How to achieve a radiant summer glow

Whether you’re off to a wedding or a day at the races, summer occasions call for a softer, more natural look than the dimly lit nights of winter. Partner & Make-Up Artist, Sophie Hamedani takes us through her favourite products for a daytime-friendly finish, from the featherweight foundation that will leave skin looking naturally flawless, to the highlighter guaranteed to give a sun-kissed glow.

Sophie says ‘this look is all about the skin – if your complexion is dry or dehydrated, light won’t be able to reflect off it for that coveted glow’. This means prep is essential: Sophie recommends ‘gently exfoliating in the morning, followed by a moisturiser or facial oil to keep skin quenched throughout the day’.

Hot weather can cause make-up to slip or wear off, so primer is your new best friend. Start your look with Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer in Radiance. This glow-enhancing version of Laura Mercier’s much-loved primer features a subtle pearlescent finish that will shine through your foundation for extra illumination. Instead of simply smoothing it on, Sophie recommends ‘gently massaging it into your face to melt it seamlessly into the skin’s surface’.

Next, Sophie applied the Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting foundation, which combines a weightless texture with longwearing credentials and protective vitamin C – perfect for a day spent outdoors. Again, application is key – Sophie advises ‘gently dabbing the foundation onto the skin with a dampened sponge, being careful not to overload it with product. This method is perfect for achieving a dewy, natural finish.’

It’s time to create your radiant effect, with a little help from the queen of glow: Charlotte Tilbury. The new Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette comprises four finely milled powders in luminous, complexion-warming shades, all of which Sophie used for this look.

Start by taking a small, fluffy brush like MAC’s 116S Blush Brush, and wash the lightest shade over your ‘brow bone, tops of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and the tiny crease between lower lip and chin’. Next, dab your brush in the darkest shade, then ‘lightly tap the crease of your eyelids and beneath your cheekbones to add a touch of flattering shadow’. Finally, mix the two pinker shades to create a gorgeous, naturally flushed hue, and sweep ‘upwards and outwards from the apples of your cheeks.’

Sophie added a little sparkle on the eye to make the most of this understated look. She recommends using your fingertip to ‘swipe on’ the Bobbi Brown High Shine Liquid Eyeshadow in Molten Petal, creating an ‘gentle sparkle that’s perfect for daytime’. This champagne shade provides the ideal amount of shimmer without looking too dramatic. Finish your eyes with a long-wearing mascara like Bobbi Brown’s No Smudge Mascara, applied with a light hand to keep lashes looking soft and fluttery.

Finish your pared-back look with a pretty, feminine lip. Sophie suggests patting Bobbi Brown Lip and Cheek Tint in Rose onto lips ‘to create a faint natural stain’, topped with the new Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumising Lip Gloss. This warm rose gloss has a hydrating formula that will keep lips soft and comfortable. Sophie notes that ‘as it’s fairly sheer, there’s no fear of it smudging or staining, so you can eat, drink and celebrate without checking your make-up.’