Camilla Kay, GLAMOUR's European Beauty Director, shares the lowdown on the beauty products she thinks are really worth the hype in her new column. In her 25-year beauty career, Camilla has tested thousands of products, so here, she reveals the new, old and cult beauty goodies that are worth hero status (and your beauty budget).
Picture the perfect summer social – the sun is shining, you’re feeling the sexy-not-sweaty kind of hot in your summer dress, your hair is behaving despite the humidity, the rosé or Aperol is flowing, everyone is bathed in golden light and if you could freeze frame the moment you’d all be laughing. It's one for the memory bank. There’s just one sting!
A literal sting right between your thighs, aka summer dress or skirt syndrome, caused by thigh chaffing. And if you’re in the percentage of humans like me that don’t own a thigh gap, you will know exactly what I mean.
It's the downside of Summer, when thighs are allowed to play out in the open air, but merrily rub together and chaffing causes a red, sore patch that makes walking painful and has you reaching for your trousers.
A Eureka moment for me was when I learnt the summer saving hack that a swipe of lubricant or barrier cream kills the thigh chafe, so there's never any danger of a sting as you stroll. Deodrant does the job, but if you'd rather err on the side of hygiene, keep deodorant for under arms and stash this friction-fighting stick Megababe Thigh Rescue, £12, Boots in your bag.
I've been slicking it on my thighs on dress days since I discovered the the brand and its arrival at Boots. Effectively it's a barrier cream, enriched with vitamin E, aloe and grapeseed oil and it works its magic anywhere that's required from arms to elbows, toes or shoulders, allowing skin to glide smoothly. I can confirm it is a comfort game changer.
The other solution focused stick I have recently discovered is this blip buster - The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick, £15. It's not for slathering on liberally but for targeted deep exfoliation, with 7% glycolic acid combined with salicylic acid, designed to tackle problem spots from ingrown hairs, rough skin patches, breakouts, skin discolouration, dry heels and keratosis pilaris bumps.
I have been trialling it on an annoying unsightly, discoloured lump on my leg. It started as an ingrown hair and progressed into a seborrhoeic keratosis, a harmless skin growth caused by an excess growth of ordinary cells that can look brown or red colour with a rough surface.
I had it checked out to ensure it was not cancerous, but then left it to see if it would vanish in the same way it arrived. Sadly not! I now think I'll need to see a dermatologist to have it removed, but for the time being a slick of this exfoliating balm keeps the surface smooth and allows me to add a swipe of concealer or fake tan to disguise it.
It's my latest handy skin-saving find that's suited to all skin types. You're most welcome.
For more from Camilla Kay, follow her at IG @camilla.kay
