Natural Ways to Look Good This Summer

Summer’s here at last, and we all want to look good now there’s more of us on display. All the magazines are full of hints for summer makeup, but do we really need makeup in the summer? I certainly don’t. When I’m going somewhere special, I love to wear makeup whatever it says on the calendar, but most of the time, I don’t bother. That doesn’t mean I let myself go or that I don’t care what I look like – I like to think that, whenever I go out or have visitors, I’m not going to frighten the children or those of a nervous disposition. I just don’t believe you need to spend a lot of time and money on makeup in order to look good.

The most important thing is to make sure the raw materials will stand up to scrutiny. If your face is clean, moisturised and blemish free, who needs to cover it up with layers of foundation? If your mother taught you well, you already know that you need to start looking after your skin long before you need to look after it, if you get my meaning. It’s no good waiting until your skin is showing signs of premature ageing before you take action; that’s already too late. You should have an established cleansing and moisturising routine before you even hit your twenties. It’s not necessary to spend a fortune on your skincare products, as long as they are suitable for your skin type.

I use Avon’s Anew wash-off cleanser, which is a nice light product for the summer months. It’s mildly exfoliant, which is important for sloughing off dead skin cells and keeping your skin looking fresh. I never, ever use soap on my face, and I would advise anyone else to avoid it; soap is too harsh and drying for most skin types. I always carry moisturising cleansing wipes for freshening up during the day or for times when water and a towel are not available. Clean skin is healthy-looking skin, and healthy-looking skin doesn’t need artificial help to look beautiful.

Moisturise faithfully with a product you trust. Again, I settle for Anew, as there is a range of moisturisers to suit all ages and skin types. Choose a moisturiser with an SPF factor of at least 15 in the summer; a sunkissed glow is beautiful, but sun-dried skin is ageing and potentially harmful. I never moisturise at night, as I don’t have dry skin.I find night creams can be too rich for me, resulting in unwanted spots. If you need a night time moisturiser, go for a light, non-greasy type; you don’t want an oil slick on your pillow every morning, do you? Remember to moisturise from within, as well; drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and replace moisture lost through perspiration.

I use my regular moisturiser on my lips as well, although if it gets really hot I use a lip salve with sunscreen. Nobody looks good with blistered lips! To give your lips a little more natural colour, just press them together every now and then. Check that nobody is watching though, or you may get some funny looks!

Make sure you pluck stray hairs from beneath your natural brow line to give a tidy, groomed look to your eye area. If you have dry skin around your eyes, use a good eye gel with cucumber or aloe vera to make the most of your eyes without needing makeup, and try to get enough sleep for your needs so you don’t get puffed eyes or dark circles.

To give your skin a fresh, dewy glow and for a quick cool down in summer, keep a face spritz in the fridge and use when necessary. I like Body Shop’s Face and Body Mist with Vitamin E. A little goes a long way, and it has a nice fresh smell.

Follow these quick, easy and inexpensive tips and you can free yourself from the tyranny of the daily makeup routine. What will you do with the time you save? Be beautiful!