The sun is shining and there’s another heatwave on the way, huzzah! Whether or not you’re about to (read: attempt to) jet off to Ibiza or are simply planning to spend the weekend in London Fields, we all want one thing right now: juicy golden-hour skin.
A glowing complexion is always desirable in the summer, but it’s particularly de rigueur thanks to Hailey Bieber, who earlier this year declared “glazed donut skin” the biggest trend of 2022 when she teased her new skincare range Rhode (not yet available in the UK). Think glossy, plump, smooth skin that looks just like a Krispy Kreme. Fortunately, a new wave of products promise just that in a bottle (or compact), making it easier than ever to achieve said desired dewy look. Here’s how to get the glow.
Good skin is all in the prep, so first swipe your face all over with a cleansing pad soaked in Charlotte Tilbury’s new Pore-Refining Acid-Free Glow Toner (£40). It’s infused with niacinamide and resurfacing peptides to hydrate the skin without drying it out. Once you’ve followed with your chosen serum, slather on some of Chanel’s Les Beiges Illuminating Oil (£70) — few brands are as esteemed in the art of glow-bestowing, and its summer collection is dedicated to just that. Refy’s Face Primer (£24), meanwhile, comes with a facial roller which helps to sculpt cheek bones.
Next for a non-clogging, sheer base to give that your-skin-but-better natural look. Makeup artist Mira Parmar (@miramakeup) swears by Vita Liberata’s cult Beauty Blur (£24). “Use it alone on the skin as a skin perfector or under foundation for extra glow.” Skin tints are big news this season. Look to Yves Saint Laurent and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Rose Inc for the best — apply with a brush for top results. For a more enhanced coverage, Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Tint & Glow Enhancer (£22) is lumosity in a (very affordable) tube, while Chanel’s new Water Fresh Complexion Touch (£51) is a clever new hybrid product that can be used as a concealer or foundation, offering buildable, breathable coverage where you want it.
Forgo a matte bronzer and opt instead for the Jones Road Miracle Balm in Disco (£34), a warm bronze hue that’s flecked with gold and silver pearl. “It’s the perfect product to create golden hour skin,” Bobbi Brown says.
For blush try RMS Beauty’s velvety “Re” Dimension Hydra Powder Blush (£28.50) that melts into the skin and has a wet powder technology to combine a rich creamy texture with 3D finish. Or try a dusting of Westman Atelier’s Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in Peau de Rosé (£69).
And you can forget contouring, now it’s all about jaw-highlighting. TikTok’s latest makeup trend is inspired by Bella Hadid’s otherworldly bone structure. “Dial up your glow like Bella using a brilliant liquid highlighter along the jawline and up towards your cheek bones, then layer it with a powder highlighter for that extra glow,” Parmar instructs. Her chosen glow-getting product are Beauty Pie’s Superstrobing Drops (£10.50 with monthly membership) and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (£61).
See also Vieve’s frankly addictive Skin Dew (£19), Refy’s Gloss Highlighter (£18, refybeauty.com) and Rose Inc’s new Solar Radiance Hydrating Cream Highlighter (£24), which contains sea holly cells to plump and rose extract to brighten, and is also refillable. For a pared back natural glow that just peeks through your base, Jason Hoffman, make-up artist and Rose Inc ambassador, recommends dusting highlighter underneath first.
For on-the-go application ease, Victoria Beckham Beauty’s new buttery soft Reflect Highlighter balm stick wins (£36). Infused with strawberry butter and pearl technology, scribble on to cheekbones and your cupid’s bow for a glass-like glow.
Finally, top up your sun protection with a spritz all over of the Victoria Beckham SPF 50+ Hydrating Glow Mist (£34), infused with hyaluronic acid for extra skin-quenching goodness.
Sundowners here we come!
