And yes, it's 34°C in Kuala Lumpur.
I'll be up climbing roofs and trusses, measuring the ornaments and details. And trust me, for sure, it's going to be real hot. Just picture going to work in your dress-code appropriate shirts and "i'm-the-boss" pants, you've put on that new foundation you bought over the weekend, you check yourself out in the mirror and you're ready to conquer the world (well, your office, anyway) ..
..and by lunch time - you're having your meltdown. Your makeup meltdown.
We've all been there - the heat is crazy, your arms and legs get sizzled while driving in your car where the sun strikes your windshield, and you feel like taking a cold shower every second or jump into the waters - but you can't. Whether you're measuring a temple in the heart of the city, or walking along Jalan Ampang to grab a bite at the Intermark. Here's some extra steps I take when I'd have to be under the sun -
1. Stay Hydrated
I find myself buying 5-6 bottles of water by lunch, so, before you jump into your car, pack up that generic tumbler (we all have one, don't lie) you have been dreading to be seen with - PLEASE - CAUSE IT'S REALLY HOT. Well, you can take this one instead - this tumbler by TeaTox suits all you minimalist fiend, would look so cool in your studio space, and will keep your water cool for your long hours out. Add lemon slices, and berries into your drink and refill with cold water throughout the day. Life saver, I tell you. If you're anything like me, I tend to crave for coffee in the mornings and something zesty like lemonade or iced lemon tea in the lunchtime - and I don't like putting in anything sugary or caffeinated too often as well so I limit myself to one "fun" drink per day. Also, don't overdo drinking water, general rule of thumb is that if you're not feeling thirsty and your urine is colourless, you're good to go, that's enough water already. Be aware of your body!
2. Face Mist
Drop by your local drugstore and find yourself a face mist to spritzy-spritz whenever you're feeling a little bit flushed. I would recommend the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Eau Thermale Avene or the Evian Facial Spray. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir consists of peppermint extracts which gives a tingling cooling effect that you need on that torturous walk to lunch under the sun. A few sprays on the face and the back of the neck works wonders. The Avene facial spray is made out of 100% thermal spring water, as well as the Evian (100% Evian water) - I just find that these little bits and bobs really makes a difference when you need a quick freshening up, and works amazingly for sensitive skin in soothing redness or any flushes on the skin. You can even make your own concoction if you're feeling creative, the safest bet is to use rosewater because it doesn't irritate the skin too much in comparison to certain essential oils.
3. Heat-Proof, Sweat-Proof Life
I'll start by saying - skin first, makeup second.
I don't like to put too much makeup on when it's really really hot because, let's be honest, s**t gets uncomfortable. I'll start with really clean skin and ditch the heavy creams for light-textured oils/moisturizers and a good sunblock. I use a physical sunblock that is packed with Vitamin E and antioxidants in place of my moisturiser, so that will provide ample moisturisation to last me the day. Physical sunscreens are great for dry, sensitive skin as it is very moisturising, often times the iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum Creme is enough for me to skip moisturisers overall. You can opt for a chemical sunblock if you tend to get oily fast during the day because of it has a liquid-like formulation. Chemical sunscreens are great for normal skin types - not so great for sensitive skin.
You can continue with a mattifying primer to tone town that shine on certain areas on your face. I use the littlest amount of my Hourglass Veil over the T-Zone and the under-eye area which is usually where I get shiny when I sweat. For coverage, I skip the foundation altogether because it's just not necessary! Pin-point concealing using a tiny Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush or a Real Techniques detailing brush with a thin layer of high coverage concealer is much more efficient and sweat-proof because it is much more waxier than a regular foundation - hence making it very long-lasting. After concealing, I use Benefit's Watts Up Cream Highlighter at the highest points of the face and really blend it in into the skin. I usually use my fingers for this, but the Real Techniques Buffing Brush is great too if you want the highlight to have a diffused look. Set places you've concealed with a thin layer of loose translucent powder, and carry a smaller powder compact, if you must. I use the Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder and I don't need to touch up during the day because it has a really long staying power which is what we need on a hot summer's day. I use the shade 20 Clair -Translucent 1. It comes with a velour puff which I don't really like because it doesn't compare to the Laura Mercier's Velour Puff which you can buy here.
For blush and contouring, I like to stick to powder textures as it simply just lasts longer on the skin in comparison to creams. I normally go for The Balm's Bahama Mama Bronzing Powder for a touch of contouring on the cheekbones, and I use it wherever else needed (jawline, temples, forehead). As for blush, my summer's favourite is the one from Inglot which is an earthy mauve and just looks like you've got barely anything on (you can see the swatches here). I don't necessarily use blush on a daily basis, but just for when I feel that my skin feels a tad bit sallow. Other than that, I'll use a long lasting lip pencil (nude) like the Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil, or the Rimmel one in Tiramisu (both applied/swatched here and here) and top it off with either the Marc Jacobs New Nudes in Anais or the Inglot Matte Lipstick in 405. It really depends on how my lips are, if they are feeling a little bit dry, I prefer the Marc Jacobs - which lasts me through jungle-trekking and the bullet did not melt, I was genuinely pleased with that considering how moisturising the formula is.
4. Overnight Treats
Your poor, parched skin is probably cursing you right now. Show that you're sorry with a good old overnight moisturising/hydrating treatment mask. I tend to opt for creams rather than sheet masks as you can really work the cream into the skin. Before applying the mask, don't forget to include a BHA/AHA ingredient as well to exfoliate any dead skin cells while the mask is acting. Take a good look at your skin to figure out what kinds of masks you may need. If there are any redness and bumps on your skin, it means that your skin is irritated and you would need to look for skin-calming masks. REN Skincare does a good range of products for sensitive skin, as well as La Roche Posay, you can either opt for a serum like REN's Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum or Sunday Riley's Artemis.
If you're not sure of the products or what will work - look out for ingredients. Vitamin E and Vitamin B is something to start with as Vitamin E strengthens the skin as well as brightens it while Vitamin B helps with protecting the skin from harsh weather (i.e. El Nino). I also tend to prefer to spot treat with ingredients like Salicylic Acids or Lactic Acid (I use Kiehl's Blemish Treatment on the daily). For moisture-retention, again, Lactic Acid is also a contributing ingredient for moisturising the skin, but I think the most common in the market and easy to scout for are Hyaluronic Acids, Retinoids (albeit a bit pricier) and Peptides which are also cell-communicating agents. For the ultimate overnight skin spa, I love Tata Harper's Moisturising Mask, but there are a lot of great skincare treatments out there and it doesn't have to be expensive. What I personally like to do before I make a purchase is to look for reviews on countless of blogs and websites. I find that I can count on Beautypedia to scrutinise every single ingredient in a product and making sure I'm getting my money's worth (and they feature tons of great drugstore products), or I'll go over Lisa Eldridge's website because she's been in the game - what am I saying - she is the game.
5. No Mascara
Don't wear mascara. It'll still smudge. Just curl your lashes.
(what summer looks like around here)
I find that being in the summer heat all year round has made me scout for more lightweight textures and long-lasting products - which, in the end, has resulted in a fail-proof routine (or a signature look, if you will). If you have to part with something from today's read, I'd say pick up a really good sunblock and an SPF-free moisturiser. It's important to take care of your skin! The combination of a humid and hot weather really could leave your skin parched so a good moisturiser is definitely something to think about. I'm gearing up for my site visit soon so let me know what your skincare/makeup essentials are in the comments section, I'd love to learn a few things from you!
Lastly, keep at hand a trusty lip balm. You're gonna need it.
x FARAH A.
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