Summer Beauty Ideas & Checklist

Shopping List for Beauty in Summer

So the temps are finally holding out and you’re safely in the white-is-permissible window betwixt Memorial Day and Labor Day. You want to look like a mermaid, but summer in the city has you feeling like a Claymation walrus with pores to match. What’s a girl to do?

This list will set you up with the essentials for looking #flawless even in the balmiest of environs—whether you’re a country girl, or a city mouse. 

First things first, skin protection is crucial. Keep your skin clean and well moisturized with a broad-spectrum SPF face lotion—30 or higher to combat early aging and skin cancer risk. Don’t forget to reapply as directed! Drinking plenty of water is one of the best beauty tips we can give you (after sunscreen and not smoking, of course!). One way to pare down your regimen and give your skin a break is by trading in your regular foundation for a BB cream with SPF. Go for oil-free if you’re the shiny type, and look for non comedogenic and fragrance-free to give your pores even more reasons to love you. Carry some blotting papers in your purse and a light talc-free powder for touchups. 

Still want to look tan though? For optimal sun-kissed glow sans scary burns, wrinkles and cancer risk, invest in a nice sunless tanner. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for face and décolleté is hard to mess up and leaves a very natural glow. For body, invest in some scrubs to exfoliate first, and a gradual tanner for body such as Jergen’s Natural Glow Moisturizer. 

The summertime struggle to keep eye shadow creaseless is real. And eye shadow primer such as Shadow Insurance by Too Faced is your best friend here. Tap a little on and let set before your shadow application. 

A cream or liquid cheek stain amps up the dewy factor for a summer face and looks less harsh in the sun. Give it a try for a breezy, natural look. 

For hair, keep some dry shampoo within reach for sweaty days and muggy days that destroy your volume. A leave-in spray with UV filter is essential for those with highlights or colored hair. Finally, tap into your inner mermaid with a nice salt spray for natural, tousled locks even Ariel would envy.

Ready to look hot for the summer? Fire up with this list of summer beauty essentials!