logo
This Is The Only Foundation That's Seen Me Through Every UK Heatwave This Year

This Is The Only Foundation That's Seen Me Through Every UK Heatwave This Year

Graziadaily2 days ago
I would argue that summer is the hardest time of the year to find the best foundation. Finding a sweatproof, water-resistant, yet glowing formula with the right amount of coverage can seem almost impossible. My list of requirements for complexion products is particularly long, but in a nutshell, I want a product that looks like skin, but better. Throughout a summer of holidays, weddings abroad, and evenings spent lounging in the garden, I need a foundation that suits every occasion. After much testing and deliberation, there's only one that gets my seal of approval for a summer of heatwaves - Dior's Backstage Face and Body Foundation, £41.
As a beauty writer, I don't tend to be monogamous with foundation, but I always find myself coming back to this one, especially in the warmer months. Offering longevity through high humidity and contact with water, and after years of trying many different formulas, it works wonders. When I need a foundation that can withstand a hot, humid climate, look perfect in photos, but still manages to look naturally radiant, this is the foundation I will always choose. It's also one you can get your hands on at duty-free, FYI. 1.
Shop: Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation
For me, full-coverage foundations no longer hit the spot. Instead, I look for a buildable formula that can be worked into the skin to add more coverage in specific areas. Not only do I love the glowing finish of Face and Body, but this foundation applies effortlessly on the skin, whether you use a brush, blender or your fingers. The super-light, liquid texture feels weightless while boosting hydration. The formula combines squalane and hyaluronic acid, saving my make-up from looking dehydrated throughout a hot day. The thing I love most is that the water-based formula glides onto the skin, but it sets in place, giving me the security of a velvet finish that will stay intact until I decide to cleanse.
I wear shade 2N out of the impressive 40-shade range, and with a range of undertones available, it's unlikely for you not to find your perfect your-skin-but-better match. I'd recommend this foundation for brides, wedding guests and those looking for that perfect summer base to see them through every heatwave - I promise you won't regret it.
Georgia Scott is a beauty commerce writer for Grazia. She has been obsessed with beauty products for as long as she can remember, and spends her days hunting for the latest trending products to get her hands on to review.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ugly, mortifying – and addictive? Tim Dowling's week in the world's most divisive shoes
Ugly, mortifying – and addictive? Tim Dowling's week in the world's most divisive shoes

The Guardian

time3 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Ugly, mortifying – and addictive? Tim Dowling's week in the world's most divisive shoes

Back in January, Vogue made a bold headline prediction: 'This Freaky-Chic Shoe Will Be Everywhere in 2025'. It had already been spotted on models and rap artists, and all over TikTok and Instagram. By summer, Grazia declared that 'The split-toe trend that's been quietly bubbling for years just hit the mainstream', citing shopping app Lyst, which named the shoe as one of its top five most-searched items. The freaky-chic shoe in question is the toe shoe – a lightweight, thin-soled trainer with separate, articulated toes. They come in a number of brands and styles, and while they may be popular, I can safely say they are not 'everywhere'. Walking in them in public every day for a week, I never ran across another person wearing them. Anywhere. The original toe shoe is the Vibram FiveFingers, which has actually been with us since 2006. The model I've chosen, the V-Alpha Hydro, has a 3mm rubber outsole and a 2mm foam insole, offering a close-to-barefoot walking experience. They're primarily designed for outdoor training, hiking, barefoot running and general fitness, but they are not designed to look cool. The five separate pockets allow one's toes to splay out more naturally, if not more attractively. Not for nothing did Vogue call FiveFingers 'the fitness world's most divisive shoe'. Vibram is the market leader in a complex footwear category – not all toe shoes are barefoot shoes, and not many barefoot shoes have articulated toes. Some have only a separate big toe, for a more cloven-hoofed look. But they're all meant to represent an improvement on traditional footwear. The putative benefits listed for my FiveFingers include 'zero heel drop keeping you naturally planted to the ground', 'fantastic proprioception and feedback from the feet to the brain' and 'as much natural foot movement as possible'. The FiveFingers may provide a more natural fit, but that doesn't mean they fit naturally. My toes don't automatically slide into their corresponding pouches; they have to be coaxed and prodded in. And yes, if you're going to wear socks, you'll need toe socks, adding another layer of complexity to getting dressed in the morning. Even after I think I have my left shoe all the way on, a cursory squeeze of each toe pocket reveals that the second one along is empty. Where did that toe go? It turns out it's sharing a pouch with its nextdoor neighbour. When both shoes are finally on properly, I take them for a brief trial spin. At first, I feel like a circus clown. My splayed toes look like two hands of miniature bananas, and the rubber soles slap against the pavement like duck's feet. New wearers are advised to transition gradually from regular shoes, because it's a different style of walking (or running, if that's your intention). After a cautious 50 metres or so, I settle into a more barefoot stride – mid-foot strike rather than heel strike, and less noisy. Meanwhile, I'm very in touch with the ground beneath me: my toes grip the pavement; I can feel every tiny bump and crack. The overwhelming sensation, however, is one of horrifying self-consciousness – these are very weird-looking shoes. No one comments as I walk down a busy shopping street, and after a while I begin to hope no one has noticed – after all, I don't tend to notice other people's shoes when I'm out and about. Then I look down and think: yeah, but I would notice these. Any remaining hope that my toe shoes are unremarkable is dispelled as soon as I walk into my own kitchen, where my middle son is sitting at the table. 'What the hell are you wearing?' he says. 'On my feet, you mean?' I say. 'Yes, on your feet,' he says. 'The hot girl shoe of summer,' I say. My oldest son walks in with his girlfriend. 'My God, what are those?' she says. 'The future,' I say. 'They're hideous,' he says. 'They come in other colours,' I say. 'What are they like to walk in?' she says. 'Honestly?' I say. 'They're exhausting.' This is true: after just a few hours my feet are incredibly tired – not sore or achy, just bone-weary. It takes three days to build up enough tolerance to wear them from morning until night. After that, I hardly notice them. The fact that I have them on keeps catching me by surprise: hey! I think. I'm driving in toe shoes! I'm in a supermarket in toe shoes! I am at one with the earth, intensely aware of tiny changes in the terrain – the grout between the tiles, the dry grass poking between my toes. I'm also getting used to the idea that everyone – everyone – notices. My wife is not happy, though, especially when she sees me wearing them just as we're about to set off for a restaurant. 'You said a week,' she says. 'Today is a week,' I say. 'You really don't have to wear them tonight,' she says. 'You're just being perverse.' The truth is, toe shoes are a little bit addictive: comfortable and light, while also offering a Spider-Man-level of grip. They're also so difficult to put on I'm reluctant to take them off. Once we're in the restaurant, the shoes stay under the table, and I feel perfectly normal. It's only as we're leaving, when I pass a waitress and smile, and she smiles back and looks down, and I see her face change, that I know I can't go on like this. The next day, as I'm posing for Alicia the photographer in my local park, a man comes running over to stop his dog getting into the shot. He apologises, and then looks over at me: a middle-aged man sitting on a bench in the watery morning light. 'Is it about the shoes?' he says. 'Of course it's about the shoes,' I say. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

The new JFK terminal will show iconic artworks from MoMA, the Met and Lincoln Center
The new JFK terminal will show iconic artworks from MoMA, the Met and Lincoln Center

Time Out

time10 hours ago

  • Time Out

The new JFK terminal will show iconic artworks from MoMA, the Met and Lincoln Center

Flying into New York City in 2026? Your first impression might not be the skyline—it could be a Dior bar suit or a T. rex skeleton. The new $4.2 billion Terminal 6 at JFK is turning its arrivals hall into 'museum row,' a permanent, high-culture welcome mat featuring works from four of the city's cultural heavyweights: the American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Think of it as an express tour of New York's arts scene without ever leaving baggage claim. The Met's display will span 5,000 years, from the medieval Unicorn Tapestry at The Cloisters to couture from the Costume Institute. MoMA is teaming up with Yoko Ono for a new iteration of her PEACE is POWER installation, inviting travelers to pause between passport control and the taxi line to engage with her urgent, hopeful message. Lincoln Center will greet visitors with a sweeping 140-foot mural that stitches together scenes from its stages and city streets, celebrating the performing arts as part of New York's DNA. The American Museum of Natural History, meanwhile, will swap dioramas for high-resolution drama—images of its star attractions like the towering T. rex, the Rapa Nui figure from Easter Island and the Hall of North American Mammals. The effect is equal parts prehistoric, monumental and majestic. And that's just the institutional lineup. The terminal's broader art program, led in collaboration with the Public Art Fund, will include 19 major site-specific works plus rotating exhibitions from Queens-based artists via the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning. The goal is to bottle the city's creative energy and hand it to travelers the moment they land. 'Terminal 6 will offer arriving visitors from around the world a unique New York experience before they leave the terminal,' said Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority. Art isn't the only upgrade on offer. Terminal 6 will add 10 larger gates, new lounges, a longer departures curb and upgraded TSA and baggage systems. The first six gates are slated to open in 2026, with the rest by 2028, housing both domestic and international carriers like JetBlue and Lufthansa. Before you've even hailed your cab, you'll have brushed shoulders—metaphorically—with a few dinosaurs, couture legends and a 140-foot slice of Broadway. Welcome to New York!

Meet The New Sol De Janeiro Perfume Mist I'm Stockpiling – It's Only Available Until September
Meet The New Sol De Janeiro Perfume Mist I'm Stockpiling – It's Only Available Until September

Graziadaily

time16 hours ago

  • Graziadaily

Meet The New Sol De Janeiro Perfume Mist I'm Stockpiling – It's Only Available Until September

If you're in the market for a new summer fragrance, the countless reviews touting Sol de Janeiro as the best are hard to miss. There's no denying the brand holds some serious sway in the beauty world. Those glow-giving body lotions have long been adored by beauty editors, while the iconic Bum Bum Cream is a celebrity favourite - Hailey Bieber is a fan thanks to its skin-nourishing, bottom-beautifying prowess. In fact, nine since its launch, it's still Sephora's biggest-ever body care seller with one selling every six seconds. The stats are impressive, certainly, but it's the fragrance mists that have reached peak viral status. At this point, I've tried them all. My well-trained nose can sniff out those instantly recognisable gourmand notes within mere seconds. Described as utterly addictive (and hoarded by swathes of teen girls), the scents are known for being juicy, succulent, and deliciously sweet. Though each mist is different, they all share that unmistakable signature Sol de Janeiro juice. You're likely already acquainted with the addictive gourmand notes that make each instantly recognisable. If you've been considering picking one for yourself, I've personally reviewed each and every one so you can discover which might suit you best. Scent, of course, is deeply personal- but sometimes a beauty editor's recommendation can be helpful when it comes to hitting the check-out button. Hot off the back of their latest launch (The Sol Tote is still proving to be the hit of the summer) the latest mist to land on the Grazia beauty desk will likely spark excitement among devotees - of which, we've established, there are many. Enter the new Limited-Edition Sundays in Rio Perfume Mist, £24. And when I say limited edition? I mean limited edition- it's only available until 24th September, which is likely to cause something of a frenzy among fragrance fans. But is this one truly worth stockpiling? Scroll on for my thoughts. 1. Sol de Janeiro Sundays in Rio Perfume Mist Price: £24 Rachael Martin beauty director says: 'As someone who would happily spend over £100 on a good scent, knowing this one is on par with its high end counterparts is actually quite thrilling. It's only £24, and for a hefty 90ml bottle I think this is excellent value for money. Will it be snapped up by teenagers the world over? Almost certainly. It has that addictive, viral quality that the TikTok generation will go wild for. But you can bet I'll be getting in on it too. My only gripe? I hate that it's a limited edition. I've already ordered two. So if you want one, don't wait- it's only available until 24th September.' Pros Long lasting, lingering scent A grown-up gourmand Cons It's set to be discontinuted Rachael Martin, Beauty Director, says: 'I'm a bona fide fragrance snob. If it's not stop-me-in-the-street good, I'm not interested. I love a heady scent that lingers all day and draws compliments long after the initial spritz. Interestingly, despite being a body spray (which are typically less concentrated), I always get compliments when wearing Sol de Janeiro. And for a while this was my guilty secret. While often associated with a younger generation, the iconic Cheirosa '62 still finds its way into my beauty bag. And why shouldn't it? The intoxicating blend of vanilla and caramel, laced with pistachio and almond has me at hello. Its worth noting that the perfumer, Jérôme Epinette, is one of the most respected in the industry (he's the nose behind Victoria Beckham and Byredo's perfumes.) Epinette's expertise shows in Sol scents - I'll take a deep breath and honestly, as cliched as it sounds, it's sunshine in a bottle. Naturally, I was quite intrigued to try this new limited-edition version. First impressions? Sundays in Rio feels slightly more sophisticated and grown-up- like Cheirosa '62's older sister. It's softer and more subtle, even down to the delicate purple bottle that feels more 'sunset' than 'sunrise.' One misting reveals a heady amber musk- it's creamy, woody, and settles beautifully. Then comes the vanilla and pink pepper. This is an unexpected pairing that creates a cocooning, skin-like finish. It's at once comforting yet makes a quiet statement. I've been keeping this one in my bag for on-the-go top-ups (London's 30 degree and counting heat is no joke right now), but I've been pleasantly surprised by how long-lasting it really is. As the day wears on, the scent does fade a wee bit. It becomes more delicate- but a quick sniff of my skin confirms it's still very much there. Could this be my new favourite? Absolutely. The first time I wore it, my husband- in all his perpetually oblivious glory- told me I smelled 'really gorgeous.' Then, during a morning meeting in the Grazia office, someone called "whatever perfume I was wearing a show-stopper." A show-stopper! Yes, this is exactly the kind of feedback I want from a fragrance. As someone who would happily spend over £100 on a good scent, knowing this one is on par with its high end counterparts is actually quite thrilling. It's only £24, and for a hefty 90ml bottle I think this is excellent value for money. Will it be snapped up by teenagers the world over? Almost certainly. It has that addictive, viral quality that the TikTok generation will go wild for. But you can bet I'll be getting in on it too. My only gripe? I hate that it's a limited edition. I've already ordered two. If you want one, don't wait- it's only available until 24th September. A long-lasting, stand-out of a scent. Consider Sundays in Rio a more grown-up take on gourmand, while still staying true to the brand's playfulness. It's cosseting, comforting, and -as my husband put it- really gorgeous. And I may just order a third... Rachael Martin is Grazia's Beauty Director. Originally from Northern Ireland, she studied English Literature at Queen's University Belfast, before moving to London to pursue a career in magazine journalism

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store