HOW TO MAINTAIN THAT SUMMER GLOW FOR LONGER

We all get to a point in September where autumn is looming and the best of the UK weather is behind us, most probably leaving us disappointed as we didn't have much sun at all. I went on holiday really early this year and so for the past three months I’ve been doing my up most to maintain my summer glow and generally make me look less like a ghost. The first and most important tip is to FAKE FAKE FAKE – the burnt/peeling hue really isn’t a good look for anyone and as I’m sure you know, is also very dangerous.

TAN // 

I love fake tan however after a long day at work I struggle to find the motivation to sit there and apply it the old fashioned way. Thank god we have been introduced to the new express tans such as the Bondi Sands Self Tan Lotion (£14.99) and the St. Tropez Express Tan (£33.00) I can now put it on and wash it off, all within 3 hours. If I’m feeling really lazy I use the Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tanner (only £1.00 at Superdrug) which is pretty much a tinted moisturiser for your body, giving a subtle glow to my skin.

MOISTURISE //

Once you have your base tan an important thing to remember is to keep your skin hydrated. Your skin can become massively dehydrated in the summer months and often oily skin is a sign of this – think of excess oil as like a warning sign from your skin. Most of the time (I should really practice what I preach here) I moisturise after I have bath/shower and if I have any especially dry patches I try to keep on top of them throughout the day. Not only will your skin feel gorgeous but you will see results in how healthy and glowy your skin looks.

NAILS //

Bright nail varnish is not only gorgeous for the sunny weather but certain colours can actually make you look more tanned. I opt for pale colours such as light blues and whites to give the illusion of a deeper tan.

BRONZER //

This is an obvious one but I’m a big believer of bronzer. I’d rather wear a lighter coloured foundation and bronze my skin wherever it needs it rather than looking like a tangerine from step one. I’ve been loving the Benefit Hoola Bronzer (£23.50) and of course Nars Laguna – however this has now ran out! A good fluffy brush and a warm bronzer is all you need to perfect that summer glow.

EYE-SHADOW //
People might not think that eye shadow is really something you can adapt for the summer, however I like to use warm golden shades to give me that gold eyed, sun kissed look. The golden shades you wear on your eyes can also be transitioned for autumn, there’s nothing I love more than a gold eye and a berry lip.

EPILATING 101

I first bought an epilator when I was about 17, I think it probably got used once and that was it, I was scared off. Then skipping to five years later, one of my friends encouraged me to give it another go. I played about with it for a few weeks and she gave me all kinds of tips to make the process, err, more bearable such as exfoliating, taking a paracetamol and simply gritting your teeth.

I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t hurt, or even that you get used to it a little. Because in my experience you don’t, you just weigh up whether the pain is worth the results or not. When I started again I was determined to succeed so I started epilating my underarms and legs and as painful as it was it was great for my holiday as I didn’t have to shave at all.

If you can deal with the pain, epilating brings so many benefits, you don’t have to shave every two days and once you become an expert you can do it within 10 minutes. People also say that if you keep it up over a long period of time the hairs begin to stop growing which in all fairness, would be the absolute dream.

So after using it for a couple of weeks my conclusion is:

• It works great for underarms. I get a smooth finish which you just can't get from shaving normally. It’s really quick and even though it is painful, it's such a small patch of hair it's over in minutes.

• For legs, I’m not so convinced. I’m not sure if it’s because I have a rather dated epilator or maybe I’m just not doing it right. But I don’t seem to get a smooth finish and I’m really not ok with that. I’ve tried using different projects, doing it different ways and it’s never worked well for me. So in simple words, I’ve given up!

I’d definitely suggest starting with a cheaper (some can be pretty expensive) epilator to see how you get on and really test it out for a few weeks. I know I wouldn’t go back to shaving my underarms but for now, I’m sticking to the old fashioned way for my legs.

BACK TO SCHOOL MAKE UP

I remember when I first started experimenting with make-up at school, I was lucky because my school wasn’t too strict on how much we could wear but some of my friends had to be so careful. I wanted to write a post about back to school make-up and I’m using the term school very loosely as this is aimed at secondary schoolers, college students and even university students. I remember being at school and trying to subtly experiment as much as I could without being told off and as soon as I got to college/university I wanted to put it on in the quickest time possible in order to get that extra 15 minutes in bed! I think the main thing to remember is that its school, no one really cares what you look like and most of the time everyone is in the same boat. I think it’s important to identify the areas you would like to focus on the most and spend more time on those areas. 

CONCEALER // Maybelline Eraser Eye

There’s nothing a spot of concealer won’t correct and if you get the right one it’s so easy to apply and buff in, taking only a few seconds. I really like the Age Rewind, not for its anti-aging properties but for purely how easy it is to apply! 

CREAM BLUSH // Bourjois Cream Blush - 01 

A bit of blush will always make you look more awake and refreshed. I think adding colour to your cheeks is really important and when done properly, looks really natural too. I love using cream blushes as I don’t think you can go wrong in terms of applying too much. The shade 01 from Bourjois’ cream blush line is great for a natural peachy look. 

POWDER // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

To matte everything down and provide the lasting power, I like to use some powder. The Rimmel Stay Matte will always be an old favourite. It’s incredibly cheap and does exactly what it’s supposed to! 

EYELASH CURLERS & MASCARA // Max Factor Masterpiece HD Waterproof Mascara 

One thing I cannot manage without is a good mascara. It really doesn’t have to be expensive, personally I think you can find some excellent mascaras in the drugstore and I’ve never been bothered about the high end alternatives. I’ve recently got massively in to eyelash curlers, they make sure a difference to my eyelashes and despite the annoyance of having an extra step in my routine, I love them. 

NUDE EYESHADOW // Maybelline Colour Tattoo or Mac Pro-Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork

You might not want to bother with eye-shadow but a lot of the time I like to define my eyes very slightly with a natural brown shadow. I love paint pots such as the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in the bronzey shade or the Mac ones. They look so natural on the eyes and are again, so easy to apply. 

LIP BALM // Carmex

Finish with a lip balm of your choice. I really like the good old fashioned Carmex, but you can use whatever you like - no one can go wrong with that!