Don't have a meltdown with your beauty routine. Lisa Haynes reveals the coolest ways to stay beautiful when the heat is on.
Frizzy hair, shiny faces and bodies perspiring like Andy Murray right before his Wimbledon Championship point...
Just some of the everyday beauty blunders afflicting the nation during Britain's scorching heatwave.
With temperatures soaring, many of us suffered separation anxiety the moment we were parted from air conditioning or industrial fans.
Be prepared for the next bout of supreme heat and humidity. If you're burning up and there's no outdoor swimming pool in sight, look to the beauty counters and experts for a splash of cooling respite.
Put these tips on ice and you'll be looking fresh as a daisy - no sweat.
Face freshen-up
Whether it's a balmy evening or daytime by the pool, an alcohol-free facial mist is just the tonic for stressed, overheated skin. Think of it as a drink for your face.
There's no need to rub or pat in, just enjoy the instant cooling relief and let your complexion absorb the re-hydrating vapours.
Fighting make-up melt can be tricky, particularly if you're prone to sweating and your T-zone goes into overdrive.
"If you get shiny, especially during hot summer months, try applying a thin layer of mattifying moisturiser on top of your foundation with a foundation brush," advises Witch skincare make-up artist Lisa Valencia.
"This will help minimise shine instead of applying extra powder, which can leave the skin looking dry or aged."
Body cooldown
Swollen ankles don't just afflict pregnant women. If you find your lower limbs always tend to expand in the heat or after a dehydrating flight, keep your legs and feet happy with cool-to-the-touch products featuring invigorating ingredients. Extracts of peppermint or cucumber are especially effective for refreshing the skin.
"Cool your pulse points by running cold water over your wrists for a minute, which will make you feel instantly cooler," suggests Rosi Chapman, founder of Transformulas skincare.
"Also try storing your body, hand and foot lotions in the fridge for an instant cool fix when required."
Sun-seekers can beat the heat with the latest in SPF products and aftersun soothers boasting cooling qualities.
Hair Control Tonic
Follicles can have a mind of their own when humidity strikes, turning tresses uber-big (not in a good way) and frizzy. Tame unruly locks with a spritz of anti-humidity spray and always try to work with the natural texture of your hair as much as possible.
When temperatures are scorchio, dry shampoo might just be your saviour from damp locks on the daily commute.
Leading session stylist Paul Percival says: "If your hair gets a little sweaty from the heat, simply spray a dry shampoo into the roots and shake out - this will leave your hair feeling, and smelling, fresh and clean.
"If you have a fringe that gets oily in the heat, spray dry shampoo directly onto a brush and work through the front of your hair to give it a quick touch-up when required."
If the wet look has gone one step too far, embrace it with a firm-hold gel. A perfect holiday style, working slicked-back locks will keep your hair looking modern, controlled and completely free of humidity frizz.
Tried & Tested
Intensify your tan with a glow-boosting SPF. Our testers trialled three spray varieties in the sunshine:
:: Soltan Protect & Tan Ultra-Light Texture Suncare Spray SPF30, £13.99, currently on sale for £6.99 (Boots)
A powerful and fine spray action with a subtle but pleasant fragrance. My tan didn't appear any deeper than usual but it certainly seemed to last a lot longer.
3/5
:: Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze Spray SPF30, £16.99, currently on sale for £8.49 (Boots)
This fine spray is quick and easy to apply with a smell that instantly says 'summer'. The high protection ensured I didn't burn in the sun but encouraged a natural-looking tan by the end of my holiday.
4/5
:: Piz Buin Tan & Protect Intensifying Sun Spray SPF30, £17.99 (Boots)
I loved the consistency and smell of this SPF but the spray action wasn't particularly effective. But, despite the effort required to apply it, my fair skin didn't go pink at all and I was rewarded with a deeper glow than usual.
5/5
Beauty bulletin
:: Baby Love
The world has officially gone goo-goo gaga for baby Prince George. To mark his arrival, mother and baby brand Cussons Mum & Me has changed one of its popular products to 'Ma'am & Me'. Any UK parents with babies born on the same day (July 22) can bag a year's supply of the Sleep Tight Baby Bath product, including the limited edition Ma'am & Me bottle. To register the birth of your baby and apply for the free supply visit www.mumandme.com/blog
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