I’ve Worked Out How to Get That Beauty-Editor Glow—Here’s My Routine

Having sun-kissed skin is one of the main reasons I love summer so much. A few freckles across my nose, a bit of a tan on my forehead and cheeks, and hopefully fewer spots after having immersed my face in saltwater. Unfortunately, however, this time of year is the most dangerous for our skin—we all know how damaging too much of the sun's ultraviolet light can be, causing hyperpigmentation, severe dryness and of course, increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. And with Europe seemingly heating up more and more every year, it's never been more important to invest in a quality SPF within a skincare regime that helps protect the skin, especially in the height of summer.

As a beauty editor, I know all too well of the amount of products available that all claim to offer the same thing, so understand it can be difficult—let alone expensive—to cut through the noise and determine what actually works. That’s why I always recommend BEAUTY PIE. In case you’re not familiar with the brand making waves across the industry, let me enlighten you. Almost like a members' club for beauty, you pay a monthly fee and receive heavily discounted prices on all its products.

The business model is quite the beauty utopia—the products are created by leading cosmetic scientists around the world using the very best ingredients, be it retinol treatments, makeup or supplements, and the brand only sells direct to consumer. Cutting out the middle man (i.e. not relying on retailers or celebrity endorsements to sell its products), BEAUTY PIE is able to offer innovative formulas and premium-quality products at much more affordable prices. What's more (yes, there's more!) is that you can now sign up for free with the 30 Day Access Pass*, and, if you are a new member, get £10 off your first order with code SUMMER10 at checkout. So you really are getting the best quality skincare at a fraction of the cost. 

But back to my regime. After years of trialing different products, I think I have finally perfected the best routine for my skin during summer, and all the products come from BEAUTY PIE. It's a quick and easy three-step routine that I do each morning, especially diligently in the spring and summer months. The greatest part about it is that the products are multifaceted; with a 3-in-1 moisturiser and an SPF that also doubles up as a primer, I save myself money, time and energy (things that I don't tend to have much of). But instead of just explaining it, I thought I'd show you. So without further ado, here's my fail-safe, three-step regime that will help your harness that summer glow in the safest way. 

The first step in the process is all about hydration, because rehydrating the skin after sun exposure is vital. Shinkai Electrolyte Drench is like a mammoth glass of water for the face. Hailing from Japan, its J-Beauty (Japanese Beauty) formula is all about simplicity, or "skinimalism". The antithetical answer to K-Beauty (Korean Beauty), which centres around a lengthy, multi-step routine, this 3-in-1 deep hydrating gel-cream is a moisturiser, serum and mask all in one.

I apply this cool, silky gel every morning to clean skin. It's thick without being too thick or sticky, and I let it sink in for a minute or two before applying my SPF. In the evenings, I also use it at the end of my routine as a mask to add an extra nourishing layer, and then I let it absorb through the night. A mineral-infused moisturising gel, it's perfect for those with dry skin, but doesn't cause issues for those with oily skin (which many creams and oil-based moisturisers can do), making it a great option for all skin types. 

Step two: prime and protect. Honestly, this is the most important step in the routine. No matter your skin type and how prone to burning you are, when it comes to your face, factor 50 is the best way to go. Unfortunately, many SPF 50 moisturisers and sunscreens, whether they're for the body, face or both, are often thick, sticky and difficult to apply. In steps Super Healthy Skin Featherlight SPF 50, a 2-in-1 sunscreen and primer.

Staying true to its name, its ultra-lightweight consistency is easy to apply and absorbs quickly into the skin. Because it's been designed for priming the face for makeup, it has a soft, dewy feel that ensures your foundation, BB cream, skin tint (or whatever you use for your base) blends into the skin beautifully. 

As a person with acne-prone, slightly dry skin, I will occasionally have flaky patches which cling to my makeup. However, this primer's consistency really helps to blur and blend my foundation and concealer. As with the Shinkai moisturiser, its formula rehydrates whilst it calms inflammation and helps heal skin damage. Now, that's what I call multifaceted beauty. 

The final step in my regime is to add some light makeup to create a glowy, "no-makeup makeup" look. Whilst I believe everyone's skin is perfect without it, I like to look at using makeup as a way to refine and enhance what I already have. As mentioned, the Featherlight SPF primer is the ideal base for whatever makeup you want to wear, and in the summer months I tend to go for lighter coverage, so I'll top the SPF primer with a lightweight foundation or concealer.

I colour-match this with my skin, and then use BEAUTY PIE's Keep This Compact Awesome Bronze Powder Bronzer to add some glow. I go in below my cheekbones and around my forehead, also adding a little on my nose, cheeks and neck, so I'm not just adding a little contour, I'm also giving myself an all-over sun-kissed look. The powder has a matte, blurred finish, blends beautifully and gives medium-to-full coverage, leaving a very natural look to the skin. Plus, it contains hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides to keep the skin hydrated. 

After I've given my skin that bronzed glow, I finish off with my lips. First, I use Super Healthy Skin Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 30, which hydrates my lips whilst protecting them from the sun (lips are an oft-overlooked yet constantly exposed part of the body that we should be protecting). Then, I layer on Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil + for some shine and a little colour. Here, I'm wearing the shade Spicy Pink. Unlike other glosses, I find this one to be super hydrating, and instead of being sticky (I hate when my hair sticks to my gloss), it's balmy and rich. I love how the sheeny finish catches that golden-hour light, making my lips look plumped and dewy.

If you want to get the most out of BEAUTY PIE, be sure to sign up to the membership here.

*Be advised that BEAUTY PIE's Access Pass will auto-renew for membership, see more on this here.