With summer comes lighter days and lighter makeup.

But if you’re not confident in your own skin it can be easy to turn to heavy foundations to mask your skin concerns – which really doesn’t feel great in the heat.

Transitioning from one season to another can bring unsightly breakouts and a dull complexion, not to mention the hot weather leaving your skin feeling dry, flaky and in need of some help.

But as always, we’ve got you covered. We caught up with the founder of Beautiful Betty (Hexham’s first ethical, sustainable and conscious beauty salon and shop) and skin specialist, Haley, to find out how to transform our dull complexion into glowing and dewy summer skin in no time.

Goodbye, heavy foundation. Hello, fresh glowy skin…

HLN TOP TIP: Beautiful Betty is kindly offering our readers 20% off all products featured below by quoting ‘HLN20%’ on checkout

 

PROTECTION. PROTECTION. PROTECTION.

It’s a well-known fact that when the sun is out, we should wear SPF, but what people don’t realise is that even when you can’t see the sun, those UV rays are still causing damage. Even on the dullest day, UVA and UVB rays are active and damage the skin causing premature skin ageing. So let me tell you that this should be the first skincare product you buy, the younger you are the better.

Even lesser known is that blue light, from your phone and computer screens, can also cause damage to the skin by accelerating the production of free radicals.  It’s important to invest in high-quality and efficient SPF from the experts. SPF in your make-up or moisturiser is simply not enough, it isn’t as efficient as a dedicated SPF but will add a small layer of protection. However, some brands such as Medik8 produce efficient SPF in their moisturiser, but a general rule of thumb is that they’re not enough and you need to invest in a separate product.

HYDRATION IS KEY

When wanting to hydrate the skin, look for products containing hyaluronic acid. Think of the skin like a sponge, as you lose moisture, it shrinks, but when hydrated it becomes buoyant and full. This is what happens as you get older, your skin’s ability to retain water lessens and lines and wrinkles appear more obvious. Hyaluronic acid will charge the skin with deep hydration giving it a plump, smooth and healthy glow. Personally, I like to add hyaluronic acid as a separate step, followed by a light moisturiser and then SPF.

Summer skin always seems more balanced than winter skin and that’s because there are fewer fluctuations in environmental stresses such as heating and extreme cold. When it comes to summer, I like to change my moisturiser for something a little bit lighter in texture and less heavy, but I still always moisturise, morning and night. Other ways to add deep hydration are to use glycerin-based masks and cold-pressed oils from the Baobab tree.

EXFOLIATION TO ENHANCE A NATURAL TAN

I know what you’re thinking; ‘exfoliating will take my tan off.’ But exfoliating actually removes the very top layer of dead skin cells which reveals beautifully smooth skin underneath, thus enhancing the tan. Exfoliating is an important step for the face and body all year round but in the summer it’s twofold because not only is it removing dead skin cells which are stuck on the skin, but it enhances the ability to absorb added hydration and make way for fresh bright skin underneath.

We shed skin daily anyway, exfoliation simply helps it along and is a much more efficient way to get rid of the skin which causes bacterial build-up, congestion, blemishes and dullness. I recommend gentle mechanical exfoliation 1 – 3 times per week depending on your skin type and needs. These are typically scrubs using salts, sugar, crushed rice or Pearl. Acid exfoliation is great for targeting specific skin concerns, AHA’s for anti ageing, BHA’s for problematic skin and, PHA’s are best for sensitive skin types. Put simply, exfoliation paves the way for everything you do next… so that everything else you apply to your skin works as effectively and efficiently as it’s supposed to.

NOURISH WITH VITAMIN C

If you want to feed your skin and give it its best glow, then look no further than vitamin C. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants which fight free radicals which cause irreparable skin damage and therefore premature ageing. Vitamin C helps stimulate collagen production and reduce melanin’s overproduction, which causes dark spots. I love vitamin C but like your SPF, go to your skincare expert for advice; ‘ off the supermarket shelf’ products will not give you the best vitamin C Serum, which I can’t stress enough.

TAILORED ADVANCED FACIALS FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

As a skincare specialist, I have to say that I love a facial. They’re the ultimate in relaxation but also an opportunity to get on top of your skincare routine, check your products and get advice. We appreciate that skincare can be overwhelming, there’s a lot out there to choose from, and we have all made the mistake of buying the wrong thing which leaves us feeling disappointed. Regular facials can keep you on track as your skin changes from season to season, through hormonal fluctuations, stress and lifestyle changes.

Beautiful Betty, 3 St Mary’s Chare, Hexham NE46 1NQ