Advice on how to get the best out of your make-up in the summertime

We have had a warm and sunny summer so far, that’s for sure, and it’s been easy for people to get a bit lazy round routines.

Many women can neglect their beauty and self-care in the process, only to return to the experts in September full of regrets.

I have to remind my clients that beauty treatments only work when you actually keep them up. It’s easy to undo all your good work when you take a break from it in the summer.

I was asked recently what did I believe was the true key to beauty and I said one word: CONSISTENCY.

Clients who are consistent always get the results that the ones who dip in and out fail to get.

I do my skin regime twice a day, every day - I do it if I am tired, sick, hormonal, exhausted, and mentally drained... but I do it.

It’s a non-negotiable for me and that is why I get the results and my clients who are the same also get amazing results. But the ‘hokey-cokey’ miss out.

I always say to my clients, I can tell you what to do, but at the end of the day it’s down to you, how much you want it, I won’t be going home with you and washing your face for you. They have to play their part.

Experience has taught me you can bring a horse to water boy, but you can’t make it drink.

The recent high temperatures have made our working days a lot sweatier and more intense, and interrupted our sleep, that’s for sure.

I often get asked how I keep my make-up on in this heat, so this week I want to share my summer make-up tips and tricks to help you.

The truth is, make-up will only ever sit well and last on a good skin, so invest in your skin and facials and the make-up will sit well effortlessly and last - heatwave or not.

OIL-BASED IS OUT

Anything, be it moisturiser,s primers, or tinted creams, that is oil- based will make your skin so shiny and wet in the heat. Always look to see that your products say oil-free.

I have all my clients on only oil-free serums and moisturisers now as this is not the weather for anyone to have oil on their skin.

Oily products will not just cause your skin to burn, but may cause sun damage and pigmentation damage.

The same goes for your lipsticks, oil-based lippy is a big no-no in summer months, this is why so many get burned lips and blisters.

I did one of my popular beauty videos on this recently and you can watch it on our Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages.

OPT FOR TINTED

I find in summer months choosing a good quality tinted moisturiser from the skincare brand you use it much better for the skin.

Now, I stress good quality, and from the brand of skincare you use, because every summer people get reactions and break-outs when they fail to observe these rules.

Many of my Guinot clients invest every summer in their Youth Perfect Finish tinted moisturiser in a light and golden shade, and this is their make-up then for the whole summer. It has the same coverage of makeup and is oil-free and yet its still is only a tinted moisturiser which is far lighter and healthier for all our skin in summer months.

SET YOUR MAKE-UP

Many professionals do need more than a tinted moisturiser in work.

My air hostess, solicitors and CEO clients say, summer or not, the makeup must be on for work, and I always recommend they make sure to set it in this heat.

Personally, I am not a fan of setting sprays, I feel many just wet the make-up. I always set make-up with setting powder and this ensures more of a matt look and keeps the foundation from sliding off the skin in the heat.

But, whatever about foundation, no-one should be wearing heaving 48 hour and double thick layer foundation in summer months, it’s far too heavy in such humidity.

This is why our Master Colors make-up, which I’m wearing in the picture above, is so popular in my clinic as it is a serum foundation.

It goes on like a wet liquid and dries on the skin, it’s so hydrating, and best of all, it will not like, most foundation, seep into the fine lines and wrinkles and make you look older. This has been a game changer for so many women.

REMOVAL IS VITAL

I have no time for the ones who sleep in their make-up - yuk! Like, would she wear the same knickers two days in a row too?

It really does tend to be the under 40 age group who have got into this dirty old habit, and I always say to them, look, don’t put the make-up on so if you are not going to take it off as you are doing huge skin damage.

Sleeping even one night with make-up on will set your skin back 6- 8 weeks of break-outs and forms blackheads and blocked pores; spots don’t form for nothing, they form from dirt that has been left on the skin and not correctly cleansed off.

Make-up is equivalent to dirt on the skin so it has to be double cleansed and well toned after to fully clean out the pores and close them.

Also, many people do not realise that SPF is heavy on the skin and when reapplied throughout the day, forms a thick layer,and this too must be double cleansed off every evening.

Once a day is not OK on this front - just like brushing your teeth.

LET YOUR SKIN BREATHE

At the end of the day, all our skin is better when it has no make-up or tinted creams on top of it.

Once it’s been cleansed, toned, and hydrated and has SPF, there really is nothing better for all our skin than fresh air, vitamin D and daylight. I do believe the sea water is so good also for our skin.

Far too many are over-reliant on make-up every day and thats not good for the skin. When I am off work, I don’t wear make-up unless I am going out for dinner or have a business meeting and I’d encourage more women of every age to embrace more makeup free days.

As a skin expert, I always advise my clients to aim for at least two days a week make-up free, and one is better than none.

Also, always remember that it’s no make-up after a facial . This is like getting professional cleansers in to clean your house and then having a huge party that night, it just undoes all the great skin work.

I will always be a huge advocate of natural beauty, I have had no botox, filler or injections, and I know regular facials and a good skincare regime slow down the aging process and keep your own natural beauty.

We have a duty of care to our clients, and I believe a moral obligation to be honest in what we say and do. I have no judgement on what anyone else does to their own face, but I do believe it is better to stay natural.

I hope you protect your skin this summer, and know that everyone needs a good, deep cleanse facial in the summer months, as all our skin is going through so much in this heat and needs some professional help.

I would be more than happy to help you with your skin at Emerald Beauty Clinic. In the meantime, stay sun safe always.

Emer O’Callaghan is a multi- award winning Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Guinot Gold Crown Elite Clinic and Dermalogica Centre of Excellence, 2008-2026, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie - follow us on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok now.

BOOK THE FACIAL

All this month, our award-winning Dermalogica Advance Deep Cleanse Facial is reduced from €155 to €130, 90 minutes, includes a full skin analysis, complimentary eyebrow shape, samples and treats in treatment.

Appointments only, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic on 021 4365949. Free parking available for clients.