Laila Dahou's Summer Beauty Guide
Here, she shares the summer rituals, beauty favourites, and grounding wellness practices that keep her glowing, from humid city days to hot girl walks with a podcast in her ear.
Skin first, always
'Summer is my dewy skin season,' says Dahou. 'Less is more, always.' Her warm-weather beauty routine leans into ease: skin tints, creamy textures, and hydration that melts right in. 'If it doesn't melt into my skin, it's not invited.' Her handbag hero? A good mist. 'I'm obsessed with anything that makes me feel like I've just stepped out of a spa. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir lives in my bag. I spritz like I'm in a fragrance ad.'
When the sun hits hard, Dahou turns to skincare ingredients that calm and restore. 'Aloe vera is like a green juice for your face. And niacinamide is that girl. She brightens, hydrates, and calms sun-stressed skin.' SPF is a serious affair. 'Maximalist energy only,' she says. 'SPF 50, reapplied religiously. There's one in every handbag, my car, even the baby pram.'
In her beauty bag, you'll find 'Lanolips Lip Balm, at least three because I panic. Mini Pixi Glow Mist, Simihaze Skin Suede Melting Bronze Balm, Shiseido Sheer Sunscreen Stick SPF50+, Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain, and a Kayali travel perfume. Just the essentials.' Makeup during the summer stays minimal but strategic. 'Cream bronzer, brow gel, lip oil. That's my trio. I let my skin breathe and embrace the glow, even if it's slightly sweat-induced.' A final spritz of Charlotte Tilbury's Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray seals it in.
When it comes to fragrance, Dahou believes in a carefully layered mix of Byredo Blanche Absolu and Kayali's Capri in a Bottle. 'It's that perfect balance of fresh-out-the-shower clean and yacht-in-Italy energy. People stop me in the street to ask what I'm wearing. It's soft skin, salty breeze, and main character vibes.'
The wellness that keeps her grounded
With a life that moves between London and Dubai, and now with two little ones in tow, wellness for Dahou means checking in with herself before checking in to another destination. 'I've learned to unplug when I can. Less scrolling, more presence. Even putting my phone on Do Not Disturb for a few hours makes such a difference.' Her non-negotiable ritual? 'Morning meditation, always. Even if it's just five or ten minutes using the Calm app, it resets me. It's the one part of the day that's just for me, and it keeps me grounded no matter how wild things get.'
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