by Welcome to From The Beauty Desk. Every month, the red team will share their must-have products. Whether it’s fail-safe skincare they’ve been buying for years or a groundbreaking new discovery that’s earned a prized spot on your bathroom shelf, they’re here to recommend the products that are truly worth your money. money.
Flip flops. Tick. Sunglasses. Poolside outfits. Tick. Next up: beauty. If you haven’t mastered your warm weather repertoire yet, then we’re here to help. We’re sharing the products we swear by and will buy repeatedly, both for sunny days at home and hot vacations abroad. We’re talking our go-tos for radiant skin, transformative hair buys, resilient makeup, and groundbreaking SPFs. Plus, a lust-worthy scent to put on your wish list. Happy Holidays.
Eve Cameron, beauty director
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+, £18
Finding a sunscreen to use every day in the summer that doesn’t clog my pores, leave a white cast, feel sticky, or cake under makeup is a challenge, but I do have a few that I use in rotation. This is one of them. It contains a new filter that protects the skin even better from harmful UVA rays, and feels as light as a feather, it is a pleasure to use. I apply it over my serum or sometimes over a moisturizer if my skin feels dry.
Sun-Lite Legology, £38
I’m not good with self-tanner, mostly because I tend to apply it in a panic the day before I expose pasty, veiny legs. For me, Sun-Lite is a much better option. From a brand founded by former beauty journalist Kate Shapland, it’s a wash-out tint that provides an instant, soft hint of tan color with a subtle iridescence. The effect is enough to even out skin tone and make it look a little glowy and luminous, but not shiny. The addition of caffeine helps fight swelling, useful in the heat.
Alexandra Friend, Senior Beauty Editor
Supergoop (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 30, £28
I already know that this will be one of my products of the year. It’s an incredibly sheer SPF30 sunscreen in translucent face powder form, for use on bare skin or over makeup. It gives a flattering semi-matte finish and, unlike some powders, doesn’t feel dry.
On sunny days, I apply this with another SPF product underneath: an SPF serum or lotion first, then my makeup, then the Supergoop. If it’s not that bright, or I won’t be outside for a long time, I’ll use it on its own. It’s small enough to carry in my bag and great for touch-ups on the go.
Antique Vanilla Byredo, £235
Some of the coolest women I know wear Bryedo perfume. So if you haven’t found “the one” yet, it’s worth looking into the brand’s scents. I just switched to Vanille Antique from their Night Veils line, which offers a smoky touch of beauty. You get vanilla in its most earthy, raw, and least sugary form. There’s no denying it’s expensive, but this is the kind of perfume that makes it hard to stop sniffing your own wrist. It also lasts all day and well into the night.
Fleur Fruzza, beauty editor
Dolce & Gabbana Solar Glow Universal Radiance Drops in Sunrise, £38
As much as I love a tanned face, I make a point of exposing mine to as little UV rays as possible and find that the hybrid of makeup and skincare really helps me resist temptation. When used over SPF, these glitter-free vitamin E-infused drops give skin a natural-looking holiday glow without the sun exposure. The nice packaging and the fact that they smell like vacations is a plus.
L’Oreal Professionel Tecni.ART Beach Waves, £16.50
The beach is where my fine hair shines – a little humidity and salt water work wonders for its volume and I always try to replicate the effect. Unlike some texturizing sprays, this one, which contains sea salt, never feels crunchy or sticky and doesn’t damage fine hair, leaving it light and soft. It’s the closest I get to the real thing.
Anna Lao-Kaim, Interim Beauty Editor
Christophe Robin Moisturizing Cream Scrub, £34
“Exfoliating” and “soothing” aren’t two words you’d normally throw together in the beauty lexicon, but they’re apt descriptors for this gentle aloe vera-based scalp scrub. A dollop worked into a hot summer scalp after a day in the sun feels heavenly – add water to work into a cleansing lather and leave for five minutes before rinsing and shampooing as usual. It eliminates itchiness and also helps moisturize the lengths.
Beija Flor Elasti Sol de Janeiro Cream, from €20
If you prefer a subtle and functional body lotion, look the other way now. The scent of tropical flowers practically oozes from the lid of this little pink jar as soon as you open it; Smoothing this vegetable oil-rich cream over extremities eliminates the need for a stand-alone holiday fragrance. A little goes a long way in terms of hydration too, but the texture is beautifully light.
Phoebe Lee, beauty writer
Fresh soy facial cleanser, £31
Although I tend to wear less makeup during the summer months, I find that I need my cleanser to work harder than ever. Multiple layers of SPF and a busy commute means I need to remove any traces of makeup and perspiration, all without stripping my skin. An impossible feat? Not when this cleaner comes into play. It’s a lightweight gel texture that, when combined with water, emulsifies into a foamy milk that melts away makeup for satisfyingly clean yet hydrated skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Quick and Easy Makeup in Pretty Fresh, £55
My approach to summer makeup is decidedly laissez-faire: anything I can scribble, buff, or blend with my fingers piques my interest. Unsurprisingly, I’m loving Charlotte Tilbury’s newest release: three miniature cream wands that fit neatly into a case. There’s a buttery eyeshadow to define the eyes, a dual stick for lips and cheeks to add color and shine, and a non-shimmery highlighter to add a subtle glow to the cheeks. They are all rechargeable and there are five shades to choose from depending on the style you are looking for. My favorite is “Pretty Fresh” for a flattering pinkie shimmer.
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