Beauty: My summer glow must-haves

Trust me, you’re going to love these complexion boosters and highlighters as much as I do  

I’m always careful on these pages to write about products – both new and old – that I think really deserve your attention. But among these I have my own ultimate favourites and the new Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer in Golden (£92, victoriabeckhambeauty.com) is one of them. Yes, it’s a ridiculously long name, but it’s also a remarkably great product. Whether or not you’re already a fan of the Augustinus Bader skincare line, all of Victoria Beckham’s skincare has been created in partnership with him. This hybrid work of fabulousness is a tinted version of her very lightweight moisturiser and really is the business.

Not only does it leave skin feeling hydrated, plumped and generally a bit peach-like but the tint is perfect for giving a hint of glowiness – not like a self-tan, more a dusting of sunbeam. It comes in her signature faux tortoiseshell packaging which is arguably the most chic in the business. And although it’s at the pricier end of things, it’s one of those products I now never want to be without. Use it alone or as a great dewy base for make-up. On a simple skincare front, Dr Sam’s new Flawless Brightly Serum (£44, drsambunting.com) is great for complexion freshening. It’s formulated to work on everything from improving uneven skin tone to boosting collagen and clearing pores to leave skin fresher and happier.

Vitamin C is always a great glow booster and Sanctuary Spa Vitamin C 20% Daily Glow Serum (£16.50, boots.com) is good stuff. This is a high percentage and suspended in silicone so it feels smooth, not grainy. I haven’t had any issues with pilling because of that silicone but I mention its presence because I know some people do not like it at all.

Make-up-wise, the new RMS Living Glow Face & Body Powder (£37, spacenk.com) is another favourite. It might look very metallic in the pot but once it’s applied it just gives a wonderful golden hue to everything it touches and works brilliantly as a highlighter.

I love it on cheekbones and also dusted on shoulders for a bit of summertime glamour. And please don’t let anyone tell you you’re too old for this. I’ve seen RMS founder Rose-Marie Swift, who’s 65, wearing it and she looked marvellous.

Her RMS Kakadu Evening Beauty Elixir (£40, spacenk.com) is a lovely night-time oil for a hydration and radiance boost.

But Rose-Marie also showed me a trick with it: if you feel you’ve applied too much highlighter take a small amount of oil, apply it on top of the powder and it will tone down the excess. Of course, you could always use a different brand, but her Kakadu is such a treat.

Scents of adventure 

Oh to be on Mykonos now that summer’s here… But whoever does not wake on a Greek island can take comfort in the theme currently running through beauty. In a very location-specific move, Heinrich Barth, the Turin-based brand named after a 19th-century explorer, offers N°07 Mykonos Skin Softening Body Cleanser (£13, wolfandbadger.com) inspired by the idyllic isle. Its delectable fragrance is made up of the kind of notes you might expect: fig alongside olive trees, rosemary and wild herbs.

Although its products are made in England, Von Norten is channelling similar aromas with the Black Candle Collection. Its Mediterranean offering is inspired by the southern Aegean island of Santorini and is a more simple blend of fig and green olive (£43, vonnorten.com).

Greek brand Kéăp (or Kear) has the tag line ‘Ancient Greek skincare reborn’ and offers products such as an Antioxidant Face Balm (around £42, kearlife.com) made from beeswax and super-fruit hippophae (sea-buckthorn berry) oil. I like the Mastic Herbal Soap (around £4.50, kearlife.com) containing essential oil from chios mastic (a resin derived from a Greek tree), which smells wonderful and can be used as a body or face cleanser.