Summer Beauty Staples

The skincare, makeup, fragrance and haircare that make me so excited for summer

I mentioned in my stories a week or two ago about how much I LOVE summer beauty. There is just something about the skin focused, sun-kissed simplicity that just brings me to life year after year. I tend to gravitate toward favorites that I’ve been using for years, but also have a few fresh finds that have replaced favorites from the past that I want to share with you!!

Skincare

I am pretty minimal with my skincare routine all year round, but especially when it comes to summertime. I want to be enjoying the weather— it’s busy!! We travel quite a bit. No one wants to waste extra time on skincare.

My morning routine is always quick because I am not a morning person, and even quicker come summertime. I cleanse with a toner/mist on a cotton round (usually Jordan Samuel Skin or Violette_FR), slap on my ANFISA An-Dew (my Azelaic acid, antioxidants, hyperpigmentation serum in one), and a moisturizing SPF (usually La Roche Posay UV Mune SPF 50 Hydrating Cream) so that I can skip a moisturizer— and I’m out the door!

For my PM routine— It’s only slightly longer. I love a GOOD double cleanse in the warmer months, because I just feel sticky with sunscreen, sweat, makeup etc. but I truly love nothing more than a single cleanser that can both remove makeup, and rinses clean in a way that it works for both cleanses (meaning, you cleanse your face with it twice vs using two separate products)— this just makes it so easy to take along and travel with too. For your first cleanse, always apply to dry skin to remove spf/makeup etc! I’m going to list my favorites here (different textures and price points depending on your preferences):

• The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser - this is a thick, balmy cleanser that fully removes everything, but also emulsifies and rinses completely clean. It leaves my skin so soft. Would especially be great for dry skin. This is SO affordable at $21 full size and $10.50 for a travel size.

• Experiment Plasma Wash - this has a unique texture, like a gel-cream. It has glycerin depositing compounds to leave your skin hydrated after! It’s genius, and I love a flip cap/tube situation.

• Dieux Baptism - This is a gel, but almost feels like it has a bit of oil in it. It has great tack, and it grips everything and removes it with ease! It also works well as a second cleanse, leaving skin soft but not stripped. I only wish the packaging was better for travel!

After I double cleanse, I like to hydrate— usually with Experiment Super Saturated, apply my retinoid or chemical exfoliant, and moisturize (I alternate between this and this). So simple! I personally don’t have dry undereyes or eye issues, so eye products are one I tend to forgo when I’m busy or traveling, etc.

Self-Tanning

I have really leaned into self-tanning this past decade, but now that I have rosacea, which has been a newer diagnosis within the past few years— I truly feel like when I have a tan, any redness immediately disappears and I often forgo a base product entirely. It’s a must for me before trips! The options I am sharing here are great for neutral/cool skin because they have green undertones and never look orange.

• Body - I really love this body tanner by Luna Bronze that I’ve been using for the past four years. It used to be called Express, but they changed the directions, and just instruct you to wear it for different lengths to adjust the depth of your tan. I wear it for 2-4 hours. I also newly just started using this one by Coco & Eve and I like that it’s a little cheaper, but also much more accessible at more retailers in the US. And I love it! I get a solid 10 days of wear with both of these before they start to fade, and I start scrubbing it off with an exfoliator in the shower.

• Face - I was testing the Coco & Eve Face Tanning Face Mist but I felt like it irritated my rosacea, and clogged a few pores. I am returning to my beloved Salty Face tanning drops in light-medium (I have a demo here). Unscented and never clogs my pores. I just repurchased today! It takes me a solid two years to get through a bottle.

Makeup

Summer makeup is the best— barely there coverage, bronzed, sun-kissed, easy cheeks and lips are where it’s at.

• Concealer - I have a few that I tend to rotate in the summer, but the one I always come back to is Armani Luminous Silk Concealer— FYI they changed the packaging, but the product is the same. It’s medium coverage with a radiant finish, that looks very skin like. I love that this sets itself, so I never feel like I need to powder it if I don’t want to, but also looks great with powder on my skin. I wear shade 1.5 in summer, and 2 when I don’t have a fake tan. It’s acne safe!

• Base - I rarely reach for a skin tint these days because lazy, but if I did, I would use the Chanel Water Fresh Tint. I’ve been using this since it launched in early 2019, and haven’t met a skin tint I’ve liked as much as this one. It looks like nothing on the skin, feels so incredibly lightweight, but is hydrating and shockingly longwearing for a skin tint. If I’m attending a wedding or event and want more coverage, I use this with the Armani concealer over it, where needed. The most annoying thing about this is the price and that they don’t have enough shades— I have to mix the two lightest for my perfect shade in the summer. People keep trying to dupe it, but nothing has been as good! It plays well with truly every sunscreen and primer I’ve used with it. I do have other skin tints that I love and recommend here if you’re curious.

• Bronzer - You know I love the Westman Atelier Contour Stick in Biscuit as my most of the year round bronzer with its neutral/cool undertones. Pro-tip: I always buy the travel size since I don’t wear makeup every day, and it makes my makeup bag that much more portable. In the summer, I switch over to Westman Atelier’s Peau de Peche which is described as a multipurpose cream highlighter. It has enough depth to act as a bronzer and highlight, and you can even forgo blush as it has enough color to just give radiant sun-kissed cheek. I know the price is a little crazy, but I’ve had my same one since this launched in 2019 and the formula hasn’t gotten weird— so almost 6 years later I am still using her. When I go on vacation, this is all I bring for bronzer! And no need for a highlighter. I also swipe this on my lids for a little eyeshadow moment.

• Blush - I’m a bit blush crazy so bear with me, as this category is where I have the most favorites. One of my favorites that I continuously go back to is the Chanel Water Fresh Blush in Light Pink. This is truly a “no makeup makeup” blush for me, as it looks like a super natural pink flush that’s not too warm but isn’t cool either. Easy to blend and once sets, it truly lasts all day through the heat! It never looks or feels heavy on my skin. You all know I live for a Terracotta moment, so the two I’ve been wearing since they launched are Ciele’s blush in June (try on here) and Rhode’s blush in Toasted Teddy (try on here). The Ciele is a liquid that has SPF 50, and blends out beautifully. It has more brown/burgundy tones and can work as a blonzer. The Rhode is just a bit more red, more traditional terracotta. I love both formulas but find Ciele to be a little bit more longwearing on me.

• Powder - When I’m home, I’m using the Kosas Cloud Set in Airy, but this blush even though it comes in a mini, it is baked and easily breaks. My mini didn’t survive a single trip last year, so I bought the mini of the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush powder in fair in a mini size, which I keep in my travel makeup bag permanently. I forgot how fantastic this powder is. It’s finely milled, it doesn’t hard pan, and looks natural on the skin while also being blurring and smoothing.

• Mascara - I rarely wear mascara these days, but I cannot live without this eyelash curler. If I was going to wear mascara, you know it would be tubing, and likely Rudi’s Beaubble collab, Merit or T28 (these two come in minis!

• Brows - This stays the same— my go-to products are the Ravie Beauty Effortless Brow Pencil in Dark Brown and the MAKE Beauty Infinite Hold Sculpting Gel in Clear.

• Lip Products - When it comes to a summer lip, I like anything that is not sticky and unfussy. I reach constantly for the Violette_FR Bisou Balms because they’re matte and I don’t have any of the same crusty lip issues in summer like I do in the winter. I used to religiously wear the Fenty Lip Stains, but have since switched over to the Violette_FR Lip Nectar which is a much comfier lip stain, that starts off with a gloss balm that slowly fades. I have try ons of the Bisou Balms here and here, and the Lip Nectars here. I have a code with Violette_FR for new customers for 15% off: DEVAN15. I am using all my same favorite lip liners, which are here.

• Multipurpose Products - I absolutely adore this lip, cheek and eye palette in Chaleur by Les Filles en Rouje. I love having more options for lips and cheeks, especially on longer trips and sometimes I mix my own. I also sometimes want a bold lip for an adults only dinner. This specific palette is what summer tones are made of and looks fantastic on any skin tone. It features a passion red, coral pink, fuchsia, and soft pink. The formula is cream, but dries down to a powdery matte, making it perfect for lips and cheeks.

Nails

I know everyone is obsessed with OPI’s Cajun shrimp (described as a vibrant coral-red with a hint of orange), but I tend to prefer Essie’s Clam Bake. It’s a vibrant red-orange, meaning it’s very much red forward, but leans only slightly warm so it looks good on all skin tones. I think Cajun Shrimp lean’s a little more pink. There’s not a HUGE difference between these two, but Essie’s is just slightly darker and more opaque. I also prefer the brush of Essie— it’s much smaller and fits my nail beds better. You definitely don’t need both, but I’m sorry!! Clam Bake is superior (IMHO) and has been a favorite of mine since 2010!

I wrote this whole thing, and then realized that they no longer sell it as of recently, so I guess I’ll be trying Essie’s Geranium instead. [crying]

I found this image via essieyall on IG, and it looks like Geranium is more of a neutral red, just slightly less orange— so I don’t hate it!

Fragrance

I LIVE for summer fragrances. There’s nothing better than a white floral, citrus, beachy, milky coconut vibe with a hint of sunscreen. Here are my favorites that have been go-to’s for year(s), and a new favorite by Phlur:

• Beach Walk by Maison Margiela - this is a yellow floral, with a tiny hint of coconut that is barely detectable. I hate a strong, fake coconut! It smells a little like sunscreen but not overpowering. This is bright, yet warm and cozy. It screams East coast summer.

• Jordan Samuel Skin Cortile Dolce - this one only launched last year, but it’s going to be a staple this summer. It’s perfectly unisex too so my husband can also rock it. It has lime leaf, jasmine and cedarwood with a hint of sweetness via almond granita and brioche buns. I am immediately transported to Sicily, bopping around on a Vespa (or so I imagine, I’ve never been!!)

• Tom Ford Neroli Portofino - I’ve had this fragrance on rotation for over a decade. This is very citrus forward, and screams Neroli with some jasmine and amber at the base. I personally loveeee Neroli, but I’d skip if you’re not a fan. This makes me feel like I’m on the Amalfi coast, getting wafts of a local orange orchard.

• Tom Ford Soleil Blanc - another fragrance I’ve had for over a decade. This and Neroli Portofino were my first foray into luxury fragrance and I quickly realized I love smelling expensive. This smells like a luxury version of Beach Walk— there’s something so chic about it— it’s giving my yacht is docked in Cannes. It’s just so special and still really unique IMO— and it’s easily my most purchased by friends and you! So many of you told me this was your (summer) wedding scent!

• Solar Power and Phloria by Phlur were two of my summer staples the past few years, and I’m crying a bit over them being discontinued (but you can still grab Solar Power at a discount here)— but they just came out with this body spray in Beach Skin, and it’s the PERFECT summer scent and will help your other summer scents last longer— spray onto well moisturized skin! It has notes of bergamot, white florals with coconut milk and sandalwood. It’s easily my favorite body spray of theirs.

Haircare

If you are someone who is lucky enough to let your hair air dry and it look absolutely stunning, I am SO utterly jealous of you! I decided long ago that I was never going to let a vacation with lots of swimming prevent me from getting my hair wet. Being worried about my hair being “done” is not living!!

My hair takes hours to dry with a diffuser OR air dry. I will typically decide to air dry 1-2 nights, and I love this IGK duo for beachy curls with texture that air dry to be soft and voluminous. Very minimal effort to do, and these products do not have enough hold to give you a week of wear, like my normal curl products— so you won’t feel like you put in all this work and are ruining it by going back into the water the next day! The best part is this duo truly are meant for and work for any hair type, weather you just want a little or some tousled texture, or have a slight wave— this helps to enhance what you have for that perfect vacation hair.

I’ve also full embraced throwing in a styling cream, and doing a slicked back low bun using this duo. I also LOVE a flat hair clip for just throwing it up if I’m not in the mood for a bun.

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