Summer beauty basics

Source: open-arms, Flickr.

Summer is the worst kind of year to be a make-up wearer. Not only are magazines filled with women that look positively glowing despite being pretty much make-up free (not taking into account all the editing the photographs undergo of course), but putting make-up on in the morning only results in it being sweated off under the sun, leaving a lovely patchy look for the rest of the day. And don't even get me started on the whole 'my face has tanned and now my foundation is too light for my skin' fandango.

After tackling these problems for the best part of 5 years, I've managed to find a few things that help me and my make-up cope with the warmer weather just that little bit easier.

1. Tinted moisturiser - using this rather than a thick foundation will mean that you won't sweat it off as the product will be properly moisturised into your skin, and the thinner coverage also means you'll avoid the caked-on look. If you can't find one to suit your skin tone, buy a normal moisturiser and mix it with your regular foundation as this basically creates the same effect.

2. Waterproof mascara - whether you're on holiday and are about to go swimming in the pool, or you're going to go for a long walk in the heat, wearing non-waterproof mascara will end in one thing and one thing only - it being halfway down your cheeks by the end of the day. Using a waterproof one means it will stay on for longer, no matter what you're doing with your day.

3. Long-lasting concealer - my favourite concealer to wear during the summer is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, which stays on all day no matter how hot it is outside and helps cover all those annoying blemishes/red patches.

4. Blotting sheets - I could rave on forever about how amazing blotting paper is for oily skin, but in summer when everyone is basically in the same boat - they're a must have for everyone. I always make sure to keep a pack in my bag for whenever I'm out and about and find my face getting greasy, and they always do the trick.

5. Lip balm - I find it really difficult to wear lipstick in the summer, just because I already feel quite greasy/sticky anyway, and wearing lipstick as well just contributes to this. Wearing lip balm also means that you can keep with the natural trend that comes along every summer without fail.

6. Sun cream - I cannot stress how important protecting yourself from sunburn is, and those who burn and say "Oh well it'll go brown eventually" make me genuinely mad, especially now that the dangers of skin cancer are so well known. Please remember to put sun cream on when the sun is out, and remember that it doesn't stop you from tanning - it just makes tanning safer!