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June Beauty Faves
Isobel Lawrance
25th May 2023
Beauty faves for June
The sun is out, and hot weather is on the horizon (I hope). As the weather changes, the products we use tend to change, too. Our skin is our largest organ, and it is impacted in different ways by the heat, the cold, humidity, pollution and more.
So, I thought I’d bring you some of my budget beauty faves for June. This month, I’ll be focusing on products that aid us when the sun is out. From preventing sun damage to finding products that help makeup stay on longer, and my go-tos for when sweat strikes, stick around to find out more.
I’m Izzy, beauty-lover and author of our NEW beauty column Beauty Magpie. Here are some of my budget beauty finds.
SPF
Getting a good SPF is imperative for summer. People think an SPF is something you get in suncream, that you only need to worry about when the sun is out. But UV rays are constantly coming down onto your skin, even when it’s cloudy. An SPF should be part of your everyday beauty regime, come rain or shine.
A moisturiser with SPF in it is best – you can use suncream, sure, but it can be sticky, strongly fragranced, and let’s face it, if you get any in your eyes you’re done for. It’s also worth spending a little more on an SPF, to make sure it truly gives you the protection it claims to.
I currently use the Hello Sunday The Everyday One Face Moisturiser. It’s SPF 50 which is perfect for my pale complexion, and it sits beautifully under makeup. It protects from blue-light, infrared and pollution, so I know I’m covered wherever I go. I also just got this Hello Sunday The Take-out One, which I’m going to take on holiday and use when I hit the beach. It’s easy convenient for on the go. No mess, no fuss.
Lip SPF
On the topic of getting an SPF for your face, let’s not forget your lips. Your lips can burn – and it’s super painful if they do. Sure, you could put suncream on your lips, but it tastes gross and is inconvenient to do. Make sure you get yourself an SPF lip-balm for on the go, and you can reapply it easily as and when.
I recommend the Ultrasun Ultralip SPF 30 as its nourishing and lasts a long time, but I have also used the Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Lip Balm, and it smells lovely and is a great base for lipstick.
Setting spray
As the warm weather becomes more regular, I find I need something to help my makeup stay just that little bit more. A setting spray helps to do the trick, keeping my makeup set and in place despite the heat.
The great thing about setting sprays is that they are made for different purposes. Oily skin? You could try the Revolution Pro Hydra-Matte Setting Spray. It’s far more affordable than competing brands and works better in my opinion.
Revolution is amazing for the cost, and I have very seldom had a bad thing to say about the brand, if ever. I first started buying revolution setting sprays at around 12 or 13 years old, and as my skin and needs have changed, I have been able to evolve whilst sticking to the brand I love. I currently use the I Heart Revolution Dewy Watermelon Setting Spray. Yes, it does smell as good as you’d expect!
Hair Dye
I often go a little lighter in summer. I will add a few highlights to my hair, brighten it up. It’s nice to have a change, but I tend to do it myself lately as it’s much cheaper. Jerome Russell is my go-to brand for all things hair dye – especially bleaching.
The range of bleaches and toners means you’ll never be left with unwanted orange hues (we’ve all been there when going from brunette to blonde!), and it’s also affordable. Plus, you can get up to half-price off selected items on Boots.com at the mo.
I used the Bblonde Maximum Highlighting Kit No.1 when I went lighter last year, followed by the Bblonde Toning Drops Atomic. But of course, it depends on the colour you’d like. Plus, my hair wasn’t totally dried out and knotty – it was left nourished, shiny and bouncy.
Primer
As previously mentioned, it’s hard to get your makeup to stay put when it’s hot outside. But using a setting spray can only help so much. I find combining a setting spray and a primer in my makeup routine makes the biggest difference.
Before you buy a primer, you should check the base ingredient of your foundation. If it’s a water-based foundation, get a water-based primer. If it’s an oil-based foundation, get an oil-based primer or silicone primer. Why is this important?
Well, if you mix water and oil in a glass, they separate. The same goes for mixing an oil-based product with a water-based one. They can separate on the skin and leave you looking patchy.
My fave water-based primer, particularly for ageing skin or for those with fine lines, is the No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer. It glides on smoothly, leaves skin looking lovely, and pores refined. Plus, it keeps your makeup on all day, and it won’t break the bank. I also love the E.L.F. Power Grip Primer for when I have a particularly long day. Your makeup won’t budge.
If you have an oil-based foundation, I suggest the High Adherence Silicone Primer from The Ordinary. The Ordinary is one of my all-time favourite brands, due to the high-quality ingredients, the affordability and the results you get.
Razors
For many of us, summer brings the gruelling task of shaving your legs. Not only can it be a pain to keep on top of, but it can result in razor burn, shaving bumps and ingrown hairs. It’s a real chore. That’s why it’s so important to get a high-quality razor.
I spent years buying the 10 for £1 packs in the pound shop, then wondered why my legs were covered in sore and itchy bumps. But finding a high-quality razor has totally changed the game for me.
FFS – Fuss Free Shaving – helped me ditch the disposables and get a clean, pain-free shave every time. The metal razors are reusable, and you simply replace the heads, which are delivered straight to your door via subscription. It saves me time, money and fuss, and the high-quality of the razors allowed me to say goodbye to ingrown hairs long ago.
You get a starter kit when you sign up, but FFS also sell shave cream, hair removal cream and even facial wax strips. Body hair is an individual choice for everyone, but if you are interested in what FFS has to offer, you can read more here.
Fake tan
It may be the Essex girl in me, but I love a bit of fake tan. Now I get it, it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But I personally like to give myself a bit of a sun-kissed colour, as I don’t tan naturally. You can get a few different types of tan, from instant to gradual, and you can also get different undertones in your tan.
Bondi Sands has a useful guide to help you choose the colour of tan you might need depending on your skin tone. If you want a natural, gentle colour, go for a gradual or moisturising tan. If you want an instant hit of tan, go for an instant or express tan.
The Garnier Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan is by far the best gradual tan I have ever used. The results are natural, it smells great and there’s no orange hue. It also doesn’t cling to dry patches. I’ll use a separate one for my face as some body lotions can make me break out if I use them on my face (sensitive skin club over here), so I’ll use the Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Face Lotion.
For instant tan, get yourself a good quality mitt. Cheapy ones can be fine, but you can end up a bit streaky and patchy. Plus, they don’t last five minutes. Spending a few pounds more on a good quality one that lasts a while and can be washed and re-used is worth it. I like the I use the Isle of Paradise mitt.
The instant tan I recommend most has to be the St Moriz Advanced Tanning Mousse. I’ve always had so many compliments when using this tan, and it washes off to give you a lovely colour. It also smells great and doesn’t leave you with that ‘fake tan’, biscuit smell. If you know, you know.
What are your go-to beauty faves? Leave them in the comments below!
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