4 days ago
Beauty expert ROSIE GREEN reveals the must-have products to tackle your hot-weather dilemmas - from a patchy tan to greasy skin and frazzled hair
My legs are too blotchy to inflict on the public, help!
I hear you. I've always had limbs more 'corned beef' than 'honey dipped'. My genetic misfortune is now exacerbated by age-induced dryness, dullness, sun damage and thread veins. How to make them bare-able? A simple combination of massage plus lotion will make them look 50 per cent smoother and more youthful. In truth any product will do, but if you want to maximise results try a body serum. New to the UK is Uni 24-Hour Body Serum (below, £43, Expensive, but I cannot overstate how divine this smells (it's the cedar, juniper and sandalwood blend) and how perfect the consistency is. It sinks straight in to leave skin plumped and dewy. A cheaper option is the just launched Vaseline Gluta-Hya Serum-in-Lotion, which comes in three iterations: Dewy Radiance, Overnight Radiance Repair and Flawless Glow (around £7 each, It promises skin-transforming results in five days – and reader, it delivers. Once skin is primed, invest in a faux glow. My tried and tested classics are Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan (from £22, and Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tan Lotion (£12, Using a mitt will minimise patchiness. If you need more coverage, seek out Mac Studio Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation (£35, or Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Instant Tan Spray (£13.99, which hides pretty much anything.
Uni 24-Hour Body Serum
£43 Shop
It's sandal season and my feet are unsightly
You don't say what is causing offence, but let's talk hobbit feet and hairy toes. I use my Venus Facial Dermaplaning Trimmer Hair Remover (£27, to whisk away knuckle tufts. If your heels are prone to fissures, I love Bare Feet By Margaret Dabbs Crack Sealer (£9, It forms a transparent protective barrier that helps seal splits, locking in moisture and leaving heels looking much prettier.
My mosquito bites swell up to a gargantuan size
Nobody wants to accessorise their summer look with disfiguring red lumps. If you react badly to insect bites then a trick I learned on photo shoots is to take precautionary antihistamines every day of your trip. Also apply bug repellent liberally, but remember the solvents cause varnish to smudge so avoid contact with your nails if you have a manicure.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay 2-in-1 Daily Cleanser
£22 Shop
When the temperature climbs, I'm afflicted by shine
There's glowy and there's greasy. To avoid the latter, prep skin with a purifying cleanser. I like the new Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay 2-in-1 Daily Cleanser (above, £22, which uses pink kaolin clay to control oil without stripping the skin. Then try Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 40 Mattifying Oil + Pore Control (£45, This updated sunscreen formula includes oil-trapping microspheres, which help soak up the slick and blur blemishes, as well as reducing sebum production and enlarged pores in the long term. Finally, invest in Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers (£12, Useful on the go, just press them on the skin (over or under make-up) to soak up sheen.
On holiday my hair looks like wire wool
For those with non-compliant frizzy hair, here are some strategies. I often have a blow-dry pre-trip and eke it out with dry shampoo. I rate luxe-y brand Ouai's Super Dry Shampoo (below, £26, which comes in two new scents: Melrose Place and Cape Town (available from Friday). This approach obviously involves swimming doggy paddle to avoid wetting your hair, so if that's not your style try spritzing pre-beach with Pantene Sunkiss Glow Leave-In Spray (£12, a UV- protective treatment that smooths the cuticle, controls frizz and enhances shine. Then slick back and rock the wet look during the day. Pre-dinner, wash it out and you're guaranteed smoother, shinier hair.
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
£26 Shop
I often get flushed on hot days – how do I tone down redness?
A dermatologist once told me that running your wrists under cold water is effective for quickly reducing your body temperature and thus calming pink cheeks. But if you want to conceal more persistent redness, try blending a little Erborian CC Red Correct (£19, Or use a gradual tan. I like Three Warriors Hydra Bronze Tanning Drops (£33, which can be added to your usual moisturiser and works beautifully to even out skin tone.
