Words: Jonathan Wells
In association with:
London’s doing well this year. Usually, we tend to get a snippet of summer; a teaser, a preview, a glimmer of finer days. And then, quicker than we can buy incredibly optimistic amounts of sunscreen, the storm clouds roll over and the sunshine is gone for yet another year.
This year, however, the blue skies are winning. And, as is our responsibility, Gentleman’s Journal have taught you how to tackle summer suiting in style, and upgrade your beachwear. But what about grooming? Our daily routines alter and adapt when the sun comes out, as must the products we use.
So, from Liberty London, one of the capital’s oldest and most striking department stores, here is a bathroom cabinet full of products that will keep you looking and feeling fresh until those storm clouds finally catch up with us.
Keep yourself safe with a strong SPF
First things first: It’s summer, it’s hot and your skin needs protecting. We don’t care how uncool slathering on sunscreen may be — all we know is that your devil-may-care attitude to sun protection will backfire massively when your bright red burn rears its angry head.
Invest in a good, strong SPF sunscreen, such as this one from Kiehl’s. It not only protects you from UV rays, but also intensely moisturises your skin, and is oil-free for a fresh feel.
Remember to rehydrate - inside and out
Drinking water is incredibly important in hot temperatures. It stops us feeling sticky and tired, and ensures that all that water we’re sweating out is replaced. But it’s not just inside that needs hydrating — your skin also suffers in the sun.
To combat these flaky consequences, spritz on some rehydrating mist. These gentle thirst quenchers for your skin are an emerging market, providing surges of hydration and helping the absorption of key ingredients and serums into the skin. This is our favourite — well worth the money.
Top up your tan when the sun takes a break
We’ve been praising the rays, but occasionally the sun will spend a couple of days dipped behind the clouds. On these occasions, if you can’t bear the sight of your tan fading, then invest in a bronzer.
These formulas, such as this one from Le Labo, aren’t just skin-deep either. Enriched with turmeric and sunflower oil, this lightweight bronzer was developed exclusively for men, and is scented with bergamot and tonka bean to wake you up too.
Clean away any sweat and grit thoroughly
We all love laying in the sun, or running with abandon down a hot beach into the sea, but one of the few downsides of summer sees sweat, grit and dirt ingraining itself into our pores. We get sticky, clammy and our skin often needs a good wash – nowhere more so than our permanently-exposed face.
Enter Sisley, with their winning facial exfoliator. Rich in natural botanical extracts and essential oils, it cleans skin, removes dead surface cells and impurities which dull the complexion. Scrub particles, infused into the formula, will also soften your complexion, readying it for another day of bronzing.
Don’t let summer lethargy get the better of you
All we really want to do on hot summer’s day is lounge outside, rousing ourselves only very occasionally to grab something barbecued or chilled in an ice box. But this level of relaxation can lead to lethargy, which leads in turn to wasted days, and ultimately a lost summer.
For the days when you want to make the most of the weather, and strike out on an adventure, pub crawl or some other summer jaunt, reach for an energising face wash, such as this one from Kiehl’s. It doesn’t only reinvigorate the appearance of your skin, it’ll also give you a boost of freshness to get you through the hot day ahead.
Adapt your shaving routine to deal with heat rash
Warm weather leads to heat rash, and the ever-painful razor rash. So, unless you’re planning on resisting the razor this summer and growing a wild beard — which comes with its own bushel of heat-related problems — then you need a bathroom cabinet stacked high with high-end shaving products.
, The first to take its place on your shelf should be this Post-Shave Lotion from Aesop. A quickly absorbing moisturiser that assuages post-shave irritation and aggravation, this Moroccan Neroli lotion contains specially-selected botanical oils to pacify, smooth and refresh skin. Just the ticket.
Rejuvenate those sun-strained eyes
You could be wearing the finest sunglasses from the best designers there are, but the sun will still find a way to occasionally blind you. And, all that wincing — paired with long summer day parties that rage well into the night — your eyes will need some serious TLC.
We’d advise you invest in a roll-on eye gel to hydrate, nourish and replenish the skin around your eyes. This light, cooling formula from REN is the perfect solution. Use every morning to revive and brighten your eye area, and you’ll see summer in a new light.
Think we’d miss out aftershave? Think again. Floris’ new scent is summer, bottled.
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