Summer Beauty Essentials

For the most part I’m a creature of habit but when it comes to Summer & Winter I kind of have to switch up my beauty routine.  My skin is basically a dried up prune all year round but atleast in summer I can ease up on the heavy oil based serums because lets be honest the sweat is real in Summer!  And yet another reason why I love Winter.

If you live in Cape Town you’ll know how hot it can get so I like to use more water based, gel products that sink into the skin quickly & easily.  My makeup in Summer is pretty minimal, especially for beach & pool days – I like to crack out my bright lipsticks, layer on the spf & slap on a bit of mascara.  For the most part I’m a bit lazy when it comes to my makeup but even more so in Summer because I know I might just sweat it off – what a waste!

These are my very basic Summer essentials, the products I’ll be wearing everyday & they’re also perfect for a beach or pool day.  Some days I’ll probably add to this but for the most part I like to keep things pretty simple.

Rose Water Mist:  Firstly we all know I love a good hydrating mist, so this is obviously number one on the list especially for hot Summer days.  I’ve been using a Rose Water mist as a toner post cleanse, and as a refreshing mist throughout the day over makeup.  This will be a great addition for those of you that work in an office environment where the aircon is blasted throughout the day and your skin loses moisture with every minute.  Keep this on your desk and do a spritz every so often.

Vichy Mineral 89 Serum:  I’ll be swapping out my beloved Clarins Double Serum for the Vichy Mineral 89 Serum because it’s a much lighter, gel formula that sinks into the skin quickly and doesn’t leave a layer of product on the surface of the skin.  Because my skin is dry I still need something that will replenish moisture levels and make my skin look & feel plump.  It’s especially important to focus on the skin when you’re doing little to no coverage.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL:  You guys have heard loads about this over the last few months, and with reason, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL tinted SPF products are wonderful!  I wrote a review comparing the two products which you can read here, so I won’t give a long winded explanation now too.  Both have SPF50+ with UVA & UVB protection, they even out the skin tone and look very natural on the skin.  I love these for day to day but for those that like more coverage this would be perfect for a pool or beach day.

Clarins Limited Edition Sunkissed Summer Bronzer & MAC Bronze Hero Lustre Drops:  By now you guys know my everyday look, which would be nothing without the bronzer.  Honestly bronzer ties everything together, it makes you look youthful, radiant & like a tanned greek goddess.  This will be a huge help right at the start of Summer when you’re still pale as hell!  I apply bronzer liberally on my cheekbones, forehead, nose, chin, down the neck and on my eyelids.  You could use a powder bronzer, something like the Clarins Limited Edition Sunkissed Summer Bronzer would be absolutely beautiful.  Recently I’ve been using liquid bronzer with a powder bronzer over the top.   I like to mix two drops of the MAC Bronze Hero Lustre Drops into my moisturizer to give my skin an overall bronze and a little extra glow.  Then I’ll follow up with the powder bronze.  It’s a little bit extra, but let me tell you, it’s worth it!

Smashbox Studio Skin Concealer & NYX Gotcha Covered Concealer:  Concealer will be your best friend during the Summer months, it’ll help cover up the signs of late nights, any unexpected friends that pop up and general tiredness.  Now you could opt for your regular concealer but I think you’ll be disappointed when it vanishes after your first dip in the pool.  I’d go for a waterproof concealer, just to make sure you’re covered for the entire day.  The Smashbox Studio Skin concealer has great coverage & comes in a variety of shades.  The NYX Gotcha Covered has extremely high coverage with a very thick consistency.  This one would be great for covering spots but on me it creases really badly under the eyes.

Clarins Double Fix Mascara & Catrice Glam & Doll Waterproof Mascara:  A great waterproof mascara is an absolute MUST!  If you have trust issues with mascara or have a specific formula/wand that you love and swear by, you can just check if they have a waterproof version and give that a go.  Otherwise you could try something like the Clarins Double Fix mascara which is essentially a waterproof topcoat for lashes and brows.  This is great because you can use your regular mascara and simply do a few coats of this over the top and you’re good to go.  If you’re in the market for a new, affordable waterproof mascara give this Catrice one a try!

Essence Make Me Brow:  Last year throughout Summer I just wore the Essence Make Me Brow, no filling in needed!  I just brush this tinted gel through my brows to bulk them up a bit and keep them in place.  This lasts surprisingly well, even through it doesn’t state that it’s waterproof, my brows are still in place after swimming.

Aloe Unique SPF Lip Balm:  My lips dry up like mango slices in Summer so for me the most important thing is to make sure they’re moisturized and protected.  I’ve burnt my lips once (high school stupidity) and I don’t plan on doing it again!  This Aloe Unique SPF Lip Balm ticks all the boxes – it keeps my lips beautifully hydrated and protected.  Which also means that whatever product I apply over the top looks good.  I can’t stand bright lipstick on really dry lips, it’s just not appealing.

Some of you might be thinking “where’s the highlight? You can’t forget the highlight!” but honestly the combination of great skincare and the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL gives my skin a healthy glow.

Let me know what you ultimate Summer essentials are and also let me know if you’d like to see a follow up with body products I’ll be using for Summer?