With holiday season most definitely upon us, it's the time of year when thoughts turn to summer make up looks and what essentials to pack to see you through your trip in style. My favourite look on me is my summer holiday face; a subtle tan, spattering of freckles, a bit of gold, a bit of shimmer and a slick of gloss. Though my make up drawers are positively overflowing with possibilities, I have pulled together a few of my favourite summer pieces.
For the ultimate in indulgent, luxurious make up, look no further than Chanel, the Holy Grail of cosmetics if you will. This summer's collection is a classic, and though the new Autumn one is due to be available imminently you may still be able to pick up summer bits in store and, more importantly, at the Duty Free. The Soleil Tan de Chanel Harmonie Poudre de Soleil (£34) is a delicate bronzer strewn with gold, comprising seven bands of subtle colour that blend seamlessly to enhance any complexion. Available in two shades, Sable Rose features a luminous, satiny and intense pink along with sand, spice and gold shades to make fair cheekbones blush with warmth, while Sable Beige (pictured far left) is made up of blocks of beiges and browns, from the softest to the most intense, set off darker complexions with a hint of gold. For the lips, Rouge Coco Shine lipstick (£24) is a perennial favourite of mine. This summer Chanel's Creative Director of Make Up, Peter Phillips, created two new shades to perfectly accentuate the summer face; Empreinte (pictured centre, in black & gold packaging) is a soft sheer beige while En Vogue is an intense, punchy coral. Last but not least from Chanel is the Lèvres Scintillantes (£21). In two shimmering shades, the glisteningly pearlescent Sirocco (pictured) and the deep orange Calypso, it's the perfect finishing touch.
Moving on the from the Chanel love (sorry... I do get carried away with that one sometimes...) another of my favourite brands is Benefit and the most recent addition to their range of subtle highlighters is the brilliant Sun Beam (£18.50 from www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk). From the same family as the best-selling High Beam and Moon Beam, this newby is a golden bronze complexion hghlighter, perfect for when you have a tan and the others are just a little bit too pale. Dot onto cheekbones, browbones and down the nose for a subtle shimmer. If you prefer a powder highlighter, the Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Highlighter (£23, far right) was part of the Rose Aurora collection. and illuminates skin with beautiful, radiant, rose-gold shimmer.
It's always good to think about multifunctional products when travelling to save a bit of space, which is why I never go away with a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (pictured centre right, £32, available nationwide). These handy little compacts make amazing eyeshadows as well as bronzers, blushers or highlighters, depending on which shade you buy and how you mix the different coloured stripes - genius. I love Pink Quartz, a shimmering rose gold palette, but it's also available in Rose (pink hues), Bronze (much darker bronze tones, great on darker skins) and Beige (perfect for paler complexions). I also love the Treatment Lip Shine SPF15 (pictured front centre, £18) in Sunset Bronze, a seriously glamorous shade that makes skin look browner and teeth look white than ever imaginable. Win win.
If the shimmering bronze lip thing isn't your bag there are some other gorgeous products available I simply must draw your attention to. NARS's Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose (front left, £17.50) is an intensely hydrating gloss pencil, taking everything beloved about the brand's Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-size crayon design - and recreated it in a gloss. Mexican Rose is a subtle, almost watermelon pink, the perfect finishing touch. Finally, ensure your lips are hydrated throughout the day with Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm (£16.50, available nationwide). Available in five summery shades, this genius little thing combines the benefits the subtle colour of a sheer lipstick with the comfort and moisturisation of a lip balm. Perfection.
Love Laurel x
