Summer Beauty
Its high Summer in Auckland & its so hot & humid that when you step outside you literally walk into a wall of damp heat… hello frizzy hair! But after two years of long winters & no travelling, Im not complaining about a tropical summer & being a beach lover Im making the most of it ;)
Heres a few summer beauty tips & products that I love
I have spent most of my life attempting to control my Frizzy hair & I am generally pretty successful- particularly with the amazing modern products on hand along with high tech blow dryers & irons…. but in the humidity? Forget it. I have resorted to drenching my hair in Coconut oil & pulling it back into a damp bun. It feels cool, looks ok & the addition of a fake (or real) flower at the back gives the look a summery island vibe. I also wear lots of colourful headscarfs which is an easy way to hide the frizzies. I buy the best organic Coconut oil I can find- usually from my Mt Eden Local Commonsense Organics
With extra skin on show body moisturiser & sunscreen are at the top of my summer beauty list. Im fully committed to Coola Organic suncare as it really works, smells great & has a turquoise bottle with a frangipani on it! The same goes for Pure Fiji, those tropical scents get me every time & they do the absolute best Coconut Hydrating Body lotion that glides on with the most silky smooth texture. The coconut fragrance is light & airy so it goes nicely with a fresh summer perfume. For extra smooth skin I always use an exfoliant at least once a week & my long time favourite is Kiehls Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish. This is a brilliant all-over body scrub & it smells great with subtle hints of almond & vanilla.
Having to wear masks in so many environments this summer plays havoc with the skin… intense sweating under a mask causes blocked pores & pimples, so cleansing is really important to get rid of surface oil & grime - I love Keihls Ultra Facial Cleanser as it makes my skin feel super clean & fresh without any irritation. I follow it up with Keihls Ultra Facial Cream, which is an ideal summer moisturiser as its very light & airy.
I love a good serum to pump up the hydration & my #1 is Clinique Smart clinical repair serum- its simply the best & worth every penny. The same goes for Advanced Night Repair & might I say women of an ‘advanced age’ can really benefit from these super serums.
A few hot tips
Due to lots of ocean swimming the skin around my eyes has been sensitive & dry- Kiwi Seed Oil eye cream by NZ brand Antipodes is a great soother, plus a little goes a long way.
For irritating summer eczema Ive discovered a wonder cream called Hopes Relief- its especially for dry sensitive skin & can be used all over the body & is also ideal for children. I found it at The Chemist Warehouse & have bought the whole range (around $18 a pop)
My nails are really healthy this summer & I put it down to Revitanail Products. The Keratin Strengthening Serum is only $20 & I follow it up with the Nourishing oil. Alternatively you can make the most of the coconut oil you use for your hair as its also a fab cuticle moisturiser ;)
I tint my own lashes & brows & have always used 1000Hour Lash & Brow Dye. Its recently changed formula, so its even more effective & gets the job done in less than five minutes.
The gorgeous pic accompanying this blog is from a shoot I did with Neil Gussey of Tui Williams wearing jewellery by Beatrice Carlson x
