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What are your must-have beauty products for summer?


What are your must-have beauty products for summer? Share!

Sunscreen (of course) for face and a separate one for body (I’m willing to go more expensive for face for consistency, but I’m less picky about body sunscreens!). Glowy highlighters. Coral blush and lipstick. Blue, teal, and green eyeshadows!

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Mariella Avatar

I’m exactly like you about sunscreen, Christine. I don’t care what I use on my body (so long as it’s broad spectrum UVA/UVB and has a high SPF) but I’m more picky about my face because I don’t want anything greasy. Lise Watier SunSmart or Kiehl’s are 2 of my faves for my face. In addition, a non-smearing pencil liner (a dark one and my new Surfer Babe which is a fabulous peacock blue/green), a good mattifying powder (MAC Blot not only does a good job but seems to make my face feel fresher too) and setting spray (I really like Clarins Fix Makeup). I don’t like bronzer but Tarte Natural Beauty is the perfect blush for me all year ’round, including summer.

xamyx Avatar

Sunscreen is a year-round must-have, and I don’t “change” my makeup based solely on a particular season, but based on actual weather/temperature. On hotter days, I’ll just go with a TM, set with a MPF, and forgo concealer (fortunately, I no longer deal with major break-outs, and my skin is fairly even). Unless I’m going somewhere I need a “full face”, lip balm will suffice, along with WP mascara, and eyeliner. I recently picked up an Essence Longwearing Eyeliner for my waterline, and it is hands down the absolute best liner for the waterline; I’ve walked over 2 miles, in the heat, and it didn’t budge! Maybelline Color Tattoo’s are also amazing. I’ve been wearing Seashore Frosts on the lid, with Tough As Taupe in the crease for a quick, easy look, and it lasted well over 12 hours, and looked the same when I took it off as it did when first applied. UD 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is HG for the upper lashline. I’ve worn it to Disneyland, after several round on Splash Mountain, and while I had to touch-up the rest of my makeup throughout the day, the liner stayed *perfect*. As for eyeshadow primer, Kat von D is my favorite; it’s not labelled as WP, but in my experience, it is.

Nancy Avatar

I’ve been loving Seashore Frosts this summer, too. Have you noticed that when (if) you curl your eyelashes, that it sometimes “roughs up” the edge of the shadow enough that it looks like a bronzey eyeliner?

becca Avatar

-sunscreen spray for my body and light lotion sunscreen for my face
-blotting sheets
-urban decay deslick spray
-black waterproof liquid liner
-bright pink lipsticks

jkj Avatar

This question may have already been asked a while ago, but can anyone recommend a good face sunscreen, especially one that won’t cause acne? I haven’t found one yet that I like and completely trust not to break me out, and I would be willing to pay more for a good one! Thanks 🙂

April Avatar

My absolute favorite face sunscreen is Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 42 For Face. It’s a little expensive, but well worth it. I have pretty oily skin, and this sunscreen keeps my face shine free for most of the day. Also, I think it’s helped balance my skin and make the texture better. I haven’t had a breakout since I started using it. Sometimes Sephora has samples of it, but trust me, it’s the best.

Mallory Avatar

I just started using that as well and fell in love! I was put off by the price until I found out that TJ Maxx carries Shiseido products for half the cost!

koolchicken Avatar

I’m in love with Fresh’s Soy Moisturizer with SPF 20. I’m not sure if its sunscreen or sunblock but it works for me. I’m very, very, pale and live in Hawaii, yet I never burn with this stuff (so maybe it’s a sunblock?). I used to burn just a little bit every time I went out with my regular moisturizers but it stopped after I switched to this one.

As for breakouts, I haven’t had any with this brand. I switched to it when I was pregnant and my skin flipped. I’m seven months out and still using it with no problems. I find it to be slightly greasy (probably from the SPF) but it doesn’t seem to be a problem, at least for me.

Jess Avatar

I’ve been using Josie Maran’s broad spectrum SPF 40 moisturizer, and I love it! It’s a mineral sunscreen, not chemical, but there is no white cast and it’s actually moisturizing on top of a good SPF. It’s also priced fairly reasonably compared to other high end moisturizers with SPF. No break-outs, no sunburns, moisturized skin. There is a fairly “tropical” scent when you first apply but it quickly dissipates, that’s the only negative I’e found.

xamyx Avatar

I like L’Oreal Sublime sun, which I started using last Summer. There’s one specifically for the face, but I just use the “regular” one, which is quite lightweight (I do plan to try the face one, though, once I need to replace). Also, as someone else mentioned, Josie Maran Moisturizer is nice, too.

Leslie Avatar

Arcona. I use the tinted Reozone 40, but if you have dark or deep skin, it won’t work for you. And if you are a darker medium skintone, it may come off as gray-ish. If you are fair, you are in luck. Arcona may make a non-tinted version. My picky, sensitive skin has no issue whatsoever with this. And neither do my sensitive eyes. THE best EVER for me.

Ellen Avatar

– Something to defrizz my hair, like Moroccanoil or smoothing cream (I love Got2B Smooth Operator Smoothing Luster Lotion)
– Sunscreen – loving EltaMD tinted for face, Trader Joe’s for body
– Guerlain BB cream for more coverage
– Colorful eyeliner!
– Cream blush for a natural glow
– Bright, bright, bright lipsticks!

Lauren Avatar

Mattifying face products (primers, setting sprays, BB cream or foundation) and of course, good face powder. Brighter blushes (pinks and corals), waterproof mascara, brightening eyeshadows. A good hair gel that defrizzes (Ouidad Climate Control)

koolchicken Avatar

I live somewhere tropical and I like Fresh Soy moisturizer with SPF 20 for my everyday. But I’ll often switch to Coppertone Oil Free Faces for very long days at the beach. Coppertone sprays work the best (I’m super duper pale) and haven’t had a serious burn since I switched to that brand/type.

For makeup I like Too Faced BB Cream (the liquid not the cream), Clinique Chubby Sticks or Fresh Sugar lip balm. Tarte blushes are good, MAC seems to hold up as well. Lancôme hypnose seems to be one of the few mascaras that doesn’t melt.

And I don’t know if this counts but, hair elastics and a Zann clip. For days when it’s just too hot to have my long thick hair down.

Nicole Avatar

Definitely a sunscreen for my face, a light foundation, and a setting spray! I’m pretty minimal in the summer when it comes to makeup because of the humid weather, and usually for my eyes I’ll just wear an easy cream shadow (something like the NYX Jumbo Pencils, MAC paint pots, or Clinique Eye Sticks), and a mascara. I haven’t found a really great lengthening mascara that’s waterproof though. 🙁 My current obsession is the Benefit They’re Real. Any good recommendations?

Dominique Avatar

Sunscreen if I go to the beach ( I never do in fact, too bad for the skin ), this year I’ll try again though 🙂
A good blush why not the Dior duo blush ? Lipbalm, body moisturizers ( 3 or so ), scrub, Dior Addict lipsticks and Coco Shine, pretty nail polishes and fragrances !

VickyM Avatar

For me it´s Sunscreen, medium pink, pink red and coral lipstick, pink and peach powder blush but I´m also searching for a nice cream blush, and black mascara 😀 .

Mar Avatar

Sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, bronzer, lip balms, highlighters for face/eyes and waterproof mascara. Hair products for humidity frizz control and a spray to get the tousled look. I’ll indulge certain perfumes a bit more (a lot more). I go straight for the fresh and dewy face in summer. Though I’ve been adding a pop of color with it since the weather heated up here. Perhaps my summer makeup will be more fun this year!

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

I use SPF facial products in the moisturizer and primer or a higher spf BB or CC creme. I recently purchased IT Cosmetics CC creme with spf 50. I only need one pump of the product to cover my entire face and use a very light coating of the yellow loose Clinique powder and a setting spray. I think I use the setting spray because it feels so good when it’s hot. I use SPF 50 sunscreen for my exposed skin otherwise. Don’t forget eras and back of neck if exposed. I am pretty fair- pink and white complexion and do not tan well. Unfortunately I refused to believe it in my teens and tried to tan anyway. I had 2 pre-malignant lesions on my face about 20 years ago with no recurrence. I am now 63 and have very few wrinkles or signs of facial aging because I gave up young and protected my skin.

Leslie Avatar

Arcona Reozone 40. It’s the best face sunscreen I’ve ever used. It’s tinted, and won’t likely work for darker skin tones, and definitely not for deep skin tones, but there may be an Arcona face sunscreen that is not tinted. I can actually use this as my moisturizer and will likely wear it year-round. Love, love, love, love, love it!!! And tinted lip balm. I prefer Fresh, but am using Babylips at the moment.

roselyn Avatar

moisturizer, shiseido face and body sunscreen (blue bottle), primer, tinted moisturizer with laura mercier secret brightener to finish and a bronzer or bronze colored blush (e.g. mac sunbasque, so Ceylon), mascara and lip balm

Phyrra Avatar

Living in Sunny Florida, good sunscreens are a must! I have rosacea and I fry in the sun, never tan. Burning and peeling are no fun, so I avoid it at all costs.

1. PCA Skin Weightless Daily Protection SPF 45 is perfect. I can wear it on its own without it running in my eyes if I’m outside and sweating.
2. Supergoop SPF 30 lip balm.
3. Supergoop SPF 50 Sunscreen mist – great for the body.
4. Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30. I put this on after my SPF 45 sunscreen and then I set it with NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder (that I have thanks to you! <3) I can't say enough nice things about the results I get with my skin and this tinted moisturizer.
5. The NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder.
6. OCC Lip Tar Stained glosses. They're a lot of fun on their own or mixed with other products.
7. the Stila After Glow Lip Colors. I've been wearing the 3 shades that I own a ton. I love that they leave a stain behind.
8. Teals, golds, and corals for eyeshadow!
9. A nice nude peach blush like Kat Von D wish.
10. Anastasia Lash Genius, since it keeps my mascara from coming off on my contacts due to my allergies.

Nikki Avatar

Although my makeup routine doesn’t change much from season to season, one product I definitely cannot skip during the summer is face primer. I have combo/oily skin and without primer all of my makeup disappears within a few hours. The rest of my must-haves are my regular go-to’s:

– Sephora Microsmooth Powder Foundation
– NYX Single Eyeshadow in Black (to fill brows)
– Blush (one of the 16 shades from my La Femme Blush on Rouge palettes)
– Lipgloss (one of my MAC lipglasses to coordinate with my blush)

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