After a distinctly disappointing spring, the weather has done an about turn in July, sending us some of the hottest temperatures in nearly a decade.

Not that we're complaining - but on days like these, we need make-up that won't quit, come heat or high water (OK, a dip in the pool).

Thankfully, right on cue, there are a whole host of new products designed to go the distance, from a multitasking primer and infallible foundation to cream blushers and lipsticks that won't slide off or smudge.

These are the long-lasting heroes to see you through summer...

PRIME TIME

A good primer will help your foundation stay put for longer, and Murad's new multitasker is better than most. Invisiblur Perfecting Shield, £55 (www.murad.co.uk), is packed with anti-ageing peptides, SPF 30 and it blurs imperfections too, leaving a smooth, even canvas for the rest of your make-up.

ALL ABOUT THE BASE

If you're going to be splashing around in the waves, a waterproof foundation is a must.

MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation, £25.50 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk), is an oil-free formula that won't budge for up to 24 hours, while Stageline Professional Waterproof Make-up, £14.52 (www.skinbysterex.com), contains SPF 50, so you don't have to worry about sunscreen underneath. Just make sure you apply it 15 minutes before going in the sun.

If humidity is more of an issue, try switching to a mineral foundation that will absorb excess moisture. Sheer Cover Studio Perfect Shade Mineral Foundation, £24.95 (www.sheercover.co.uk), is a loose powder that adapts to different skin shades better than liquid foundations, making it easier to blend seamlessly from jawline to neck.

ETERNAL EYES

On the beach, it's best to keep eye make-up to a minimum, but if you've got a summer garden party or wedding to attend, you'll need products that won't melt under the midday sun.

Bobbi Brown's long-wear collection is formulated for that very purpose, like the Long-wear Cream Shadow Stick, £20 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk), which comes in a massive 19 shades. Add definition by finishing with a precise line just above your lashes, using the corresponding Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner, £18.

LASHES THAT LAST

A truly waterproof mascara is worth its weight in gold, and By Terry Terrybly Waterproof Mascara, £33.50 (www.spacenk.com), is the best we've found. The super-sized brush ensures every lash is coated with a luxe, volume-enhancing formula that also happens to be immune to rain, sweat and tears.

BOOM AND BLUSH

The key to keeping cheek colour in place is to find a blusher that's highly pigmented, whether cream or powder.

In six warm shades, Love Flush, £25, is Too Faced's most powerful blush yet, giving dense colour and up to 16 hours of glow from each adorable heart-shaped pressed powder pot (available August; www.debenhams.com).

PERPETUAL POUTS

Just because a lipstick is more expensive, doesn't automatically mean it's going to be longer-lasting.

Collection Lasting Colour Lipsticks are only £2.99 (www.boots.com), but have seriously impressive longevity. The dark peachy Taffeta Bloom is perfect for a summery sheen.

Matte lipsticks often perform better than their shiny counterparts and they're really on trend this summer. Try Lola Matt Long Lasting Lipstick, £12 (www.marksandspencer.com), in Cheeky Cherry, a rich, warm red.

TRIED AND TESTED

:: Curly-haired Kate Whiting tries out a treatment to tame frizz

Summer humidity can be the bane of any curly haired person's life - heat plus moisture equals frizz! So I leap at the chance to try a new straightening treatment that promises to smooth away all my worries. My stylist is the very patient Amal, who will spend the next three hours tending to my scalp for my K Fusion by L'Kerabelle Hair Smoothing Treatment. The process begins with a shampoo (and wonderfully relaxing head massage) to open the cuticles and get rid of all the oil and product build-up in my thick dark curls. She leaves the L'Kerabelle clarifying shampoo on for 10 minutes - no conditioner to block the K Fusion treatment from doing its work - before towel drying my hair and painstakingly applying the smoothing product with brush. It tingles on my head slightly and needs to stay on for half an hour to get to work. Then it's rinsed off and I have a blow dry. The important (and most time-consuming) part is the straighteners which are run through my hair eight times to close the cuticles and lock in the smoothing product. I've never seen my hair look so straight, frizz-free or glossy in my life. I can't wash it or wear it up for 48 hours and after that I must use a shampoo free of sulphates - L'Kerabelle do an excellent one - but I'm told it should last for four months. The real test comes when I wash my hair. Normally I let it dry naturally with tonnes of leave-in conditioner to tame it. But I can pretty much wash and go - it's curly but so much more manageable and still has that lovely shine. And what's more, it will keep me frizz-free all summer!

:: K Fusion is available from salons nationwide. Prices start from £150. To find your nearest salon, call 020 8207 2591 or visit dnlhair.co.uk

BUY IT NOW

Like the iPhone of the hair world, the unveiling of a new GHD styler is cause for much excitement. Rather than hotting up again, the latest iteration, GHD Platinum, actually dials down the heat, to 185 degrees. Why? That's the crucial temperature at which hair is made malleable enough to straighten or curl without it being frazzled, which nobody wants.

:: GHD Platinum, £165 (www.ghdhair.com)

BEAUTY BULLETIN

:: BEARDS KEEP GROWING

More bad news for razor manufacturers; according to a new survey by Braun, clean-shaven guys are now in the minority, with 52% of British men sporting some kind of facial fuzz, and a third of those choosing a full-beard style. In fact, such is the desire to keep up with celebs like David Beckham and Jake Gyllenhaal, that medical tourism company Medigo.com reports that online searches for facial hair transplants have surged by 454% in a year.

STEAL OF THE WEEK

Pound shops are great for picking up kitchen bits and cleaning products, but you wouldn't buy your make-up there, would you? Well, the new Miss Beauty London collection, now available in Poundworld stores nationwide, might just change your mind. Manufactured in Britain, the 100-piece range is great for beauty basics - try the sweet coral blusher or matte bronzer. Find your nearest store at www.poundworldplus.co.uk