The Bare Necessities

By not going back to Hong Kong this summer, I thought I would be escaping the sweltering heat that usually envelops the city. What I didn't foresee was that London would come to rival my hometown in the soaring temperatures department, with the only difference being that air conditioning is virtually non-existent in London. In these conditions, it's never a good idea to pile on the makeup. It simply does not feel nice, and it's likely to have melted off your face within an hour of being out and about. This has led me to strip my makeup routine down to the very basics that will not overwhelm my skin in 30-degree heat. 

Skipping base altogether, I start off by applying some Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard under the eyes and on any red areas under the nose. This formula is long-lasting without being too heavy, and provides excellent coverage in the places where you need it. I love that this can be used to cover up both dark circles and red areas or spots, making it the ultimate multi-purpose concealer with the perfect shade and consistency. Next up is my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. I find that eyelash curlers do a good job of making lashes seem longer and fanned out, and that makes it possible to go without mascara. And although waterproof mascaras are a necessity in the summer, they are such a pain to remove that only one product will do the job, and that's the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover. Now, it seems that many women cite mascara as the makeup product they would wear if they were to use just one. I'm gravitating more towards the idea that well-groomed brows are all-important. The hero product that's swaying me is the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Seal Brown 02. This imparts texture and fullness to the brows with incredible subtlety, and the colour is spot on for me, as I naturally have chestnut-brown hair and black eyebrows that are sometimes difficult to reconcile. Well, this pencil somehow manages to fix that slight incongruence.

There you have it, the only makeup things you really need for a day out in the sun. And one bonus is that less makeup equals less time spent getting ready. Win-win situation.

PS: Don't forget the sunscreen!