Grazia Summer Beauty Awards 2019
Countless hours of testing later and the results are finally in. Consider your summer beauty haul well and truly sorted…
THE FAULTLESS FACE TANNER Lancaster Sun 365 Instant Self-tanning Gel Cream, £26, debenhams.com
I tend to use facial tan twice a week to keep a steady shot of colour in my skin and trust me, this is up there with the very best. The sort that invites, ‘you look well’ compliments, instead of ‘what tan are you wearing?’.
THE SUMMER SKIN SAVIOUR Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask With Avocado And Swiss Glacier Water, £22, origins.co.uk
A souped-up version of the much-loved original, this big-guns moisture mask leaves skin feeling notably softer and bouncier in minutes, thanks to a hefty hit of hyaluronic acid. I think of it as rehydration salts for your complexion.
THE HAIR STYLING HERO GHD Glide Hot Brush, £139, ghdhair.com
When this launched in February, it sold out globally in two weeks. But fear not, the Glide is back in business and I can’t stop raving about it. Sliding through strands with ease (yes, for all hair types), it leaves lengths feeling smoother and shinier without losing volume and bounce. Triple tick.
THE BEST-INSHOW BASE Chanel Les Beiges Eau de Teint, £48, chanel.com
I’m not ashamed to say I was visibly giddy the first time I tried this formula, which houses tiny pigment bubbles that burst satisfyingly on application to leave a healthy, superlightweight veil of colour. One of those my-skinonly-better situations.
THE BONA-FIDE BODY HERO Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale, £29.50, uk.nuxe.com
I genuinely never thought the original could be matched – but here it is. With the same beloved formula (96.9% natural, crucially) and a new fresh and floral scent, I’d happily forgo perfume and just load up on this on a summer’s eve. And that’s saying something.
THE MOSTWANTED SUMMER LIP Dior Addict Stellar Shine Lipstick, £30, dior.com
Fellow lipstick lovers, meet your summer match – a hydrating, balmy shot of colour that slips on and stays put for hours (trust me, I’ve done the leg work). I love the fact it leaves lips feeling soft and supple when you take it off too.
I’d happily forgo perfume and just load up on this fresh, floral oil on a summer’s eve Joely Walker
GUARANTEED GLOW GETTER L’oréal Paris Glow Cherie in Light, Medium and Deep Glow, £9.99, boots.com
I first discovered this glow-giving base when model Iskra Lawrence told me it was, ‘Amazing!’ And she’s right. Wear under make-up or tap over cheekbones post-foundation for a subtle yet notable sheen that makes skin look instantly sprightlier.
THE SAVVIEST SUNCARE Caudalie Milky Sun Spray SPF50 and Caudalie Beautifying Suncare Oil SPF30, both £21, uk.caudalie.com
These do-good SPFS provide all the UVA/UVB defence we’d expect from a luxe skincare brand, while also protecting our coral reefs (where 14,000 tons of SPF end up every year) with their consciously clean formulas – which, by the way, feel like silk.
THE MEGA MASCARA La Roche-posay Toleriane Volume Mascara, £16, laroche-posay.com
When it comes to mascara, finding ‘The One’ is no mean feat… it’s too clumpy, the brush is too big, it doesn’t catch every lash. Finally, I’ve found true love in this hardworking wand – bursting with bristles – that’s just so damn good.
THE PERFECT HOLIDAY POLISH Beach Bottled Sun-kissed Nails by Nails.inc, £15, nailsinc.com
These glimmering polishes are like gold dust for your nails. Designed to enhance your tan, we love ‘That Tan Life’ (far right), a molten gold, on fingernails and ‘Well Baked’ (centre), a metallic rose pink, on toes.
THE BEACHREADY BRONZER Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer, £23, harveynichols.com
Over two years in the making, Riri’s answer to ultimate bronzing has landed – in eight shades to suit every skin tone. Creamy, dreamy and the perfect amount of matte, lending skin a soft-notshimmery, warming glow.
THE FIVE-STAR FACIAL SHIELD Elizabeth Arden Great 8 Eight Hour Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF35, £36, elizabetharden.co.uk
This multi-purpose moisturisermeets-spf is now a daily staple in my routine. As well as protecting against UV rays, pollution and blue light, it also hydrates, brightens and purifies skin. Done deal.
THE ULTIMATE HAIR HERO L’oréal Professionnel Série Expert Solar Sublime After-sun Masque, £14, lookfantastic.com
If, like me, you love a holiday but your hair doesn’t (sun, sea, chlorine – you know the culprits), then give this a go. Formulated with Mexoryl SO (a vitamin E derivative), it gives dry strands a hearty hydration hit and removes any beachy by-products.
THE FOOLPROOF BODY TAN Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self Tan Dry Oil, £14, boots.com
I was tasked with testing a different fake tan on each body part (the things I do for the job!) and this truly came up trumps. The bi-phase formula just needs a quick shake-up to mix the tanning agent (DHA) with the oil, before misting all over from top-to-toe. The result? A totally even, sun-soaked, hydrated glow.