Top 10 Beauty Essentials for Summer in the City

Keep cool on warmer days with minimal make-up and a crisp eau de cologne …

We’ve always admired girls who can do summer with style and manage to look cool and collected. This vibe is pale but interesting; not everyone wants to go all-out on the tan front, even in the warmer months. Skin prep is all – start with Clarins’ Santal Face Oil pressed into still-damp clean skin for an instant glow. A vital step is primer or moisturiser with SPF, such as Elizabeth Arden’s new Lift & Firm Day Cream SPF15 – light as a cloud and with a scent of geraniums – or, ideally, a robust SPF: we recommend asap Hydrating Defence SPF50+, as it’s light and easy to wear. Skincare/make-up hybrids are huge at the moment, a liberating departure from heavy make-up – try YSL Nu Bare Look Tint for a barely-there polish and radiance. If your hair can be challenging in warmer months, here’s a tip: the new Olaplex serum is brilliant for smoothing out frizz and transforming lifeless hair: just leave to air-dry for soft waves. It should go straight into your citybreak washbag. Irish make-up artist Sarah Keary’s palette features everything you might need for a humid day in the city; a soft peach blush adds a flattering glow for a wide range of skintones. For fragrance, the city sophisticate turns to a crisp, chic eau de cologne (say Roger & Gallet, very French pharmacy), a light floral or a post-shower spritz of dry body oil for a veil of subtle scent. Finally, the statement lip colour: there are lots of moisturising formulas around now, so you can go bold yet lip-nourishing: this Chanel is an investment, but it’s really concentrated in colour and the (refillable) bullet is feather-light, making it the ideal addition to your mini crossbody bag for city days.

Main featured image photographed by Olivia Graham, styled by Luis Rodriguez