By: LekshmiSajeev
ACE MAKEUP ARTIST YASMIN HUSSAIN SHARES HER TOP PRODUCTS, SECRETS AND ROUTINES
Beauty regimes altering with the different seasons means it’s important to make key changes during the hotter summer months.
Simple adjustments in lifestyle, beauty products and daily routines can make a huge difference to how you look and feel. London-based beauty expert and makeup artist Yasmin Hussain talks to Eastern Eye about some top summer skin and beauty tips.
“I’m sure, like me you love the summer months. The increase in serotonin and warm sunny days naturally uplift our spirits. But summertime also means taking extra care of our skin. So here are my tips to keep you looking and feeling gorgeous,” said Yasmin.
Hello, hydration
My first tip is to drink plenty of water. As temperatures rise, it’s vital to keep your body well hydrated from the inside out. Aim for around two litres a day, depending on activity levels. If you don’t like drinking water you can also eat it. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon and even spinach in its raw form have a high water content. It’s a refreshing way to keep your body hydrated and the skin feeling fresh.
Screen the sun
Sunscreen should be a staple in everyone’s skincare regime all year round. Using SPF is crucial in protecting the skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays. Look for an SPF that protects against both UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays cause redness and sunburns, and are more prominent on days with clearer skies. UVA rays penetrate the skin much deeper than UVB and are responsible for causing pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. UVA rays can also initiate skin cancers and are just as strong in the winter too, as they can penetrate through clouds and glass. A minimum SPF factor of 30 is good enough for day-to-day during the summer months.
The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Glow-Protect Lotion SPF 30 hydrates and helps give your skin a brighter, more radiant appearance. It is ideal for daily use with UVA and UVB protection.
La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios XL Ultra-light Fluid SPF 50 is great for those with oily skin or if you don’t like heavy creams. Make sure that applying sunscreen is the last step in your skincare routine before applying makeup. And remember, makeup products with SPF are not sufficient on their own against UV rays as the percentage is very low.
Less is more
When it comes to wearing makeup in the summer, having layers of full coverage makeup while feeling hot and sticky isn’t much fun. Try and switch up your routine to something more warm weather friendly.
All about the base
During the hot summer days, ‘dewy’ and ‘radiant’ come to mind when thinking of makeup. For your base, if you can, use a tinted moisturiser or a light coverage foundation and concealer where needed.
MAC Cosmetics Face and Body Foundation has buildable coverage, is oil-free and is comfortable with a natural finish. Too Faced’s Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer has an extensive range of shades and provides great coverage while being lightweight.
A pro tip: Try avoiding heavy or luminous foundations in hot weather, as the heat will leave you looking extra-shiny and sweaty.
Prime time
Using a good primer before your base can help keep makeup in place for longer, control shine and help with skin texture. Benefit’s POREfessional is an oil-free balm that helps to minimise the appearance of pores for smoother skin.
To bake or not?
Baking has become a trend that can be seen all over social media. It involves applying loose setting powder to different areas of the face and letting it ‘bake’ for a few minutes to lock in your makeup. In summer, however, I’d leave the baking to the sun. Try to avoid using excessive powder as the build-up of sweat and oil can start to cake up on your face and leave it looking blotchy. Apply your setting powder with a very light hand.
Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder has been an undisputed favourite for years.
My favourite way of applying loose powder is by lightly pressing it into the skin with a damp sponge. The pressing motion doesn’t disturb the rest of the makeup, while the damp sponge makes sure the powder isn’t looking cakey.
A pro tip: If you do start to notice shine coming through during the day, try blotting with tissue or blotting paper first, and then use compact powder to touch up those areas.
Easy on the eyes
Switch the harsh liners and shadows for something softer. Using earthier, bronze tones paired with a soft line of kajal can look really flattering. If you are someone prone to mascara and eyeliner bleeding, especially in the heat, so try finding waterproof alternatives.
La Roche-Posay’s Respectissime Extension Mascara is a waterproof mascara that seems to tick all the boxes. Lengthening, volumising and flake-free, definitely a winner!
A pro tip: if you find your pencil liner spreads, try using a waterproof gel liner and smudge it out with a small eye brush to avoid harsh lines. Inglot’s AMC Eyeliner Gel in shade 77 is perfect for this.
Dab that blush
Using cream blushers are a great way to get just the right amount of vibrance and have it blend into your base makeup effortlessly. Try Daniel Sandler’s Watercolour Blusher for a wash of colour on your cheeks; there are so many gorgeous shades to choose from and so easy to use too.
A pro tip: A touch of powder blush on top of the cream blusher can help to lock it in place.
Perfect pout
Lip colour is something that you can have a bit of fun with, but ditch those matte lipsticks for now. Switching between temperatures can really dry out your lips and the last thing you want to do is dry them out more. If you like to keep it natural and understated, try using a flesh-toned liner on the lips and go over it with a gloss or balm. Using a gloss or a balm will keep your lips looking plump and moisturised.
Try Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb, which delivers an explosive shine with its non-sticky formula and conditioning ingredients, making it feel as good as it looks. For a bolder look, try colours such as coral, tangerine, pretty pink and even a nice rich red for those warm summer evenings. MAC Cosmetics’ Lipstick in All Fired Up is a pinkish red with an intense colour payoff. This one is a matte lipstick, but as it’s not liquid, it feels very comfortable on the lips without becoming patchy.
Light highlights
It’s very easy to get carried away with the ‘glow up’. But trust me, a light sweep of highlighter across the high points of your face and a bit of bronzer around the perimeters will definitely give you that sun-kissed radiance.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze and Glow is a beautiful duo compact that will help reflect light just where you want it.
Set the look
The last step in applying makeup is spritzing a good setting spray to lock it all in place. The one I would recommend has become somewhat of a cult product and that is Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray.
A pro tip: If you have dry skin, or want extra hold, use the setting spray in between applying makeup too, especially powders, as it will help take care of any build up.
Lastly, have fun and try new colours and looks, this is a perfect time to do it. Have a fab summer!
www.yasminhussain.com and Instagram: @yasmin_a_h
