Summer is a magical season that brings with it promises of romance, adventure, fun, and freedom. It’s that time of the year when we jet off to our favorite destinations to take a break from the hustle and bustle of real life. Every summer, we also shed the literal and figurative layers of past seasons that weigh us down. On the fashion front, we trade in the heavy coats and scarves for day dresses and sheer tops. When it comes to beauty and skincare, summer is when we embrace a pared down routine that allows for our natural glow to shine through.
Once the temperature begins to rise, the makeup bag and skincare shelf undergo major decluttering. Heavy creams and lotions are traded in for lightweight, non-greasy serums and oils. I also tend to gravitate towards gentle, non-foaming cleansers that effectively break down impurities and pull out excess sebum. As a general rule, you’ll want to find formulations that help keep skin clean, hydrated, and glowing.
A summer-proof make repertoire is always simple and easy. It subscribes to the basics of makeup—a light base, subtle tints of color, and definition. The key is to keep things lightweight, and allow skin to breathe. New innovations in the color cosmetics space have integrated sun protection with skincare and makeup, which has truly helped to keep the beauty routine compact and efficient. Here, the top 10 beauty and skincare essentials to have this summer.
Hueguard Skin Tint SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum by LIVE TINTED
Huegard Skin Tint provides light to medium coverage, making it the ideal makeup base all summer long. There are 13 shades to choose from, each one formulated to create a naturally radiant and hydrated finish on skin. Apart from mineral SPF 50, Huegard Skin Tint is also packed with skincare actives that moisturize and smoothen.
Beauty Tip: Huegard Skin Tint is buildable so begin with a light layer (I start with 2 pumps) to avoid caking. Blend using a wet sponge or finger tips.
Did You Know? Celebrity Makeup Artist Daniel Martin uses Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops to give Meghan Markle her signature glow,
Flush Duo by ciele Cosmetics
One of the key makeup looks this summer is the Cherry Blossom blush. It plays up sheer pink and light peachy hues to create a subtle, youthful glow. To achieve this, ciele Cosmetics co-founder and celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest suggests using the Flush Duo–a set made up of a blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ and glow & PROTECT SPF 50+.
blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ is a hydrating liquid blush infused with antioxidants and broad spectrum SPF 50+. Lightweight and buildable formula adds a pop of color that resembles a subtle, natural blush. Available shades include: warm nude, dusty rose, hot coral, rich berry, cool pink and warm burgundy.
glow & PROTECT is skincare and makeup rolled into one to create a radiant, soft focus glow. Ingredients like Allantoin and Bisabolol soothe, calm, brighten and hydrate. This highlighter also lends advanced protection, shielding skin from UVA, UVB, Bluelight and Infrared. glow & PROTECT comes in three shades: Penny-Copper, Piper-Champagne, Church-Gold.
EverGlow Plumping Lip Oil by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics
Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics’ EverGlow Peptide Plumping Oil is formulated with antioxidant rich apricot kernel, prickly pear seed, Argan and oil and peptides to condition lips. It also creates the appearance of ultra glossy, plumper puckers. I like to use this luxurious gloss as a daytime lippie. It comes in five subtle shades that create a bee bitten look: Pink Dahlia, Spritz, Macchiato, Wild Rose and Bitten Berry.
Beauty Tip: To create a bolder, high gloss lip, apply a layer of Plumping Lip Oil over your favorite lipstick.
GetSet Matte Powder Blush by Tower 28
Long wearing makeup is a heaven-sent during white hot summers, especially when they are formulated with skin loving ingredients. Tower 28’s GetSet Matte Powder Blush is a blush and setting powder rolled in one. True to Tower28’s mission of utilizing only ultra clean, skin loving ingredients, GetSet Matte Powder Blush is packed with Kaolin Clay (for oil control) and Squalene (to soothe inflammation).
This blush and powder hybrid lends an intense flush of color on cheeks that stay on for hours. It also works as a setting powder, locking makeup in place and keeping the face shine-free even in the sweltering heat. This mattifying property creates a soft focus finish that blurs the appearance of pores, dry patches, and other uneven skin texture. GetSet Matte Powder Blush is available in six LA-inspired shades: Malibu Cooler, Feliz Fresca, Culver Crush, Long Beach Iced Tea, Samo Spritzer, Sawtelle Slushie, and Pali Punch.
Did you know? All of Tower28’s products are 100% compliant with the National Eczema Association ingredient guidelines.
Brow Collection by REFY
This summer, the key eyebrow look highlights the natural shape, texture, and even the little imperfection of brows. It’s more about grooming versus carving out a totally new shape for our brows. REFY’s Brow Collection brings together all the essentials you need to effortlessly sculpt, shape, and define eyebrows. This compact, travel friendly set comes with a Brow Pomade, Brow Pencil and Brow Sculpt.
Beauty Tip: To use the Brow Sculpt, apply a small amount of product onto clean brows using the applicator and brushing upwards. With the comb, set the brows into shape, and press down to set in place.
Eye Activator by Westman Atelier
Dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines immediately add years to one’s appearance. And truth be told, no amount of makeup–even when applied by the experts– can fake the appearance of bright, well-rested eyes. More than a shadow palette, full coverage concealer or kohl eyeliner, I find that it is wiser to invest in efficacious products that help bring back youthfulness, especially around the eye area.
Westman Atelier’s Eye Activator Serum is a newly launched all-in-one-eye serumthat smoothes fine lines, brightens dark circles, and de-puffs in two weeks. It is packed with 12 actives including a Suprême Skin Bio Complex (to boost skin renewal), which brightens, de-puffs, smoothens and firms skin around the eye area.
Beauty Tip: For a youthful, awake look, apply a small amount of Eye Activator Serum around the eye area before makeup.
Booster Pro by Medicube
Apart from religiously following skincare regimen, medical beauty devices help enhance the efficacy of serums, lotions, and creams. After over five years of trying and testing various LED masks, wands, and RF rollers, I’ve come to the conclusion that you don’t need an entire drawer of devices. Even for the most discerning of beauty enthusiasts, one beauty device that effectively does it all, is more than enough.
The Booster Pro from Korean skincare pioneer, MEDICUBE, was designed with six key functions–Electroporation, Microcurrent, EMS, Electric Needles, LED, and Sonic Vibration. Each of these modes help with better product absorption (Booster Mode), pore elasticity (Air Shot Mode), minimize appearance of fine lines (MC Mode), and firming of facial contours (Derma Shot Mode).
Beauty Tip: Use the Booster Pro before applying MEDICUBE’s Collagen Niacinamide Jelly Cream to achieve youthful, firm, glass glow skin.
Clean Zyme by Jan Marini
In the summertime, skin tends to produce more sebum. It is also exposed to sweat, heat, and layers of sunscreen. This is why a gentle and thorough cleanse is always a crucial part of a healthy skincare routine during the warmest months of the year. Jan Marini’s Clean Zyme is made of papain, a gentle skin exfoliant that strips away dead skin cells without irritating or harming the skin tissues.
Beauty Tip: Use 1 to 2 times weekly in lieu of a facial cleanser. After application, leave on skin for up to two minutes. Remove using a clean, wet washcloth.
Blue Diamond Serum by Omorovicza
If I had to choose only one serum for the entire summer, I would immediately reach out for a bottle of Blue Diamond Super Serum from Omorovicza. This breakthrough product “combats the root cause of skin aging by targeting senescent cells, commonly referred to as zombie cells.” These are the culprits for skin drying, dullness and the appearance of wrinkles. The team at Omorovicza also shares that the Blue Diamond Super Serum has been clinically proven to reduce senescent presence in skin by over 91%.
This energizing formula is made up of Diamond Peptides, which proactively protects skin from environmental stressors and UV induced DNA harm. Hollyhock Flower Stem Cells eliminate zombie cells, while Tetrapeptides help with firming and lifting. I cherish every drop of Blue Diamond Super Serum, using this product only on nights before a special event.
Did you know? Skincare products from Omorovicza are infused with a patented Healing Concentrate, which fortifies skin barriers while optimizing cellular health.
The Face Mist by Augustinus Bader
The Face Mist by Augustinus Bader does more than just cool and hydrate the skin. A Trigger Factor Complex, a blend of aminos, vitamins, and peptides, transforms the mist into “adaptive skincare capable of addressing individualized concerns.” Rose Water soothes irritation and reduces redness. Hyaluronic Acid helps retain skin moisture, keeping it fresh and plump. A Polysaccharide Complex works as a shield against pollution and other oxidative stressors. Cress Sprout Extracts and Orpheus Flower Extracts aid in toning, firming and boosting skin luminosity.
Beauty Tip: Use after cleansing both night and day. You may also use the Face Mist throughout the day to refresh skincare and makeup.