make-up look for full-on smoky eye and glossy lips at the AMfar Gala in Cannes. Use these products to follow her lead. Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Tisse Vendome, johnlewis.com Put on a blend of medium shades, use the dark to define and finish with the light to illuminate. NYX Professional Makeup Pump It Up Lip Plumper, boots.com Plump up your pout with this shimmering gloss. The formula contains Maxi-Lip peptide for fuller smoother looking lips. WHEN the sun makes a rare appearance, we dare to bare parts of our bodies that seldom get the care they deserve.
You see it every year when there’s an early heatwave – a summer frocky horror show of spotty backs, flabby arms and scaly legs and elbows … and not to mention some of the foot frights.
We take a look at problem areas and offer advice on how to start tackling them to get your body ready for a bit of sunshine. FRANKEN-FEET Did you try on your sandals last week and then think better of it? You are not alone.
Feet that have been cooped up all winter can’t just spring into sexy sandal action.
Some of the worst foot frights made an early debut this year thanks to the trend for backless loafers – which has shown how common a problem cracked heels is.
But there are plenty of effective treatments, such as Compeed Cracked Cream for Dry Cracked Skin and Soap and Glory Heel Genius
Experts at Elemis have a cunning trick, using their Papaya Enzyme Peel Mask – a face mask – on your heels.
The fruit enzymes nibble away at dead skin cells and soften cracked heels in the process. After rinsing it off, use a foot cream – Elemis Treat your Feet Foot Cream or Kiko Milano Intensive Foot Cream
– before bed and your feet will look better in the morning. Alternatively, use Kiko Milano Intensive Foot Socks for an overnight moisturising treat for your tootsies. BORIS KARLOFF BACKS You don’t need to try hard to play spot the spotty back at the first sign of sun. It’s a common complaint – and not just for hormonal teenagers.
Back acne can happen when pores or hair follicles become clogged with dead skin and oil.
It’s an old wives’ tale that sun will dry out spots and clear the problem. It can actually make things worse.
Although it is very similar to facial acne, the pores on your back are bigger and are more likely to become clogged, so you’re best to look for products designed for the body rather than just turning to your regular spot cream.
Superdrug Deep Action Spot Clearing Body Spritz works wonders on blackheads and spots, and instantly reduces redness.
Another solution is to book yourself in for a couple of salon sessions. The Edinburgh Beauty Quarter (0131 221 1770) offers a Dermalogica Back Purification Treatment for one hour) which exfoliates the skin and purifies it with a mineral-rich mask. VAMPIRE VEINS At least 40 per cent of women and a quarter of men expected to suffer from issues with their veins at some stage during their lifetime, so it’s surprising that there aren’t more products out there to help deal with the visual effects of the problem.
Worth checking out is Cloud 9’s Nature’s Miracle Soothing Leg and Varicose Vein Treatment
Marks & Spencer), which not only offers pain relief with muscle-soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients but also improves the tone of the skin and reduces the appearance of swollen veins.
And to cover whatever still shines through the skin vein-wise, try a dedicated instant leg tanner such as Diego Dalla Palma Spray-On Tights
Marks & Spencer). SCARY SKIN Does your skin give your age away when you bare your arms and legs in the sunshine, while your face – on which you lavish your entire beauty regime – looks younger?
If so, then maybe an intensive course of one of the new body serums is the answer to try to bring your skin up to the same standard as your complexion.
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Moisturising Body Serum helps firm and even out skin tone, restoring more youthful-looking skin and preventing future signs of ageing.
Another option is Neutrogena Visibly Renew Tone Perfecting Serum which claims to be able to improve skin’s elasticity in 10 days while also evening out skin tone and texture and adding a subtle shimmer to the skin.