Top Tips

Let’s face it, the combination of heat, sun, sea water and humidity can lead to a Summer of bad hair days. We dream of beach waves and sun-kissed highlights…but it never quite ends up that way does it? Never fear, take a look at these Summer hair hacks to make sure your hair is looking stunning all Summer long.

Fight the fringe fatigue:

Fringes and hot weather…never a good combo. Top tip: Keep a dry shampoo in your handbag and lightly spritz the roots throughout the day, making sure to brush the product up and into your hair to absorb excess oil. I love Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo 250ml

To smooth a frizzy fringe:

Forget your hairdryer and instead use a medium sized Velcro roller, strong enough to smooth out your hair when rolled in firmly lifting up at the roots. Spritz a light mist of hairspray and leave in whilst doing your makeup. Gently remove the roller and dress into place.

Taming frizz:

The secret to this is all in the preparation. Make sure you use a moisturising, smoothing balm or oil through freshly washed hair and comb through evenly from the mid lengths to ends. Blow-dry smooth or leave to dry naturally for controlled waves. I reach for Moroccanoil Oil Treatment 100ml

Remember, hair becomes instantly drier in heat. A heavier conditioner or treatment such as Kevin Murphy LUXURY.RINSE 250ml will help to ease frizz. If you are blow-drying your hair make sure it is 100% dry before a day in the heat. Any moisture left in the hair will be prone to frizz. Look for a light hair oil like Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment 100ml - it’s a saviour in humid weather. Work one drop through the mid-lengths and ends to smooth and nourish the hair.”

Keeping cool:

Up-dos don’t just look good but they help keep necklines fresh and cool. Braids are the go-to style of the moment. I absolutely love a fishtail plait and it’s the easiest braid to do yourself as there are only two sections to work with. The biggest mistake people make is not dishevelling it at the end. Once plaited and secured with a hairband, put your thumbs to the centre of the braid (where it crosses) and pull out, work up and down the braid using this technique until you have a wider loose braid. Use a light serum like Tecni Art Liss Control + Serum 50ml to smooth flyaway hairs.

Improvising new hair heroes: 

It’s amazing how the contents of your handbag can be used in an emergency! Vaseline is great for slicking back stray hairs, just be sure not to overuse it and wash it out at the end of the day. Talcum powder is also great around the hairline and also great for removing excess oils. Who knew?!

xoxo

I know it’s repetitive and I know cleansing your skin twice a day can be a bore, but it really is the most important part of your skincare routine. You can spend as much money as you want on fancy creams and serums, but if you don’t get the cleansing bit right…you’re wasting your money people. It’s quite simple really; unless you get rid of the daily (and nightly) build up of dead skin cells, your other products are basically just going to sit on the skin doing not a lot. Let me talk you through the steps of the perfect cleansing routine to get rid of the day and prep your skin for the products that come next.

Side note: You should always opt for a double cleanse at night. The first cleanse will rid you of the make up, leaving the second cleanse to do its job of cleansing your skin.

Step 1. Massage your cleanser of choice into dry skin. (If your cleanser of choice is soap and water though…just no.) It’s so tempting to use our cleansers in the shower after we’ve wet our face and body, but trust me on this one. The water in our showers is too hot for the delicate skin on our face.

Step 2. The massage side of this is really important. Make small circular movements, starting at your chin and working up to the cheeks to the eye area. Then shift along your jaw-line towards your ears to the cheeks and cheekbones. Then the same on your forehead. Make sure when you reach the eye area to sweep your fingers more gently in a circular but outwards motion. You can continue this for as long as you have time for. The longer you massage for, the happier your skin will be.

Step 3. Once you’ve finished your massage take a hot, wet flannel (or muslin cloth). Firstly press onto your face to remove the first part of your cleanser. Rinse the cloth under hot water, then you can be a bit more forceful as you swipe away more of the cleanser. Repeat until you feel you have wiped away all your remaining cleanser.

Step 4. Rinse the cloth again and wrap part of it around your index finger. Rub this in areas where makeup and dry/dead skin cells tend to build up (i.e. the crease around the nose, the sides of your face, under the chin.

Step 5. Repeat steps 1-4 as your ‘second cleanse’

Step 6. As a final step, rinse your flannel in cool water and press it over your entire face. This will help calm and relax the skin before you carry on your routine.

This routine will have your cleanser working harder than ever before to ensure that your skin is beautifully clean. Our top cleansers of choice are listed here: https://www.thesalonlook.com/skin-care/cleansers.html

xoxo

Time to dust off those wellies and dig out that tent…Summer festival season has arrived! Whether you’re off to the muddy fields of Glastonbury or the more chilled vibe of Secret Garden Party, festivals can spell danger for your oh so precious skincare routine. With just a few small changes to your product arsenal you can make sure that your summer glow stays intact.

Step 1. Cleanser

This is not the time to go to bed with your make-up still on people. I do appreciate though that hot water and clean flannels are at a premium while you're stuck in a field, so here’s my secret (not so secret) weapon; Garnier Micellar Water. Make sure to pack a small bottle of rinse-free Micellar Water and some cotton wool pads so you’ll be able to cleanse your face and remove makeup every night, even if there’s no running water available. Micellar waters actively cleanse your skin as well as freshening it. They contain micelles – tiny ball-shaped structures formed from cleansing molecules that start working when they make contact with your skin. Garnier Mini Micellar BB Gift Set is the perfect addition to your backpack.

Step 2. Sun Protection

I realise that our good old British Summer might not always produce glorious sunshine, but you’ll be spending 90% of your time outside at a festival, so you need make sure your sun protection is working hard to offset any sun exposure (yes even if it’s cloudy. See my last blog post here). Choose a product with a high SPF rating and re-apply it as needed during the day on all areas of exposed skin. Bring a hat to shade your face and neck from the sun, too (this comes with the added bonus of looking festival “chic”). I say you can’t go wrong with Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport.

Step 3. Change up your base

Time to switch up your foundation for more of a multi-tasker. A good quality BB cream will do most things your foundation does, i.e. covering blemishes and evening out skin-tone, but with the addition of sun protection and skincare benefits too. When choosing a BB cream, look for one that suits your skin type, especially if you have sensitive skin, or want to target specific skin concerns like signs of ageing, pigmentation spots or blemishes. I reach for Ambre Solaire BB Cream Sun Protection SPF50+ 50ml.

Step 4. Hydration

Sun exposure, camping (why?!) and late nights can add up to skin that looks dull and dehydrated. Cue a lightweight serum to hydrate your skin comfortably. I always go with one that contains light-reflecting properties, as it helps to restore the skin’s healthy glow. I LOVE Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer. A serum and hydrating primer in one, this product is a staple for me.

Step 5. Refresh and Revive

Feeling a bit groggy after a night in a tent? (let’s face it, who wouldn’t be?!) Refreshing facial mists are your friend as they help give energy to tired a devitalized skin. Try Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist for radiant, festival ready skin.

Send me your pics of your festival skincare kits and let me know how you find your new routine! #festivalskincaresurvival

xoxo