summer beauty

Amp up your striking white nail varnish look with gold studs at the base for a simple but impactful touch. Opaque white nails packs quite the punch, but it also tends to show mistakes a lot more than other hues. So to make sure it looks its best, first file your nails for a perfect shape and trim your cuticles to ensure clean lines around the edges.

To create the look, I started off with Butter London Nail Fertilizer (£18.50) as a nutrient-rich base coat. Then, I painted on two coats of Chanel Le Vernis in Eastern Light (£18) for pure white coverage. While the varish was still wet, I added a gold stud from Topshop Nail Rockits Stud (£10) a three way nail art pen, nail polish and 3D studs. To finish, I topped this look with Essie Good to Go (£8.99) to seal in the stud and give my nails a glossy finish. If you have any messy edges, go back with a brush dipped in polish remover to clean up any stray marks or lines.

It's understandable: basking in the sun is one of the best parts about Summer. But putting yourself at risk for skin cancer and premature aging is not quite as relaxing. Whether you're heading to the pool or beach over the next few weeks or chilling on your back lawn, get a few key tips on the right way to enjoy the heat without risking your skin's health.

If you're going to lie out, do . . .

• Apply broad-spectrum sun cream with SPF 30+ about 30 minutes before you go out because it takes time for the active ingredients to take effect.
• Set a timer on your phone to reapply sun cream every two hours (or 40 to 80 minutes if you're swimming, depending on your product's labeling).
• Take a floppy hat and sunglasses that will protect your face and neck. Opt for a long-sleeved cover-up to get even more defense from harmful UV rays.
• Bring an umbrella. While it might seem obvious, the more time you can spend under the shade, the less likely you'll be to get burned or dehydrated.
• Limit your time in the sun. If you have fair skin and go out without sun cream, then you could get a sunburn in 30 minutes or less. For darker skin tones, the unprotected time limit could reach up to an hour. To be on the safe side, keep the sun cream on hand.

If you're going to lie out, don't . . .

• Overload on liquor or sweet snacks. Sugary drinks and alcohol can aide in dehydration. When you plan to spend hours in the sand, it's better to stick to water.
• Head outdoors when the sun is at its highest intensity, which ranges from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Forget to apply protection to the areas that are easily forgotten: upper ears, hairline, your hair part, underarms, tops of feet, eyelids, and under straps.
• Slather on baby oil. Enough said.

It might say light on the packaging, but don't let Aveda's Light Elements Defining Whip (£20) fool you. While it is lightweight in feel, this airy, whipped wax gives a decent amount of hold. Use it on almost-dry hair with a blow dryer to enhance volume and shine. Apply to dry hair to add texture and pieciness to ends and layers. It can also be used to give beach waves and tousled updos some added oomph sans the heaviness or tacky feel. Best of all, it instantly tames flyaways and static with a soothing, fresh scent to boot. And since it can be used in all hair types and lengths, you'll find this light yet mighty hair wax might just be about the only product you'll need this Summer.

If you don't take the proper precautions, swimming in the pool can wreak havoc on your hair. Chlorine and other chemicals can mess with its colour and unravel your ends. The key to surviving your vacation with soft and healthy strands is a clarifying treatment. Get our recipe for a shine-enhancing vinegar and honey spritz when you keep reading.

Summer is almost here, which means it's officially beach wave season. But if you're not lounging on a sand dune somewhere, faking those beachy waves, like Lea Michele's tousled texture, can be daunting. But there are three easy ways to fake them, and all you've got to do is wash your hair, add a little product, pick your technique, and fall asleep:

1. Braids
After working a leave-in conditioner through your hair, blow-dry it until it's about 80 percent dry. Then, douse your hair in a beach spray, like Alterna Bamboo Beach Texturizing Spray (£15). Muss up your hair a bit with your fingers, divide it into two sections, plait, and fall asleep. When you wake up in the morning, fluff your hair with your fingers to add volume.

2. Twists
Follow the same steps as the plaits above, but instead of plating your hair, twist it away from your face in two sections. Then take the twists and fold them over the top of your head like milkmaid plaits for easy sleeping. When you wake up in the morning, simply run your hands through your hair and spritz on some hair spray, like Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray (£12.50), for shine and hold.

3. Topknot
If you've got longer hair, opt for a lightweight mousse like Shu Uemura Kaze Wave (£16.75). Dry your hair halfway and then scrunch the mousse into your strands. Flip your head over and twist your hair into a high topknot, making sure it isn't pulled too taught around your scalp. Secure with a hair tie and pins. In the morning, take your hair down and reinforce some of the waves with your fingers or a curling iron for extra hold.