Time to lighten up

MAKE-UP is tricky in summer. The light is different, so heavier wintry foundations feel completely out of place. I know this because I used a small compact mirror out of doors the other day and my skin looked like I was gearing up for pantomime season.

It’s a good little trick too because most of us don’t apply foundation in daylight. In the summer months, even the cold Irish summer months, your skin really does benefit from lightening this up.

Of course, you can always reach for a beauty balm. The quick-fix product has gone stratospheric this year with formulations being brought out by everyone from Origins to 17, (although my hands-down favourite is L’Oreal’s Nude Magique Beauty Balm, e14.99). But beauty balms are not perfect products. Their downfall tends to be that they are trying to do everything and end up being average.

While beauty balms are causing a mini media frenzy, a rather perfect and old-school product is being overlooked: the tinted moisturiser.

As I get older, a tinted moisturiser becomes more important because as you age, lightening things up — from clothes to make-up — is the way to go. It makes you look younger.

Light-reflecting particles also come in rather handy, although you don’t want too many as they can actually make you look more wrinkly. Complicated? You betcha. But it doesn’t need to be.

Opt for a good-quality tinted moisturiser and it should be all your skin needs this summer. If you need a little coverage, you can just dab a little foundation or concealer where you need it (in my case, on my Charlie Haughey-like schnozzle).

I always look to products that include an SPF. Bear in mind that most tinted moisturisers come in a much more limited range of colours and tones, but don’t panic. They blend in so well, you’re unlikely to get the kind of tide marks you’d get if you wore the wrong colour foundation. Plus, because of their light texture, you can reapply throughout the day, without looking like you’ve loaded on the slap.

In terms of whether you’re going to need a moisturiser underneath, it’s a matter of personal choice. In theory, a tinted moisturiser should be all you need, but if you’ve got dry skin, it is not enough. I go for a very thin layer of a good creamy moisturiser such as Trilogy’s Vital Moisturising Cream SPF 15, e28.60 (bodykind.ie).

Some of the best tinted moisturisers are ones that have been around for a while. I love Laura Mercier’s award-winning Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20, e40.90, which has a very light, flattering texture and gives good hydration, but for me Estée Lauder’s Daywear Plus Multi Protection Sheer Tint Antioxidant Moisturiser, e48, just pips it to the post, although it’s very expensive. It seems like a minor thing, but the smell of this product is really amazing. It smells so fresh — exactly how summer should smell. But most of all, I like the look and feel of it on the skin — luminous.

Benefit’s You Rebel Lite, e34, is a good super-light option, almost too light, but its extreme sheerness makes it a good choice for anyone with near-perfect skin who is after a very light veil. If it’s a step too far in the sheer direction, try the regular You Rebel.

Finding an oil-free tinted moisturiser can be a tough task, but if you’re not on too tight a budget, then Bobbi Brown’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15, e36.50, is ideal for those with oily skin. It tones down shine, and keeps your skin looking fresh throughout the day.