Monday 19 June 2017

Boy Season Beauty Prep


We are now officially in boy season....aka the summer. If, like me, commitment ain't your thing and you're single and ready to get down and dirty, the time has come to get prepped. After all, competition is high...

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BODY

The first thing you need to do during boy season is get fuzz free. After all, boys prefer smooth over Sasquatch right?! Whether you're waxing, shaving, chemical removing or otherwise, there are always going to be pros and cons, so just go with whichever method works best for you...there is no right or wrong. However if you're waxing go to a trustworthy salon, like the Ministry of Waxing, if you're shaving use a good quality razor, like the Gillette Venus Snap (great for de-fuzzing on the go!) and nourishing shaving cream, such as the Shaveworks Pearl Souffle Shave Cream. And if you're opting for hair removal creams and gels, make sure you you pick products from a reputable brand like Nair. I'm obsessed with the brand's Sensitive Hair Removal Cream as it is clinically and dermatologically proven to be gentle on legs, bikini and underarms. It is also enriched with camellia oil and ylang ylang extract to leave the skin soft and smooth once the hair has gone.

When it comes to the puss, the same hair-removal rules apply - just don't forget that men differ on their hair-down-there desires. Some love it hairless, others like a landing strip and some even go bananas for bush. So you do you, sis.


Next you want to focus on getting your body firm and toned for the bastard bikini. So - if you're anything like me and avoid the gym at all costs - you'll want to start applying firming creams ASAP. To tighten up all areas of your bod, I recommend the Dr Ceuticals Beach Perfect Body Firmer. Formulated with Q10 and vitamin B3, this intensive shaping treatment gives smoother, firmer and softer skin, whilst also providing a massive moisture boost. For your most orange-peeled parts, you need to get acquainted with the Clarins Body Fit. It is an amazing anti-cellulite contouring cream that is designed to reduce the appearance of cellulite, whilst also refining, lifting and reshaping the body. Now if you've already been blessed with (or work hard for!) a fab body but still want smooth skin, I recommend the YOPE Fig Tree Hand & Body Lotion. It smells amazing, absorbs very quickly and leaves skin hydrated and silky soft.

When you've mastered the toning, you need to master the tan. After all, whether on the beach or between the sheets, a bit of colour makes us all feel a little sexier. If you're a tanning pro, I recommend Fake Bake's Flawless Coconut Tanning Serum. Designed for both the face and body, the new tanning serum gives a natural golden glow that develops in under six hours. It is ultra nourishing on the skin too, thanks to the inclusion of coconut oil, hyaluronic acid and silk amino acids. Now if you're a tanning virgin or just a little cautious, I recommend the St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Sculpt and Glow. This moisturising tanner is designed to be used daily to slowly build colour, helping you achieve your desired golden glow. It is streak-free, quick-drying and easy to apply and also defines and sculpts, thanks to its tan toning technology!


When prepping your body this summer, you can't forget about SPF. You want to be bronzed, not burnt and at risk of skin cancer! One of my favourite skin saviours is the Bioderma Photoderm Bronz SPF 30. Not only is it easy and quick to apply, thanks to it's spray applicator, it also nourishes the skin, has a pleasant smell and increases melanin production (helping to boost your body's tan-generating abilities). If you want to really up-the-anti on the bronzing front, I recommend applying the Gatineau Tan Accelerating Lotion every morning and evening during the summer months. As well as boosting melanin production for a speedier tan, this hydrating body lotion also helps treat post-sun skin.


The final stage in your boy season body prep is fragrance. After all, you've got to smell sweet for these boys. Two of my favourite new summer scents are the Tommy Girl Tropics and Flower By Kenzo Eau de Lumiere. Containing top notes of grapefruit, orange blossom, sandalwood and musk, the Tommy Girl Tropics is a soft, fruity scent that makes for the perfect summer's day fragrance. It is long lasting and really affordable! Flower By Kenzo Eau de Lumiere is an ultra-feminine fragrance that features top notes of bergmot and cassis, heart notes of jasmin, peach, ylang ylang and Bulgarian rose and base notes of white musk, violet and heliotrope. It is a powerful fragrance with serious lasting power, keeping you smelling sweet throughout the day.

FACE

When it comes to makeup in the summer, my advice is less is more....you don't want your makeup masterpiece (that you spent hours on) melting now, do you? That's a look these boys can't get behind. However we all know that skin needs to be flawless to carry off minimal makeup, so preparation really is key here. To keep skin in good condition over the summer months, you'll need to apply a nourishing, skin brightening mask (the Image Biomolecular Anti-aging Radiance Mask is amazing) twice during the week and ensure you cleanse and moisturise the skin every evening.


As for the daytime skincare, always apply a powerful hydrating serum, like The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, followed by a really good SPF. My favourite facial sun protection is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for the Face SPF 50. It is a lightweight and oil-free cream that applies easily and evenly. It is also PABA free, making it great for those with sensitive skin. If you want a little coverage, I recommend applying a tinted moisturiser with SPF instead. I love the Gatineau Perfection Ultime Anti-Aging Complexion Cream SPF 30. It is a weightless, deeply hydrating moisturiser that gives the complexion a serious beauty boost. It also features a unique peptide complex that helps to increase collagen and elastin production for youthful-looking skin.


Now a big part of summer beauty prep involves the lips...after all you can't be kissing these boys without a perfect pout. Luckily you can achieve luscious lips very easily in a matter of minutes.

I recommend using the NUGG Lip Mask twice a week to keep your lips in check. It is formulated with shea butter and coconut oil help to hydrate and soften the lips, while liquorice root complex helps to create a great plumping effect. Another great lip product (and also one of my ultimate beauty favourites) is the new Dior Addict Lip Sugar Scrub. It is a tinted lip balm that contains tiny sugar granules that gently exfoliate the lips during application. These granules dissolve in a matter of minutes leaving behind soft, youthful looking lips. The final lip prep involves plumping and no product does this better than the Know Cosmetics No Thin Lips Lip Plumper. This lip gloss applies easily and gets to work in a matter of seconds, giving you Kylie-esque lips without the need for injections!


The next thing you need to think about is eyebrows and lashes. Products like the Colorsport 30 Days Mascara and 30 Day Brow Tint help deliver great colour and intensity to your eye area for a solid month. Both products are surprisingly easy to use and save you a shit load of time and money going to a salon! They also speed up your summer makeup application as you can skip mascara and brows altogether!


For those of you who won't give up a full face of makeup, you will need to do everything you can to ensure your shit doesn't slip in the heat. First, be sure to apply a good primer under your foundation - the YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer is perfect for the summer as it keeps makeup on for longer and contains tiny gold speckles that enhance your complexion. Secondly, you need to set the look with a good setting spray and it doesn't get better than the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. In addition to keeping makeup looking perfect for up to 16 hours, this setting spray features patented Temperature Control Technology, which lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place - even if the weather is hot and humid or cold and windy! Setting powders are also worth investing in if you're not a fan of the liquid approach. Debenhams has a crazy selection of amazing setting sprays and powders from some of the best makeup brands (Too Faced, NYX, Urban Decay etc.) - check them out here!


Regardless of your makeup look, grab yourself a facial mist to stay cool and relaxed at all times. After all, boys spend most of their time topless during the summer and, kween, you know you're thirsty af. I'm obsessed with the new Garnier Sensitive Advanced Protecting and Hydrating Face Mist. As well as cooling you down instantly, this mist also features an SPF 50, keeping your skin protected throughout the day.

HAIR

The final stage in boy season beauty prep focuses on hair. The summer season takes a serious toll on your hair, so it's important to keep it healthy and beautiful at all times. When washing, I recommend the RPR De Chlorinate My Hair Shampoo to remove dirt and chemicals from your locks. To blast moisture back into dry and damaged ends, reach for the Philip Kingsley Coconut Breeze Elasticizer. It is a multi-award winning pre-shampoo treatment mask that adds elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine to the hair. It also smells absolutely gorgeous! For the days in between washing, opt for a dry shampoo. Lately I've been obsessed with the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Dry Cleaner. One of my favourite things about this dry cleanser is its ability to provide great texture and colour protection, helping your locks stay full and vibrant af.


For girls with dye jobs, you'll know the pain of losing vibrancy in the sun. So if you want to keep your colour on point, I recommend using the HIF Hair is Fabric Cleansing Conditioner - a colour enhancer that takes your dull locks to vivid-as-fuck in just one wash. I even recommend choosing a shade that isn't your current colour for a new look. I apply the Red Hue Support onto my dark brown hair to deliver some serious vixen vibes and it works like a goddamn dream. It is, by far, my favourite hair product of 2017!

So there you have it, your summer beauty do-to list. So hurry up and get prepped, the boys are waiting bitches...

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