Long, tanned limbs spread out on white sand. Perfect beachy waves lapping bare backs at waterside dinners. Manicured hands holding free-flowing rosé. Summer looks so sexy on our social feeds. But the reality is a lot less glamorous — especially if you’re holidaying in the Mediterranean during a heat warning or driving the sticky Central Line every day (I speak from experience).
There are the itchy mosquito bites, the messy hair that takes on a life of its own in the humidity — and even the most meticulous SPF applicators can’t avoid the odd, questionable tan spot. But help is at hand. Here, London beauty pros share their solutions to all your summer beauty woes.
Heat causes damaged locks and chlorine-contaminated color
“Intensive and prolonged sun exposure can be damaging to hair. UV rays specifically damage the keratin in the hair shaft, leaving hair feeling weak and brittle,” explains Florence Johnson, co-owner of SIMPLY Gorgeous afro hair salon. And then there’s the fact that the sun dries out your hair. “This can be particularly damaging to curly or afro hair types, which tend to be drier,” Johnson explains. So if you’re planning on taking a dip in the ocean or the lido, remember that “your hair is like a sponge,” explains Tom Smith, artist at Olaplex and global creative director at Evo. “Pre-saturating your strands with clean water and a rich leave-in conditioner, or even a restorative mask, will ‘plump’ your hair with goodness, meaning it’s less likely to absorb chlorine and salt from the pool, and less likely to have its natural lipids and condition stripped by the sun.” Philip Kingsley’s Swimcap mask (£24 for 100ml, philipkingsley.co.uk) is a favourite among swimmers.
When you’re on dry land, covering your crown and protecting your locks with SPF is the best prevention. Smith recommends throwing on a hat or headscarf and replenishing your UV hair protection throughout the day. Try Aveda’s sun care protective hair veil (£32 for 100ml, aveda.co.uk ). Better yet, wear your hair in a braid so it can be easily shielded from the sun.
Or if your locks are already brittle, Smith recommends: “Always start with a clarifying shampoo to remove residue from chlorine, salt, skincare and SPF.” I like Larry King Haircare City Life Shampoo (£18 for 100ml, cultbeauty.co.uk ). Next, you should follow up with a deep conditioning treatment. Virtue’s Restorative Treatment Mask is designed to repair heat-damaged hair (£67 for 150ml, lookfantastic.com ).
“Steaming is also a great way to replenish any moisture that may have been stripped away,” says Johnson. This involves using moist heat to open the cuticle on coils and coils for a deep cleanse and to encourage maximum absorption of treatments. For an at-home treatment, try the Steam Bar steam cap (£35, thesteambar.com ) for a 20- to 30-minute steam over a hair mask.
And what if your previously glossy blonde highlights have taken on a green tinge from the pool? Celebrity colourist Amy Fish says to use a lightening shampoo with vitamin C to “gently remove the tint”, such as Redken Blondage High Bright shampoo (£21.51 for 300ml, lookfantastic.com ). She then warns: “Stay away from home hair colouring and book an appointment with your colourist when you get back.”
Flaky feet and muted manicure
Are your feet looking parched after a summer in your Birkenstocks? “When you wear sandals, your feet are exposed to the elements, which can lead to dry and dehydrated skin, especially in the sun where moisture evaporates quickly,” explains Hannah Taylor, nail polish ambassador for The GelBottle. “Sandals also lack the protection and cushioning of closed shoes, which can lead to dry skin due to friction.”
To avoid the unsightly look, she recommends exfoliating a few times a week: “It helps to remove dead skin cells that build up and create calluses.” Additionally, try to treat your feet more like your face in the summer by moisturising daily with “a rich cream or butter, used after your shower to keep your skin hydrated”. Margaret Dabbs’ Exfoliating Foot Scrub (£20 for 100ml, boots.com) works wonders. “Applying these products with a massage can help to improve circulation and keep the skin supple,” Taylor adds. And if the peeling is stubborn, look for a cream with “urea or salicylic acid to aid exfoliation”.
And how do you keep your manicure from chipping or cracking? “Gel manicures are more resilient than regular polish, making them a great choice for a vacation,” Taylor suggests. Use The Gel Bottle’s salon finder (thegelbottle.com/salon-finder) to schedule your London appointment. And apply a cuticle oil daily “to keep your nails and cuticles hydrated and maintain the flexibility of the gel polish to prevent cracking,” Taylor says.
When it comes to DIY manicures and pedicures, make sure you use a high-quality base coat before applying your chosen shade. Beauty Pie’s Wonderlayer™ diamond powder base coat (£7 for 10ml for members, beautypie.com ) contains vitamin B5 and Omega 3 oil to strengthen and smooth. And when it comes to the top coat, choose one with UV filters such as Beauty Pie’s Flexiglass™ UV top coat (£7 for 10ml for members, beautypie.com ). “This will protect the colour from sun damage and, when reapplied every few days, can provide extra protection to maintain shine and colour,” says Taylor.
Burnt and itchy skin
There’s nothing quite like insect bites when summer comes. Cosmetic scientist Sam Farmer advises that once you’ve discovered the blemish and cleaned the area, cooling it down is the best way to stop the inflammation, along with using allergy medications if necessary. “Put ice packs on the affected area for a minute or two if you can, to help reduce swelling and [if it’s an arm or leg] Hold it up for as long as you can.” And if the bite site looks infected, go to the chemist for advice.
Love to sunbathe but forgot to reapply your SPF? If you notice yourself turning red, “get out of the sun immediately,” cautions Farmer. To soothe things, “take a cool, gentle shower for about five minutes or use cold washcloths on the affected area for a few minutes, but avoid applying ice packs or frozen gel pads directly to your skin.” It’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, aiming for two to three liters throughout the day. If you must go outside, wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. And of course, pack the after-sun lotion and replenish it as needed to keep your skin from drying out. Once the burn has healed, you can go back to applying it once a day after sun exposure. Green People’s Hydrating After Sun (£21.50 for 200ml, greenpeople.co.uk) is natural, certified organic and contains soothing aloe vera, calendula, myrrh oil and peppermint oil.
Once your skin has healed, what do you do with those unsightly straplines and telltale bits of paler tan? You may want to wear them with pride, like Sydney Sweeney and Bella Hadid, who have shown off their lines on the red carpet and Instagram, but if you want to fake an all-over glow, celebrity tanner James Harknett has you covered. “If you suffer from tan lines, gentle exfoliation is key to a tan,” he says. Try Three Warriors Tasmanian Sand Scrub (£32 for 150g, threewarriors.co.uk ) to soften and hydrate.
While it may seem logical to “fill in the gaps” left by your natural glow, Harknett warns that this will also tan the edges and lead to harsher lines. “The best product to use is a gradual tanner that adapts to your skin tone,” he says. He recommends using a beauty blender or sponge. Try Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge (£6.99, lookfantastic.com ) with Three Warriors natural gradual tan (£32.99 for 150g, threewarriors.co.uk ). “You can be very strategic with where you apply the tan and make sure you don’t over-tan your real colour and end up with that darker edge.”
“You need to build up to your perfect color match, which you can do morning and night, or spread out over a few days,” he advises, adding that you should continue to gently exfoliate every two to three days to keep your skin smooth and ensure it renews evenly, without flaking.
Now all that’s left to do is enjoy your favorite summer drink.