Summer Beauty Buys for Mums
This is a collaborative post and some of the products have been gifted for the purpose of this article - all opinions though are my honest review.
As a mum I’ve found although my priorities (and the amount of time I have for myself) have reduced dramatically, I still want to feel and look good, when I’m away or at home in the summertime.
Whether that’s a beach holiday, a family city break or a summer festival with the kids – having the right cosmetics, skincare and supplements give’s me far more confidence with how my skin and hair looks in the sun.
So, what are the best beauty and health products to choose and more importantly how good are they? Here’s the low down on the new summer products I’ve been trying out, alongside some tried and tested favourites, I love…
Lets start with the face. For the summer time having a nice glow and dewy complexion goes even higher up the priority list, along with make up that lasts and doesn’t run in the heat.
I have to confess, I personally wear quite a lot of makeup everyday and layer on a lot of products each morning. So another of my considerations when I’m trying to minimise how much I’m packing, is products that have more than one use…
Summer Foundation Alternative – Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm
One of these such products is Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solution. Having never heard of Trish McEvoy before, I first tried the brand when passing their stand on a recent shopping trip to Liberty’s London. Since trying it in store, I have been totally converted.
Instead of having to layer up primers and different bases, it works as an all in one foundation after moisturising – I’ve found it works to cover any blemishes and marks while also giving a natural glowy finish. It is on the pricy side but a little goes a long way and I find after putting some concealer on, I need only a pea size amount to then give a good coverage for the rest of my face (with a brush) It gives a natural finish and you can build it up using as much as you need without looking like you are wearing a lot of make up.
Normally I build up my base with a few different layers. After serum and moisturiser, I then add a primer, touché éclat, then concealer and finally foundation. On a recent trip to Italy however, I found after moisturising I only needed to blend a little of this on for a light holiday base.
Summer Concealer
I have used this concealer for a while and I find whatever the season, it gives great even coverage for whatever I’m trying to cover up. The consistency means it doesn’t dry out and get cakey and I find even in hot weather it stays in place. It also helps with the dark circles under my eyes, covers spots and scars, plus helps blend the redness around my eyes. I use the custard shade, but there are 16 different colour matches to choose from. You can order it online over on Look Fantastic – Nar’s Cosmetics: Radiant Creamy Concealer This is one of those products that I’m also happy to go out wearing on its own in the summer. For me it gives enough coverage that I can wear it on its own on holiday going to the pool or beach.
Dr Paw Paw True Coral Lip Balm
I’ve always been a fan of Dr Paw Paw products, so was looking forward to try out their latest summer shade when they recently sent it to me. Especially as The DR Paw Paw are products are so much more than a colour too, full of moisturising ingredients to nourish the lips. Their latest offering, True Coral gives a nice subtle peachy pink tint, while not being sticky. It comes in a compact tube, to take out and about too, so you can top up over the day. This shade has a fab zing to it too – the perfect brightness to go with a summer tan. Dr Paw Paw is available from lots of places including New Look online – Buy True Coral Dr Paw Paw Lip Balm
Revive Collagen to Help the Signs of Aging in Perimenopause Skin
Collagen feels like a buzz word at the moment! With so much talk everywhere about its benefits and powers, to help combat aging for women online and in our ears on wellness podcasts. So why is this? well as we age, the amount of collagan we produce declines and as collagen plays such an important role in our skin and bone production, this results in aging skin and weaker bones.
Therefore it seems logical to put back in what we are loosing through a supplement. Yet as with all these things, its not simply a case of topping back up your collagen to turn back the clock. It isn’t magic, but there are lots of testimonials coming through on the positive effects collagen can make, especially in the perimenopause for women. I’ve been sent a months worth to try out from Revive Collagen, so will be looking forward to seeing what an impact it has on me. I’m trying out the Revive Collagen Peri Menopause Drink, that I’m taking daily. Its packed full of different supplements including inositol, vitamin B7, B6, B12, selenium as well as 5,000 mg of collagen. Look out for updates on how I get on with it.
Code Beautiful HTG
When you are going away and trying to minimise the make up bag, it’s great to have products with more than one use. The Welsh beauty brand Code Beautiful sent me out their lip and cheek tint called Code HTG (Hydrate Tint Glow) and I have been suitably impressed with its different uses. It has a nice creamy texture and I’ve found it nice to add a bit of moisture and colour to my lips, alongside a healthy peachy tint to my cheeks. It comes in three shades and I’ve been trying out the pale pink tone called Peach Moonstone. I’ve found this colour works really nicely giving me a bit of rosy lift when applied to the apple of my cheeks over the top of my bronzer. If you head over to the Code Beautiful website through my link and use the code suffolkmum you can also get a 15% discount on all their products.
Code Beautiful Eyebrows
This is another Code Beautiful product I love. With very pale eyebrows (and them also getting more and more unruly as I’ve got older) I’ve found this product great – Not only does it smooth them down and hold them in place, but it has a subtle colour you can build up as much as you want. Perfect if you want a fresh look and add more depth of colour for the evening. It’s also good at filling the gaps left by my over plucking in the 90’s! As a reader of my blog you can get a 15% discount on all Code Beautiful products online. Click the link and enter the code suffolkmum at check out.
Monat Cooling Spray
Getting make up right in the summer is one thing, but then keeping it on and keeping cool is a whole other matter, especially in this recent heatwave! I was recently sent a cooling mist by Monat, that’s been heavenly to spritz straight out of the fridge this summer. It’s a hydrating and refreshing face mist that you can use over or under make up for a soothing pick me up with a coconut and watermelon scent. I’ve been often having a quick spray just before or after a hot school run and have found as well as feeling refreshing, it makes my complexion a bit dewy and have found it seems to help my make up stay on a bit longer too. I’d recommend it as a good one to take in your day bag for holidays and festivals. Cooling sprays can also be used after some skincare procedures to calm the skin, such as potenza microneedling
Natural Deodorant Balm
Another new product I’ve been trying, is from the UK premium skincare company ATK. They have launched a range of luxury deodorant balms that are not only plastic free and vegan, using all natural products – they actually work and smell amazing too. According to the London based brand, “AKT is designed with efficacy, strong environmental ethics, and premium fragrances at its forefront. All their formulations are made in the UK, hand poured, and packed into their signature, vibrant, plastic-free packaging.”
Alongside the tubes of balm, you can also purchase one of their stylish ‘assistants’ a metal bar that slots onto the end of the tube to help you portion out just the right amount. I have been sampling ‘After Thunder’ that is designed to evoke the smells of walking through a forest after a thunder storm with scents of cedar, eucalyptus and orange. I’ve been really impressed so far. Not only does it work as a good deodorant, it feels lovely putting on a soothing balm in the morning instead of my normal spray. You can buy a wide range of deodorant balms directly from the AKT website.
Tan Luxe
I have been a fan of Tan Luxe for a while. For me fake tanning has been an essential part of my beauty regime since I was a teenager (I’m def a bit of a fake tan addict!) so I have different brands I like for different occasions. I discovered Tan Luxe a year or so ago and its one that I find is nice and subtle for everyday use. The face drops especially are perfect for taking away on holiday as they give you an easy way to top up your tan, while you are away. I tan head to toe, before going on holiday, but my face can quickly fade after cleansing (especially as my red head complexion means I never get a real tan!) All you do with this is, once your tan is starting to face, add a drop to your daily moisturiser and apply to your face as normal in the morning. You can buy all the Tan Luxe products over on the Look Fantastic website.
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