/ 20 June 2022

Georgia Day’s Favourite Summer Beauty Buys

Fragrance, make-up, skincare – it all changes once the sun comes out, or so says SL beauty contributor Georgia Day. Here are some of her favourite seasonal buys…

By Georgia Day /

Save To My Favourites

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

It’s Neroli Or Nothing

Stepping off the plane and being met with the warm scented air of holiday is one of my favourite parts of summer travel. While I might not have found anything to mimic the feel of the heat on my face, I have found something which embodies that sweet foreign air. Sunspel’s Neroli Candle is summer in a (very chic minimalist) jar and I guarantee I’m going to burn through several before I actually go anywhere this year. Citrusy, green and with a slight skin-like soapiness, this is a dreamy evocation of sunshine that makes me smile every time it’s lit. I’ve been burning mine during a late afternoon bath (my ultimate indulgence) with the windows open and a glass of something cold in hand.

Get Set To Scrub

Although getting up when it’s light outside isn’t the chore it is during the winter months, I still often find my morning shower functions as a bit of a wake-up call. Anything invigorating I can add to my morning wash is a bonus, so I was thrilled when I tried the latest additions to Bamford’s bath and body collection. The Citrus range is a seasonal celebration of zesty citrus fruits, patchouli and orange flower, made more refreshing thanks to an Exfoliating Shower Wash formula. This two-in-one shower gel and scrub is just the right side of gritty to leave skin feeling softer, smoother and delicately scented just in time for summer. I’m hooked.

Try Silk For Summer

I’m a big fan of Slip, an award-winning accessories brand that makes 100% silk pillowcases, scrunchies and sleep masks. The wisdom behind these bedtime essentials is that silk is far gentler on skin and hair than cotton, causing less tugging and stretching which can induce fine lines and broken strands. My hair is always more vulnerable at this time of year, so its latest collaboration with New York fashion brand Alice + Olivia is one I’ve got my eye on. While the whole collection is gorgeous, I’ll be using the scrunchies to keep my ponytail secure but snaggle-free. The hair wraps are perfect for getting your hair off your face in the heat, and keeping curly and textured hair tangle-free and protected from friction.

Up Your SPF Game

Gone are the days when applying SPF to your lips meant you had to contend with chalky white residue from a clunky twist-up stick. Ultra Violette, one of my favourite sunscreen brands, has not only nailed it with the buttery soft, vitamin-infused formula of Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 50, but also with the colour. The newest shade, ‘Flamingo’, offers an electric pop of pink that looks good on everyone and means you don’t have to compromise when it comes to protecting your skin in the sun and still looking put together.

I love PAI'S THE IMPOSSIBLE GLOW DROPS — a trio of silky liquid highlighters that infuse skin with a PRETTY LUMINOSITY and good-for-skin ingredients.

Bring The Sunshine In

When it comes to scenting my home during the summer, I gravitate towards fresher fragrances that remind me of holidays. Diffusers are so effective and can fill a room so quickly. I will – passport office willing – be heading to Italy this year and so this Bella Freud Ciao diffuser is helping me look forward to my trip, while at the same time brightening up my kitchen. Its notes of fig leaf, orange blossom and vetiver are so evocative of an Italian summer’s day that if I close my eyes, I can practically taste the Aperol.

Go For Glow

While glowing skin is always a goal in my everyday make-up routine, I like to dial it up in the summer. Recently, I’ve discovered Pai’s The Impossible Glow drops, a trio of silky liquid highlighters that infuse skin with a pretty luminosity and good-for-skin ingredients like sea kelp and hyaluronic acid. I like the ‘Bronze’ shade which adds radiance to cheekbones and gives my skin an instant healthy glow in lieu of my usual bronzer. I pat a little straight on after I’ve finished the rest of my make-up, but you could mix a drop or two into your foundation or tinted moisturiser for a subtler effect.

Be A Colour Chameleon

Something about warm weather makes me more experimental when it comes to colour – which is why I love testing out new eyeshadows to wear when the sun goes down. Stila’s Tequila Sunrise collection had me almost instantly, and I love its Cocktail Travel Cheek, Lip & Eye palette. The orange cream formula will add warmth to lips and cheeks while the quartet of shadows includes a burgundy for easy smokey eyes. Use the sparkling turquoise shade to trace a fine line over lids come cocktail hour.

Opt For Strand SOS

A combination of sun exposure, swimming and top knots means my hair often suffers during the summer. That’s why I’m stocking up on two of R&Co’s latest launches from its Gemstone collection. The Pre-Shampoo Colour Protect Masque is a pre-wash treatment that nourishes colour-processed hair, so hair stays hydrated and colour stays healthy. Meanwhile, the Ultra Shine Glossing Treatment is a deep conditioner that has rescued my frazzled strands and transformed them into something softer and more presentable. For cashmere-soft strands, I like to work it through from root to tip, and leave it in a bun all day before washing it out at night.