Carola Long, FT deputy fashion editor
Laura Mercier, Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation, £38, johnlewis.com
This foundation combines the “natural” effect Laura Mercier is renowned for, with a long-lasting, sweat-proof and waterproof resilience. It also fulfils my criteria for an easy-to-blend base — namely, can it be slapped on my face, possibly in transit using my phone as a mirror, and still look good? The answer is yes.
Zelens, Daily Defence Mineral Sunscreen, £38, zelens.com
For a mineral sunscreen — which uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to create a physical barrier to UV rays — this broad-spectrum cream is pleasant to wear and doesn’t feel thick or leave a white residue like some mineral products.
Tan-Luxe, Express Tanning Mousse, £37, tan-luxe.com
Perfect for the impatient — or anyone who finds being coated in self-tanners a bit sticky and claustrophobic — Tan-Luxe’s mousse made with naturally derived DHA (the tanning ingredient) can be washed off after 30 minutes if you just want a light glow. For a deeper colour, leave it on for three hours. I went for 90 minutes and it created a golden colour on my fair skin.
Victoria Beckham, EyeWear stick in caramel, £30, victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Eyeshadow sticks are everywhere, but Victoria Beckham’s are my favourite and I particularly like Caramel, a metallic bronze. You can combine it with eyeliner, or just draw a stripe along your lashline, smudge it a bit and, hey presto, a sophisticated “smoky-eye lite” that’s lovely for summer parties.
Merit Flush Balm cheek colour, £32, meritbeauty.com
Beauty brand Merit landed in the UK earlier this year, and its crayon-like Flush Balm cheek tint creates a youthful, healthy radiance with a sheer, buildable wash of colour.
Teo van den Broeke, editorial director, Soho House
Augustinus Bader, The Eye Patches, from £17, augustinusbader.com
Augustinus Bader’s new hydrating eye patches have become my saviours after late nights, making the skin around my eyes feel firmer and look brighter. The patches, free of synthetic fragrance, are imbued with Bader’s trademark Trigger Factor Complex, a heady mix of vitamins, amino acids and peptides designed to rejuvenate and nourish skin.
Sunday Riley, B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum, £54, libertylondon.co.uk
If you suffer from redness, enlarged pores or breakouts, it can be tricky to track down gentle products that tackle the issue effectively without first making it worse. Sunday Riley’s targeted products are among my favourites as they’re gentle on the skin while being fairly priced. This new serum is imbued with 10 per cent niacinamide (vitamin B3), which helps skin hang on to moisture while minimising pores and evening out skin tone. A dose of trans-resveratrol acts as an antioxidant, working with the niacinamide to reduce dark spots.
Dermatica, SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen, £16, dermatica.co.uk
This chemical-filter sunscreen is easily absorbed into the skin (no ashiness to see here!) and the hydrating formula is also fragrance-free, so you won’t be left smelling like a piña colada once you’ve applied it.
Almora Botanica, Restorative Night Face Oil, £125, almorabotanica.com
Almora Botanica reimagines ancient Indian techniques of Ayurvedic medicine and skincare, and its vegan products are almost 100 per cent made up of botanicals and herbs. The smallest amount of the brand’s delicious Restorative Night Face Oil will leave you looking refreshed by morning.
Byredo, Rouge Chaotique, £250, byredo.co.uk
Summer scents for men can be so dull that sometimes all I want is a bit of weirdness and complexity. Rouge Chaotique is a dense concoction of plum, papyrus, saffron, bergamot and patchouli. It’s about as un-summery as you can get, which is why I love it, and it smells good enough to eat.
Haeckels, Reef Complex Skin Oil, £34, haeckels.co.uk
Margate-based Haeckels’ new Reef Complex Skin Oil is an ultra-nourishing moisturiser that is great for post-sun use. Containing three types of seaweed (kelp, dulse and wrack) that grow along the chalk reef in Margate, the oil utilises bioactive compounds to soothe, calm and brighten skin.
Billie Bhatia, fashion columnist
Mecca, To Save Face Superscreen SPF50+, £35, meccacosmetica.com
Made with make-up wearers in mind, this sunscreen from Mecca is a matte formula that contains broad spectrum SPF50+ UVA and UVB protection, blending seamlessly into the skin with no greasy finish — making it a good primer.
Davines, SU Hair and Body Wash Bar, £26, uk.davines.com
Masterful hand luggage-only packing starts with this solid bar, which gently cleanses both hair and body and is a winner even on my curly, dry hair. It emulsifies into a rich, creamy, easy-to-lather texture, and is packed with natural ingredients that restore hydration after sun exposure.
Tatcha, Hinoki Forest Awakening Body Milk, £50, tatcha.co.uk
Thick moisturisers you have to work in are not for me. Thankfully Hinoki Body Milk offers a lightweight, gel-like lotion that sinks into the skin instantly. The citrusy, woody aroma of Hinoki oil is known for its calming and relaxing qualities, and is synonymous with Japanese bathing rituals.
Lisa Eldridge, Skin and Makeup Enhancing Mist, £37, lisaeldridge.com
There is no greater currency in the beauty world than glowing skin, and a helpful aid is Lisa Eldridge’s multipurpose mist, which can either be used as part of your skincare routine (spritz post-cleanse) or as part of your make-up (use as you would a setting spray). The mist uses Filmexel technology, a biopolymer network that creates a smoother appearance while prolonging the staying power of the make-up, as well as niacinamide (a glow essential) and hydration-boosting amino acids.
Colour Wow, Dream Coat Extra Strength, £32, uk.colorwowhair.com
You would be hard-pressed to find a beauty editor’s bathroom cabinet that didn’t feature Colour Wow’s most cult product: Dream Coat. The heat-activated smoothing treatment delivers glossy hair like no other. New innovation, however, has led to Dream Coat Extra Strength — a humidity-busting product that prevents external moisture from your frizzing up your hair, creating a glossy finish that lasts up to four washes. For best results, really saturate the hair from root to tip, apply heat, and watch the magic unfold.
Kosas, Revealer Concealer, £26, cultbeauty.co.uk
New to the UK, Kosas is a buzzy, clean beauty brand developed by Los Angeles-based artist and chemist Sheena Yaitanes. It creates make-up with tangible skin care benefits that go beyond the standard shading chart to include true neutrals, as opposed to just warm and cool tones. The Revealer Concealer, a viral sensation, is worth the hype. Pigmented but not heavy, buildable, and created with skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to plump and caffeine to brighten, this concealer is the kick-starter for good skin and good coverage.
Juliette Has A Gun, Lust For Sun, £95, selfridges.com
Uplifting and light, this eau de parfum smells like summer in a bottle. The top notes of freesia, coconut and bergamot, mixed with the base notes of vanilla and musk, evoke the scent of the sun beating down on skin just nourished with your favourite sun cream.
