Summer is my favourite time of the year. I love the warmth, the sunshine, the outdoor living and the fun social events at this time of year. I adore summer fashion with its floaty vibe, wedges, sandals and short sleeves with bangles stacked on the wrist.
1. Self Tan
As I gave up sunbathing a long time ago, self-tanning is a must, especially if I’m going away. I like my legs to be a golden brown, which is flattering and slimming. But it’s important to get it right.
I use Vita Liberata as it gives a very natural colour. People constantly remark on my great tan and can’t believe when I say it’s from a bottle. I start with their Lotion, £18, in medium to get the tan going and then move to their Gradual Build, £16, which I apply every day or every other day. I always use their Tanning Brush, £12, around my feet, knees, hands and elbows to stop any streaking. This works a treat.
2. SPF
It goes without saying that an SPF is very important, especially in the summer when the sun’s rays are at their most potent.
For trips away and when it’s very hot back home, I use the fantastic Evy Technology. They do an SPF 50 designed for the face, £25, and an SPF 30 for the body, £22.50.
It’s a mousse that when you rub your hands together, becomes a cream. It’s super light, water resistant and lasts for six hours, much longer than most sun creams. Great for the beach as you don’t need to keep re-applying. It also doesn’t go off, so you can keep it once opened for the next year and the year after that. Most sun creams will lose potency and shouldn’t be used after the season is over. Evy is perfect for sensitive skins and can even be used on babies.
For my day-to-day protection, I use ARK’s Skin Protector SPF 30 Primer, £47.50. This is one of my favourite ever products and is a brilliant multi-tasker. Moisturiser, primer and SPF 30 in one little bottle.
3. Hydration
Keeping hydrated is very important when it’s hot. We can lose energy and focus when de-hydrated, so I always reach for H3O Hydration by Rejuvenated, £27.50. This hydrates at a cellular level and as well as electrolytes, is filled with nutrients like hyaluronic acid to perk up your skin, brain and energy. It even supports your gut. It comes in little sachets of powder; just add water and you have a pleasant tasting drink. I always travel with these.
4. Floaty fashion
Linen and cheesecloth are my favourite fabrics for summer. They’re cool and comfy. I have a selection of linen shirts and dresses that I wear endlessly through the summer.
Cheesecloth has gone high fashion these days. ME+EM, one of my favourite fashion brands, brings out a great selection of cheesecloth tops and dresses each summer. This year I treated myself to a brown cheesecloth jumpsuit, £195. It may sound a bit unusual but it’s extremely flattering and very comfortable. I wear it casually for daytime or glam it up with lots of gold jewellery for evenings.
© Glynis Barber5. Bronzer
I was never a great fan of bronzer because it can look unnatural and like a tint plastered on your face. That’s until I discovered the incredible bronzers at Studio 10.
The Perfect Bronze Glow-Plexion, £19.92, is a gold/bronze gel that makes skin look super dewy. I like to use it on the top of my cheek bones and the areas that would naturally catch the sun. Nose, forehead and bottom of chin.
They also do a silky Bronzing Powder that’s a very flattering colour. I’ve discovered that using these two bronzers together gives an incredible result.
Start with the gel and then using a big flat brush, sweep the powder over it. It gives a tanned flush that’s fresh and natural.
6. Summer Lips
Uplifting and soft colours work well in the summer. I always use a lip pencil in a soft natural colour to define and give the lips structure. To increase the volume, I pencil on the very outside of my natural lip line.
Trinny London has just launched her Lip Reset range, designed to enhance and flatter mature lips. It consists of a lip pencil and a gloss. The large range of colours are wonderful and give a diffused look of colour. They’re not sticky or too glossy but rather hydrating and luscious.
I love the gloss in Kiki, £47 for the kit, as it’s a bright happy pink. As a solid colour it would be too much for me, but it works wonderfully as the more subtle gloss.
© Glynis Barber7. Slim & Sculpt
There are times when getting into a bathing suit after a long winter feels uncomfortable. Our body may not feel ready for a public viewing.
Lisa Harris has devised a wonderful, completely non-invasive, body treatment to help tighten, slim and tone areas of the body that we feel need a bit of help.
It could be the thighs, the tummy or the arms. She uses her non-invasive gadgets to help get rid of cellulite, boost collagen and tone the muscles. She smooths, flushes out toxins and excess fluid and contours the body.
I love Lisa’s holistic but high-tech approach and she gives great results.
Now all we need is the sun to come out and play and with a bit of luck, a beach somewhere.
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