Summer beauty essentials

This summer is shaping up a little differently. While ordinarily at this time of year our diaries would foretell travel to sun-drenched destinations – plus those all-important pre-vacation trips to the salon – fear not, for there are a host of cult beauty brands on hand to help you evoke that blissful out-of-office mood and recreate well-rested vacation skin at home. From NuFace’s DIY facial devices that are powerful enough to create a salon-sculpted look in the comfort of your own bedroom, to Natura Bissé’s high-performance, pharmaceutical-grade products, we’ve curated an edit of the ultimate home-spa essentials. Of course, if foreign travel is on your agenda, skin-friendly and sun-smart SPFs are a prerequisite; read on to discover more about toxin-free brand Ren Clean Skincare’s must-have mineral option. Or, if you’ll be sticking to staycations with intermittent sunshine this year, discover the bronzer that will fake a fortnight in the South of France below, plus a compelling Côte d’Azur-inspired scent that will transport you there – mentally, at least – through its elegant aroma.

We all need targeted skincare that delivers on its claims, and Natura Bissé does just that. Using a cocktail of botanicals, Diamond Extreme Eye is your multi-purpose eye cream, treating unsightly under-eye hues, crepey lids, pesky fine lines and puffiness all in one go. It's jam-packed with an anti-aging cocktail of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and vitamins, all essential to repair and smooth the delicate eye area.

While reluctant to recommend an additional skincare step, there is definitely cause to use Natura Bissé Inhibit Tensolift Neck Cream, which will also help the jawline offset the effects of constantly looking down at our phones. The hydrating hyaluronic acid tightens, while also lifting and firming the skin.

Summer is also the perfect time to experiment with a fragrance that is far more exotic, rich, warm and seductive than your usual. And those heady summer nights are the perfect complement to Majan AKD Eau de Parfum, a beautiful blend of sandalwood and oud, and Majan Salalah Eau de Parfum, a seductive scent of cedarwood and oud. We recommend spraying on pulse points, clavicles and behind the knees for the most head-turning of trails.

Beauty devices are fast helping us become our very own at-home skin clinicians, so it’s reassuring to know that the NuFace Fix Line Smoothing Device has been designed to mirror the results of a professional treatment. In fact, this non-invasive microcurrent pen is ideal for targeting areas such as lips, eyes and expression lines. Using currents to stimulate collagen and elastin, this pen-sized tool smooths fine lines, de-puffs and softens wrinkles fast. For best results, we recommend treating each area for 3 minutes, twice a day, using the NuFace Fix Line Smoothing Serum, a super-charged serum that energizes and firms the skin with its magnesium- and peptide-rich formula. Use alone, alongside the smoothing device or over makeup when lacklustre skin needs a refreshing boost.

While our vacations may be on hold for the time being, you can still transport yourself to sunnier climes and exotic destinations in just one spritz. Conjuring up the Côte d’Azur sunshine is Veronique Gabai’s Eau de Parfum Noire De Mai, which smells of freshly picked roses from the fields of Grasse, alongside heady notes of wood and amber that linger beautifully on hot summer skin. Add the Noire de Mai Eau de Parfum Travel Case Refill to your clutch for refreshing touch-ups on the go.

Nothing beats the mood-boosting appeal of sun-kissed skin, but the pursuit of that elusive glow isn’t solely a summer sport but a year-long quest. As such, our favorite bronzers are those developed to give a subtle second-skin effect, whatever the weather. What we love about Kjaer Weis Flush & Glow Duo in Sunlit Glow is the way, used together, it adds warmth to darker skin tones. Or try using the shimmery cream highlighter for dewy radiance on its own or the buildable cream blush for the prettiest of flushes.

Salvage stressed-out skin with Kate Somerville’s DeliKate Recovery Cream. This intelligent skincare solution is particularly good for those with sensitivity – we like to think of it as damage control for redness, irritation, tightness and inflammation. The soothing cocktail of peptides, ginger root and fruit extracts all work harmoniously together to lock in hydration and smooth and soften skin beautifully. Our top tip? It also makes an excellent primer for makeup.

We all know that SPF is a non-negotiable, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must year-round, rain or shine, travel or staycation. Spending time in the sun without protection can lead to real damage, which shows up as signs of aging such as dark spots and wrinkles. Which is why Ren Clean Screen Mineral Mattifying Face Sunscreen SPF30 makes the perfect everyday protection for your skin. Even better, it mattifies, smooths and is reef friendly, too. But for the sun-shy? NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna is a great tanning alternative. Nothing beats the mood-boosting appeal of a sun-kissed glow come summer, and this powder can create a subtle flush, clever contours or overall radiance with just the sweep of a brush.

Choosing skincare that can bolster the skin, reverse sun damage and create that covetable lit-from-within glow is no easy feat. However, it’s not often skincare comes with the scientific prowess of a Nobel Prize Winner at its helm, but Noble Panacea does this and more. Pair The Brilliant Prime Radiance Serum and The Brilliant Radiant Resilience Moisturizer to significantly change skin for the better.