Summer beauty is all about glowing cheeks, natural, air-dried hair and tanned, smooth limbs. Well, maybe on the pages of a glossy magazine – in reality the hot weather has your average British woman breaking out in a heat rash as she realises her usual beauty regimen won’t stand up to direct sunlight and high temperatures.
Our summer beauty battles may be embarrassing, but the good news is they’re not unavoidable; from ‘chub rub’ to humidity hair and excessive sweating, we asked the experts how to make this summer less of a struggle.
Hot weather has your average British woman breaking out in a heat rash as she realises her usual beauty regimen won’t stand up to direct sunlight and high temperatures
There's the rub
Offensive as the term ‘chub rub’ may be, most of us are familiar with the painful chafing that can occur when you combine bare legs with a little sweat and a lot of walking. But did you know it has a medical moniker, too?
‘Intertrigo, the posh name for chafing, is when skin rubs against skin and becomes sore and inflamed,’ explains Dr Kemi Fabusiwa, founder of skincare advice website Joyful Skin.
Prevention is better than cure, of course, so focus on reducing both friction and moisture. ‘Try a cream that acts as a barrier to stop the chafing, such as Megababe anti-friction stick or Vaseline,’ advises Dr Sophie Momen, a consultant dermatologist at private clinic OneWelbeck. ‘If excess sweating is a contributing factor, then look for antiperspirants (containing aluminium chloride) such as Driclor, or Glycopyrronium wipes.’ If all else fails, invest in anti-chafe underwear or shapewear that prevents friction – Marks and Spencer and Snag Tights both sell shorts to wear under dresses and skirts that will help you avoid the sting.
Hair's a hot mess
A good trick is to apply dry shampoo to clean hair before bed, then brush out in the morning
Hot and bothered hair can go one of two ways – frizzing into an unmanageable cloud, or turning lank and lifeless thanks to excess sweat and oil.
Frizz is caused by humidity allowing moisture from the air to enter the hair strands, disrupting their structure. To manage frizzy hair, it’s essential to use products that provide hydration and protection against water in the air, says trichologist Hannah Gaboardi, an ambassador for UKLASH. Avoid overwashing as this can strip hair of its natural oils, leading to increased dryness and frizz, says Hannah.
Use anti-frizz serum or a leave-in conditioner; K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, or their Damage Shield, which also protects against UV rays, are good bets, says Lydia Wolfe, co-founder of Jack & the Wolfe salon in Hampshire. Also try drying your hair with a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt. ‘These materials are less abrasive than regular towels, reducing frizz caused by rough drying,’ says Hannah.
If an oil slick is more your concern, use dry shampoo as a preventative measure rather than waiting to mop up oil after it’s appeared. A good trick is to apply dry shampoo to clean hair before bed, then brush out in the morning.
Strawberry legs and arms
Nothing says summer more than strawberries and cream – and, sadly, ‘strawberry skin’, also known as keratosis pilaris.
‘Keratosis pilaris is a very common form of dry skin characterised by hair follicles plugged by scale resulting in small, rough bumps resembling goosebumps, typically on the upper arms and thighs,’ says Dr Ellie Rashid, a consultant dermatologist at OneWelbeck. ‘It is a genetic condition that occurs when keratin, a protein our skin is made up of, builds up and blocks hair follicles.’
It’s harmless, but unsightly if you hoped to show off smooth legs in the sunshine.
Products containing salicylic acid - such as CeraVe SA Cream and The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid - creams containing urea (including Eucerin 10%), and products containing lactic acid or topical retinoids, such as Environ Body EssentiA Alpha Hydroxy Derma Lac Lotion and Environ Body EssentiA Vitamin A, C & E Body Oil, can help to smooth it out.
Make-up meltdown
The answer is not trowelling on increasingly hard-wearing products, but opting for a less-is-more approach to foundation
A combination of extra sweat and grease on the face and around the hairline can often cause foundation and mascara to go south.
‘This happens more in humid weather, when skin produces more oil and sweat. This mix can create a slippery surface that breaks down make-up, especially mascara,’ notes Shenaz Sharrif, founder of the Face and Body Clinic in London.
The answer is not trowelling on increasingly hard-wearing products, but opting for a less-is-more approach to foundation, she says.
‘It’s usually better to use light products and reapply them as needed.’ Shenaz recommends cleansing well with a gentle, oil-control cleanser before applying a mattifying primer followed by a lightweight, oil-free foundation or tinted moisturiser.
Translucent powder or blotting papers in your handbag can be used to absorb excess oil during the day without disturbing your make-up, adds Shenaz. She recommends a stronger formulation on the eyes to avoid the raccoon look. ‘Finally, don’t touch your face frequently because this can transfer oils and bacteria from your hands to your face, causing your make-up to break down faster.’
Abreast of the issue
As if damp armpits and fevered brows weren’t bad enough as the mercury creeps up, the ‘underboob’ area can also pose a problem for anyone above a B-cup.
‘Boob sweat occurs in the same way underarms sweat, but boob sweat differs because the skin-to-skin contact under the breasts traps moisture, preventing it from evaporating,’ says Dr Ellie Rashid. Not only is it uncomfortable, the lack of evaporation means it can quickly start to show through clothes.
How to deal with it? Stick to breathable fabrics like cotton and linen, and invest in a breast-specific anti-sweat powder such as Megababe Bust Dust. Another trick is to use a disposable breast pad, usually used by lactating mothers, to discreetly absorb sweat, adds Dr Rashid.
For armpits, if you’re finding your excess sweating too much to bear, then treatments such as Botox are also an option, suggest Dr Momen. This works by blocking the nerve signals that instruct the sweat glands to become active.
Turn your back on bacne
No matter your age, acne can strike – and body acne, particularly on the back and bottom, can be unsightly, painful and particularly difficult to shift. Not the best bikini accessory.
‘Body acne happens for similar reasons as facial acne,’ says Dr Mahsa Saleki, aesthetic doctor and founder of SAS Aesthetics. ‘The hair follicles get clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. However, body acne can be caused more by friction from clothing, sweating, and physical activity.’
That means what you wear can make a real difference. ‘Wear loose fitting, breathable clothing to reduce friction and sweat build up, and shower immediately after sweating,’ says Dr Saleki.
No more post-yoga brunch in the same leggings, please! When you wash, use an acne-fighting cleanser containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide – Acnecide and Blemicalm spray by FaceTheory are some expert favourites.
