YOUR SUMMER BEAUTY SWAPS

Here are six easy updates, for make-up with a modern mood

Easy ways to a more radiant look

The sky is bluer, life seems brighter and beauty has an exciting new outlook. Adapting your make-up doesn’t mean a whole new palette; think a lighter texture here, a cloud-like finish there and easy pops of skin-conditioning colour. Here are the clever innovations making summer make-up look fresher and feel more comfortable.

SWAP FULL-COVERAGE FOUNDATION FOR A SKIN TINT

Skin tints are the new-generation base to add to your cosmetics collection. With a barely there finish and high-spec hydrating properties, they’re even lighter and more glowing than tinted moisturiser, and are designed to adapt to your skin tone so you don’t have to worry too much about finding an exact match. ‘Opting for a sheer tint over a foundation makes skin look healthier and more radiant,’ says make-up artist Hannah Martin, who has worked with both the Duchess of Cambridge and her mother, Carole Middleton, and is known for creating no-fuss, natural looks. Use concealer to add coverage where needed, for a flawless finish that looks like real (but great) skin.

SWAP POWDER BRONZER FOR DROPS OR CREAMS

With staycations still at an all-time high, most of us need a little help to get a holiday glow on to our skin. Powder bronzers blend nicely over matte foundation but can catch and clog on lighter, glowier bases. A cream bronzer is easier to blend and build, and, as award-winning make-up artist Joy Adenuga confirms, will also look more like real sun-kissed skin. ‘With a cream bronzer, you can achieve a more natural finish that looks like you’ve just returned from two weeks in St Tropez,’ she says. ‘Apply to the edges of your jawline and along your forehead, and swipe a bit down the sides of your nose.’ We also love modern bronzing drops, which you can pat on to the skin neat, or mix into your moisturiser for an easy, all-over glow.

A sheer tint makes skin look healthier and more radiant

SWAP WINTRY MATTES FOR SUMMER VELVETS

Velvety, cloud-like textures are the prettier way to wear matte make-up. With advanced formulations that don’t settle too obviously in pores or fine lines, they make a shine-free finish that’s accessible to everyone, even those of us who have drier skin. ‘While matte textures are always on trend, there’s something softer and less harsh about velvet, especially in bright summer sunlight,’ says Hannah Martin. Velvet products, which have a more blendable and emollient consistency, also have the benefit of being easier to apply; try them in the form of a soft-focus base, blush or lip colour.

Velvet textures are less harsh in bright sunlight

SWAP HIGHLIGHTER FOR A GLEAM WITH BENEFITS

It’s not only lip balms that fuse colour with care, as highlighters now come with conditioning properties, too, while skincare that has complexion-boosting benefits can also be used to give a natural gleam. ‘In summer,

I use cream-based products for enhancing, or cheating, a healthy glow,’ says make-up artist Ninni Nummela. ‘A skincare and make-up hybrid adds luminosity without looking like you’re wearing highlighter. Dab on cheekbones, eyelids, down the nose and on the décolletage.’

SWAP A PACKED MAKE-UP BAG FOR ONE MULTITASKER

After a year and a half spent staying close to home, there’s no bigger beauty trend than laid-back make-up, which means not just a less ‘done’ look, but doing it with the bare minimum of products. ‘There are several brands now producing colours with multitasking in mind; it’s financially beneficial and a great way to streamline your make-up bag,’ says Joy Adenuga, who is delighted that the pro’s philosophy of using one product for many purposes is becoming more mainstream. Also, using the same creamy shade all over looks modern and fresh; just finish with mascara.

SWAP YOUR LIPSTICK FOR TINTED BALM

Taking baby steps back into lipstick after lockdown can feel a bit like walking in heels after a year in flats. For colour with the conditioning feel of high-tech lip care, try a tinted balm; the latest ones tick both boxes, and can be worn with less commitment than a traditional lipstick. ‘Tinted balms are far more comfortable to wear in summer,’ says Ninni. ‘The luminous textures are more forgiving, too, which allows you to go bold and experiment with colour.’