Elsa McAlonan’s Beauty Upgrades: How to smooth away ‘chicken skin’ with arm sculptors
- Elsa McAlonan reveals a selection of the best lotions to smooth arm bumps
- She also explains Victoria Beckham’s devotion to Dr Paw Paw Original Balm
- UK-based beauty expert rounds up the best factor 50 suncreams for each age
WHAT’S NOW & HOW TO DO IT: ARM SCULPTORS
Elsa McAlonan picks out a selection of the best lotions to smooth away ‘chicken skin’ arm bumps and help firm up flabby bits (file image)
Want to go sleeveless but worried about your upper arms? Try a lotion designed to smooth away ‘chicken skin’ arm bumps and help firm up the flabby bits.
Rodial Super Fit Arm Sculpt contains exfoliating fruit extracts and skin-tightening wheat proteins.
feelunique.com
Prai’s Ageless Upper Arm Creme uses a blend of caffeine and emollients to tone and soften skin.
marksandspencer.com
For puffy arms, try U Beauty The Sculpt Arm Compound (£94, net-a-porter.com), which is infused with retinol.
Or, for a less pricey alternative, opt for the new Nivea Q10 Power 60+ Firming And Extra Nourishing Body Lotion (£9.99, boots.com), which helps improve skin elasticity.
RACE YOU THERE!
The new-look Lacura Setting Spray is a must-have to help make-up survive in the heat. Pick the long-lasting version for all-day wear or the mattifying formula to prevent shine.
aldi.co.uk
Other additions to the Lacura range include the Skin Care Tonics: brightening Vitamin C, plumping Acacia Collagen and detoxifying Salicylic Acid (£3.49 each); a Pineapple Hot Cloth Cleanser (£3.99) to revive tired skin; and the hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Super Booster (£3.29).
VICTORIA’S MULTI-TASKER
Victoria Beckham (pictured) is devoted to Dr Paw Paw Original Balm
Victoria Beckham is a fan of the iconic Dr Paw Paw Original Balm (£8.99 for 100ml, lookfantastic. com), a do-it-all salve made with a nourishing blend of papaya, aloe vera and olive oil.
The vegan formula can be used to hydrate lips, nails and cuticles; smooth brows; treat dry, cracked skin on your feet, elbows and knees; and tame flyaways. It’s perfect for first-aid kits, too, as it helps soothe insect bites and minor abrasions.
DOES NAIL POLISH LAST LONGER IN THE FRIDGE?
Nail expert Leighton Denny says its best to keep nail colours in a consistent environment
It’s a beauty tip we have all grown up with, but will your nail varnish really last longer if you keep it in the fridge?
Nail expert Leighton Denny says: ‘It’s about keeping your nail colours in a consistent environment, so often a fridge is recommended as it’s at the same temperature all the time. You should avoid leaving it in direct sunlight or near a source of heat. I have colours that are more than 15 years old!’
When it comes to shades for summer, the brighter, the better. A vibrant, flame red, such as Leighton Denny’s I Love Juicy (£12, ld-boutique.com), works brilliantly on fingers and toes. Or try Kure Bazaar in Java (£15, lovelula.com), a bold, red-toned orange.
THIS WORKS
Finding the perfect eye product is never easy, but the new Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum (£50, or £11.25 for members from June 30) might just be the answer.
It uses three sizes of hyaluronic acid to help smooth fine lines, and caffeine to reduce the look of under-eye puffiness.
beautypie.com
3 OF THE BEST: FACTOR 50 SUNCREAM
MARKS & SPENCER Sun Smart Ultra Defence Lotion SPF 50+ is suitable for sensitive skin and water-resistant. It’s also moisturising, to help prolong your fake tan.
marksand spencer.com
SUN BUM SPF 50 Body Lotion has a vegan and reef-friendly formula containing vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant which helps prevent premature ageing and dry skin.
cultbeauty. co.uk
SHISEIDO Expert Sun Protector Face & Body Lotion SPF 50+ uses botanical extracts to reduce the look of wrinkles and dark spots, and it dries clear, too.
shiseido.co.uk
SHAMELESS INDULGENCE
Known as the creme de la creme of moisturisers, Creme de la Mer is one of the most luxurious beauty products ever. Now, for even more of a treat, there’s a limited-edition Blue Heart version.
The iconic cream, loved for its complexion-boosting powers, has been housed in a collectible blue jar with a coral design, created to show La Mer’s support for marine conservation through its Blue Heart Oceans Fund.
The formula, which smooths lines and wrinkles, has rejuvenating properties, too, thanks to its Miracle Broth — a blend of sea kelp, vitamins and minerals.
cremedelamer.co.uk