August: month of heat, travel, food and wine. For those of us who have an interest in the cosmetic side of things, it’s also a month of dry skin, summer spottiness and a whole lot of puffiness. These August beauty favourites are all about combatting those…
Eve Lom Rescue Mask / I first bought this mask at 14 and repurchase every time my skin is behaving badly – it’s particularly helpful on those days when everything looks a little angry and spots are simmering under the surface. Equally, when used over time this clay-based mask helps to stop things from ever reaching that point. Containing camphor to cool and decongest, almond extract to reduce puffiness and kaolin to absorb excess oil, this won’t dry skin out as some masks do, instead going to work on purifying and soothing. It also offers a little exfoliation as the almond smooths skin during removal. It’s on the expensive side, sure, but if you’re looking for a weekly mask and spots are your big concern, you won’t need another.
Peter Thomas Roth Botanical Buffing Beads / This is another one that I’ve used for years but always crack out when my skin is being volatile. Best applied in the morning to help gently slough away dead skin and reduce blockages, the stand-out feature of this is the texture – it is a gel that you can work into your skin without damage (it’s not scratchy or too foamy). After a rinse with water, skin is left satisfyingly clean. As it also emulsifies sebum clogging pores, those of you with blackheads ought try this.
By Terry Cellularose Nutri-Pure Comforting Balm Cleanser / The name is a mouthful but the product simplicity itself; a pink (pink! this delighted me) creamy balm that you smooth on skin before removing with a warm muslin cloth. On days when I have a little more time, I work it in to let the rose extract, camellia oil and vitamin E go to work. Other than the pinkness, the smell and aftermath of this are also pretty beautiful – no dryness post, no angry redness. Just soft, rosy skin.
Guerlain Cils D’Enfer Mascara in Noir / I have various reasons for shying away from raving about too many mascaras. First, a mascara is a mascara – they don’t need to be expensive or gimmicky to work, so long as the formula and brush are to your taste. This leads me to my second point – what becomes a lash is massively personal and the finish and thickness preferred varies from person to person. This one, however, I’d feel more than confident to recommend across the board. It is buildable, doesn’t clump easily and finishes to encase lashes in a creamy, not crumbly, blacker than black paste. And it’s £22, so relatively cheap for a ‘premium’ mascara.
Alterna Re-texturizing Protein Cream / By the end of summer my hair wants to be: dry, highlighted and slightly brittle. I want it to be: soft, shiny and manageable. Thanks to my cocktail of hair nourishers, I’ve won this battle. I suspect one of the best weapons I’ve deployed has been this protein cream. I slide a broad bean-sized lump into my hair after washing and then blow dry as usual. The difference if I forget to use it is noticeable.
Nars Super Orgasm Lipgloss / The trend-conscious among you may have noticed that glossy lips are out. I even wrote a paean to matte lips here. I forgot all of that when I got a little tan. A gloss so complements honeyed skin. And this one, with its peachy, pinky colour does the job better than no other. Me likely muchly. (Note to the sensitive of nose: it’s whiffy, as all Nars lip glosses are. Smell before you buy if you’ve never used one of theirs before).
Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream / This brand is a consistent winner over here. Not only is this under £15, it is also 98.8% natural and packs a punch on the moisture front. As little vexes me more than the sensation of dry skin on my hands, this has been a constant companion this month.
Omorovicza Balancing Moisturiser / I’ve managed to polish off two bottles of this over the course of the summer. A cream-gel that both rehydrates and plumps but also wards off excess oiliness and spots (pineapple, ruby crystal and rosemary are to thank), this has been extremely helpful to keep my wrinkles and spots simultaneously at bay. Also, the smell. Heavenly.
The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil / You know those days after having been on holiday when you’re just enormously parched of hair and skin and want to douse yourself in oil? This is what I rubbed into my skin and hair to replenish lost moisture after having been in Portugal. It’s a dry oil, so you can dress right after applying to your body, and the argan content is Community Fair Trade, so you can rub away with a clear conscience.
YuRoll Jade Roller / As I believe that facial massage can make all the difference to a slightly wobbly jowl or swollen eye, I try to make time for some before I go out in the evening or after a heavy night. Usually, I am strapped for time or energy and use these instead to kickstart lymphatic drainage and decrease puffiness. The added bonus? When you first start rolling they’re refreshing thanks to the cooling jade.
L’oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Elixir / I don’t often fake tan. There have been too many streaky arms and orange fingers in my life for me to risk it too often. This fake tan has gone a long way to help rebuild my confidence in putting the stuff on without needing a mitt/daylight/industrial strength remover. Also, it doesn’t smell of ANYTHING whatsoever. I put this on twice weekly to keep up the light tan I caught while away.