THE JOURNAL
In theory, summer should be the most low-maintenance of the seasons. But grooming-wise, we all end up raising it a notch: switching up your scent, pasting on the SPF, trying to tame your frizzy-from-the-heat hair. So, here’s a little guide to everything-summer – from how to protect your skin from the sun and heat to finding your go-to summer fragrance and having a smooth summer glow throughout your day. The perfect prep for any vacation (or just looking like you’ve had one).
01.
Sun safely
At this point, everybody knows that SPF is fundamental in protecting your skin from UV rays, avoiding sunburn and preventing dark spots and fine lines, as well as cancer. But it needs to be a sufficient layer of sunscreen to actually protect your skin.
“The single most important thing is to use the right amount of product to get the level of protection promised on the tube,” says Harley Street dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting. “That’s 30ml or a shot glass amount for a head-to-toe application.”
You should be reapplying every two hours – more often if you’re swimming or getting sweaty. And sit in the shade when you can and avoid being in the sun during peak UV exposure between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
For after-sun care, Dr Bunting suggests washing off the SPF product with a non-foaming cleanser to “avoid drying out your skin barrier” and “then apply a moisturiser which contains anti-inflammatory ingredients like allantoin and aloe,” that is for both face and body.
Grown Alchemist’s Soothing Body Gel-Lotion, formulated with aloe vera, magnesium and amino acids, will keep you hydrated, but won’t sit on the skin. For your face, Susanne Kaufmann’s Moisturizing Gel with hyaluronic acid, aloe and apple extracts, is a perfect after-sun moisturiser that your skin will drink up.
02.
Glow without the greasy shine
During the warmer months, “avoid using skincare that clogs pores,” says Dr Bunting. She recommends her patients to skip moisturiser altogether in the summer if they have a combination/oily skin type, and simply rely on their SPF. “Choose an SPF with the finish you desire – gel delivers more of a matte look,” she says.
A lightweight antioxidant serum, such as Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Brightening Serum or Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster, makes for a belt-and-braces approach to sun protection and hydration. And if your skin is particularly parched, introducing a mist in between your skincare steps will add a boost of hydration – try La Mer’s The Mist or Grown Alchemist’s Detox Hydra-Mist+.
You can also use a layer of tinted moisturiser to give skin a healthy glow, says make-up artist and men’s groomer Ms Lucy Halperin. “Really pat it in the face, to make sure it firmly sticks to the face, and that way you probably don’t need to use a powder.” Start with a thin layer and then build up if you need to. “I also love blotting papers – just blot those on the skin to take the oil out during the day,” she says.
Meanwhile, for those with pale skin looking for a touch of colour this summer, Halperin recommends a bronzing gel. “The TOM FORD bronzing gel is unbelievable,” she says. “It’s a pigmented colour, I mix it with an anti-redness moisturiser, I would put that all over the face, and then take the gel and pat some extra colour on your cheeks and forehead.”
03.
Look after your hair
Sun, sea, sweat and pollution can all dry out your hair and scalp, so protecting and moisturising during the summer months is key. Opt for a weekly mask to hydrate and nourish the hair – Aesop’s Rose Hair And Scalp Moisturising Mask will infuse the hair with moisturising ingredients without weighing it down. Also try a leave-in conditioner such as Sisley’s Precious Hair Care Oil with passion fruit, shea and moringa, and maybe wear a hat if you’re out in the sun.
“I like using creams for your hair [instead of styling gels],” Halperin says. “And what I sometimes like doing is adding a bit of oil as well.” A product such as Aesop’s Violet Leaf Hair Balm will keep your hair in place and nourish it instead of drying it out. If your hair is extra dry, adding a bit of jojoba or almond oil to the cream will make the product even more moisturising.
Halperin also suggests not over-washing your hair – aim for about three times a week or less. “If you want to take the day’s dirt off, just rinse it,” she says. And once every few weeks, a scalp scrub will help exfoliate any product build-up or grime – Christophe Robin’s Purifying Shampoo formulated with cherry blossom extract (which has anti-inflammatory properties) will do that without over-sensitising the scalp.
04.
Keep sweat in check
An average human body has between two to four million sweat glands, and it sure does feel that way during the summer heat. Wearing breezy fabrics, such as linen, and a good deodorant will do the job. And a few spritzes of Aesop’s Deodorant Spray will refresh your pits in no time. If you suffer from chafing, Anthony’s No Sweat Body Defence will keep you dry and protected by absorbing moisture.
For more extreme measures, having Botox on your underarm area (and any other part of your body) is a sweat-saving grace. “In people who excessively sweat, Botox can effectively reduce sweat production by around 95 per cent,” says Harley Street clinical aesthetician Dr David Jack. “Mostly this is done for the underarms, but some people do it for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the hands and feet, too.
“When Botox is injected, it binds onto these nerve endings, blocking acetylcholine release, and stops the signal being released to the target tissue. In muscle, this prevents the muscle fibres from twitching in response to the nerve signal, in sweat glands it prevents the activation of sweating.”
The results can last about four months, and by that time the cells have fully regenerated, going back to normal. Dr Jack adds: “When doing this treatment for the first time, patients often worry that they might sweat excessively elsewhere on the body as a result, however, there is no actual risk of this.”
If you want to opt for a a more permanent solution, you can opt for miraDry or a laser treatment. The former “uses microwave energy to target and heat the sweat glands, resulting in their destruction,” says Dr Jack. “Usually, two treatments would be required for both results and the result can be permanent.” Adding that along with permanently eliminating sweat glands, it can also remove hair follicles. “Other treatments such as fractional laser and fractional radio frequency treatments, such as Morpheus8 [a skin-tightening microneedling device], can also be used to destroy sweat glands.”
05.
Opt for an unexpected scent
Who said that in summer you should only wear citrus? While a zesty cologne can certainly suit hot weather, that doesn’t mean you should be limited to it. Instead, opt for something a bit more… literal. 19-69’s sweet and smoky La Habana will transport you to Cuba – the brand’s founder, Mr Johan Bergelin, was inspired by his uncle who had visited the island as a sailor before the revolution of the 1950s. The heady notes of saffron, incense, oud and amber nod to Cuban music of the time, capturing the energy of Buena Vista Social Club in a bottle.
If La Habana is too dark for your tastes, TOM FORD’s Bitter Peach might be for you. A fruity-meets-woody fragrance that smells, you guessed it, like a peach. With added notes of blood orange, labdanum, patchouli and sandalwood, Bitter Peach is the perfect scent to pair with an aloha shirt and a cocktail in hand.