Sad but true: summer in Australia is drawing to a close. Those long lazy days that melt into the evening, the delectable smoky fug of barbecues drifting over the back fence, the smell of your skin, tight with salt and sand after a day at the beach; the delicious mess of mango juice dripping down your chin…
It’s a total feast for the senses that is always over far too quickly for my liking. So, in denial of the shortening days and cooling weather, I’ve developed a little coping mechanism. I manage to hold onto my summer high with a few nostalgic beach beauty essentials, because with the right scents and textures you can transport yourself right back into your last tropical memory. Here, my edit for prolonging those sultry summer sensations.
Tropical Scents That Bottle the Beach
Kai Body Glow. This ode to gardenia and jasmine is like Hawaii-in–a-bottle. I spritz this onto my legs straight after a shower and it gives them a sheeny scented gleen. Flippy skirt optional.
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. Not many fragrances capture that sun lotion scent quite like this one. It reminds me of a suncream my parents used on me when I was little, with the welcome addition of pineapple and coconut. Yummo.
Creed Virgin Island Water Bath Gel. This scent will always remind me of Ibiza. Every day I would douse myself in this sweet coconut scent and we would kick back on the daybeds at The Blue Marlin or have lazy barbecues drinking rose on our terrace.
Surf Hair and Self-Tanning Essentials
O&M Surf Bomb. That effortless-surfer girl hair is like the holy grail of summer beauty. Tousled, sexy and so impossible to achieve with my pin-straight strands. This salt-spray gives me the effect, minus the sea-lice.
Jao Brand Goe Oil. I learnt about this product on a beauty shoot. (Shoots are like hotbeds of beauty intelligence: models and makeup artists trade cult products and beauty secrets while they’re prepping for their close up.) This semi-solid oil melts in your palm, sinks in deliciously and leaves skin delicately fragranced with frangipani.
Korres Coconut Milk Bodymilk. I recently discovered during a shopping spree at Mecca Maxima store and, frankly I’m a bit obsessed. I’ve gone through one tube already and am slathering the next with reckless abandon. It’s free from all chemical nasties and smells like coconut heaven.
Custom Tan Mousse. One of the most natural chocolatey tans I’ve found, that is also a dream to use. I can even use it in the morning because it doesn’t leave that fake tan stink, nor is it sticky. I always apply it with a ModelCo velveteen mitt to prevent finger streaks.
Body Glow and Coconut Moisturisers
Nars Body Glow. I always loved the molten metal bronze the original body glow oil gave my skin, but I didn’t love the grease marks it left on my clothes. This tinted gleaming moisturiser absorbs quickly and won’t stain your silk.
Puretan Pure Moisture Coconut Body Crème. Another coconutty-sensation. This feels utterly indulgent and leaves skin supple and scented with summer goodness. I think it stretches out the fake tan an extra few days, too.
The Perfect Back-From-Byron Bronzer
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer. This dreamy powder gives that perfect tawny–just-back-from-Byron glow and never looks too dark or cakey. It has moisturizers in it so it helps hydrate your skin, too.
Words by Sigourney; Photography by Jake Terrey; Styling by Richard Sawyer; Makeup by Desiree Wise.
Sigourney wears top by ASOS
Shot at Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel.
