It takes more than a coat ofpolish to get feet sandal-ready you need

Tag : girl's sandal


According to research by P&G, skin tone alone can raise awoman’s perceived age by up to 20 years. Brown patches,freckles and liver spots may appear because of hormonal problems– stress-induced or caused by the pill – or they may bedue to excessive sunbathing. Whatever the reason, there has been aproliferation of antipigmentation skincare at beauty counters. Now,make-up manufacturers are seeking ways to address the problem.

A skin-tone-levelling powder, created by the Japanese beauty giantKao, is said to contain an ingredient that reflects light away fromthe face, minimising the appearance of dark spots. It isn’tavailable here yet, but other companies are taking note. Benefitproduces a Get Even powder (£21.50) with “warmcantaloupe undertones”, which it claims can cancel outredness and unevenness.

A heavy concealer, if well applied, can work wonders too. Idisguise my speckled bits with Becca Compact Concealer (£30;beccacosmetics.co.uk), which is great around the eyes, whereilluminating pens are little help.

Alternatively, the make-up artist Bobbi Brown suggests deepeningthe colour of the whole face, rather than targeting individualareas. “Pigmentation looks worse if make-up is too heavy, sokeep it fresh and aim to even out, not camouflage,” she says.“Do this by first balancing the light and dark contrast witha bronzing gel [try Bobbi Brown All Over Bronzing Gel, £19]to add warmth, then applying a base.”

SOLE MATES

A pedicure always makes you feel like a true summer girl. Chooseone that involves industrial-strength filing and buffing. TheOrganic Pharmacy luxury pedicure (£55; 020 7287 1607) leavesfeet as smooth as a pebble, and Bliss Pedi Colada (£65; 0207590 6146) gets you into beach mode, with a coconut-milk foot soakand a hot seashell leg massage (and a virgin pina colada to sip onthe side).

If you’re doing it yourself, it takes more than a coat ofpolish to get feet sandal-ready – you need a bit of elbowgrease and a professional kit.

Lust of the week

Although a smoky oriental may seem an unlikely blend for summer,Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant avoids being overly churchy, whichincense-based fragrances tend to be. It is a warm, enveloping blendthat evokes charcoal smouldering after a barbecue. £95, fromHarrods, from August 18