HUNGER’s beauty guide — The summer edit

Burnt skin. Rosacea flare-ups. Dry hair. Clogged pores. There’s only a few months each year anyone can get any vitamin D round here, and this is what we have to deal with? Luckily for you guys, we’ve tried and tested some of the best products on the market designed to combat these problems — as well as some novelty ones for a bit of summer fun (spoiler alert: there’s some bloody good perfumes around at the mo). So, as I start packing for my summer hols, these are the products I’m going to be taking with me…

Dr Rasha Cellular Defence SPF 50 | £80.00 at Dr Rasha

Starting off with the obvious one — SPF. You don’t need me to tell you that you should be wearing SPF every day. Even if it’s not that hot. But one specific sunscreen-related quandary I’ve had recently is my concealer pilling on top of my sunscreen. Dr Rasha’s Cellular Defence, however, is made specifically to be applied underneath make-up. It’s also great to wear sans make-up because it hides hyperpigmentation and redness — especially good if you get annoying rosacea flare-ups like I do. 

Three Warriors Hydrabronze Tan Drops | £40 at Harrods  

Speaking of SPF, some people don’t tan for shit and I’m one of them (unless you class freckles as a tan — thank you Irish genes). That’s where these drops come in. Unlike most, which almost always seem to create mysterious flakey patches on the skin, the Three Warriors drops contain Hyaluronic Acid so actually hydrate it. They also contain natural vitamin C, which protects the skin from the environment and is exactly what you need when it’s hotter than usual. Plus they’re easy to use — just pop a few drops in your moisturiser and you’re good to go. Think of it a bit like skincare meets fake tan.

Selahatin Whitening Toothpaste | £22 at Selahatin

Who decided that all toothpaste has to taste like mint? Whoever it was is boring and dull. The opposite of that? Selahatin. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a Swedish brand that makes oral hygiene *glamorous*. Not only do the bottles look extremely suave in your bathroom (I don’t think enough airtime is given to how ugly most toothpastes are), it comes in a whole range of flavours, which aren’t weird enough to confuse you, but make brushing your teeth feel like a treat. My personal favourite is Steam Will Rise, which tastes like cucumber. Delightful.

The 7 Virtues Clementine Dream Eau de Parfum | £85 at Sephora

If you’re somebody who likes a new scent for a trip (smell is the strongest sense linked to memory and all that), The 7 Virtues’ Clementine Dream is perfect. It really does what it says on the tin, i.e. smells like citrus. It’s not overly sweet, though — the mandarin oil is balanced out with the warmer amber notes. It also lasts for ages, which is perfect if you’re getting a bit sweatier (sorry) than usual out in the summer sun. 

Lumene CC Colour Correcting Cream | £14.90 at Boots

This? This is quite fabulous. If you don’t like wearing foundation in summer but want a bit of coverage, the Lumene CC cream is a miracle. It says it’s medium coverage and it definitely is — it covers up any redness (thanks to Nordic lingonberry and hydrating Arctic spring water) while also keeping your skin looking like skin, and revealing those freckles I mentioned earlier. It doesn’t, however, feel like you have anything on your skin, unless you build it up a bit, which you totally can (and is handy if you just want to take one skin tint on holiday to take you from day to night). It also has built-in SPF 20. 

Davines Heart of Glass Duo | £52.75 at Davines

If you’ve got blonde hair, you’ll know how annoying it is to maintain the colour without making the texture reminiscent of straw. That’s why Davine’s Silkening Shampoo and Rich Conditioner are perfect for summer. They keep your locks hydrated while also zhuzhing up the shade (but without turning it purple, which I do with my normal shampoo an embarrassing amount). 

OSKIA Midnight Elixir | £165, available from SpaceNK

You know you’ve had a productive holiday when you come back, one, more well-rested than when you left and, two, with better skin. This sleep serum can help with both. First, it contains melatonin, which is scientifically proven to help you sleep and naturally boosts cell repair in your skin. On top of that, it contains a whole range of mushrooms and vitamins (shiitake and turkey tail mushroom, plus vitamins A, B3, B9, C, E and pro vit D3 to be precise). You wake up with hydrated and calm-appearing skin, and looking as well-rested as a new-born baby.

Selahatin Mouthwash | £28 at Selahatin 

Remember the fun and sexy toothpastes we were telling you about earlier? Surprise, they also make mouthwash — which, for the record, are usually even more ugly than toothpastes. They’re not just made for the aesthetics (or even flavours), though — each of them is inspired by a certain experience. Spanning mediterranean summers to memories of young love, Selahatin’s mouthwashes take you on a lovely little journey as you rinse your pearly whites.

2787 Barcelona Sónar Eau De Parfum | £165 at Harvey Nichols

If there’s one perfume ingredient that bewitches me, mind, body and soul, it’s pepper. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like crack to me and this Sónar perfume is the same. With top notes of Italian bergamot and pink pepper, it’s woody, but metallic, but sweet. I would happily spray it all over my body, clothes and hair every day until the day I die. It also has the most sleek, minimal packing, which is suitably fabulous.

Davines SU Milk | £24.75 at Davines

This one isn’t just for the blondies. Think SPF, but for your hair. When you’re in the sun, you can pop this onto your locks (wet or dry) to protect them from the sun. Texture-wise, Davines’ SU Milk is nice and moisturising without being heavy or doing that thing where it makes you look like a scarecrow. You can also pop it on to make your hair easier to comb when you’ve been playing mermaids in the pool. Perfect for chucking into your beach bag.

Gabar 04 (NOLITA) Rise Eau De Parfum | £120 at Liberty

Last year I went to a Gabar sound bath and I have been a bit obsessed with the brand ever since. Its scents aren’t just about the smell itself — they’re about trying to make you feel a certain way. This one, for example, is about ‘self-expansion’. Inspired by New York (the brand’s original home), it evokes that feeling of waking up in the city. The world is your oyster. You’re feeling good. You’re ready to go. It also contains pink pepper, so it’s automatically a yes from me.

Gun Ana Reset Cleansing Balm | £23 at Gun Ana

Often people think that you don’t need to double cleanse if you don’t wear make-up. Fake news. If you’re wearing SPF (which we’ve already established you should be), you’re going to want to be double-cleansing. Gun Ana’s Reset Cleansing Balm is a particularly good one because it washes away all that rubbish to make you feel nice and *fresh*, but without messing up your skin’s moisture balance — especially important if you’re already feeling a little dry from the sun.

Eauso Vert Fruto Oscuro | £139 at Eauso Vert

Woody. Fruity. Inspired by desserts (how apt for summer). Dubbed Fruto Oscuro because it encapsulates usually overlooked Mexican fruit, this perfume is a little bit mouth-watering. It’s not overly sweet — it contains pink pepper (yes, I’m obsessed) and both patchouli and frankincense to balance out the fruitiness. I’m actually wearing it right now and cannot stop basking in how lovely I smell.