Summer Beauty Favorites

As we inch closer & closer towards summer, I’ve been testing out a bunch of products to incorporate into my beauty routine for the warm weather months.  I personally feel my best wearing minimal makeup & embracing my hair’s natural texture during the summer.  I don’t know of many women who want to be putting on a full face of makeup & dealing with 20 minutes of blow-drying during a heat wave!  So today I’m sharing with you the products that have passed my test & that I’ll be stocking up on for the next few months:

BEAUTY
Unless I’m getting all glammed up for a wedding or special event, I keep my beauty routine as pared down as possible during the summer months.  I prefer a natural dewy finish for my makeup & I like to choose multi-tasking products that are lightweight & will give me a natural glow.  Here are my favorites for achieving this:

1) Fake Bake Platinum Face Self-Tan Lotion
Last month, I began testing several different self-tanners and this one was by far the best for face.  I like that it has the anti-aging properties built right in and that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.  It comes with gloves for a mess-free application – I put mine on after washing my face at night and then I wake up the next morning with realistic looking tan.  It doesn’t come off on my pillowcase + it lasts for 2-3 days (may be less if you use an exfoliating scrub).

2) Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
After months of hearing all my friends rave about this product, I finally caved and ordered some to try.  Turns out that it completely lives up to the hype & I’m officially obsessed!  I wish it wasn’t so expensive but the good news is that a little goes a long way.  I’ve been applying this as a primer underneath this CC Cream and I love the lit-from-within effect it creates.  I will also use this on its own for those days when I don’t want to wear foundation, but want a little coverage & glow.

3) Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter
Thanks to the pretty rose gold finish, this works as a highlighter, bronzer & blush all in one.  I love that it isn’t too glittery but just gives me a nice warm glow.  I apply this to the apples of my cheeks (sweeping up towards my temples) & on my eyelids (in place of eyeshadow) for a quick sun-kissed look.

4) Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss (Parfait)
I finally found the perfect color lip gloss for summer – I’ll be wearing this non stop!  The best way to describe it is a pinkish nude with a rose gold finish.  This gloss is super-pigmented & doesn’t have a sticky texture – it only takes one coat for full coverage & it lasts longer than more sheer glosses I’ve tried.

HAIR & SKIN
Having naturally curly hair is a real challenge during the warm weather months because even the slightest humidity produces unwanted frizz.  I try to embrace my natural texture by letting my hair air dry as much as possible and using a few key products to keep it healthy & shiny.  For my skin, the key is keeping it exfoliated & moisturized – I use a dry brush before showering to remove dead skin cells & improve circulation and then follow it up post-shower with a liberal application of rich body butter.  Here are the products I’m loving right now:

1) Alterna Bamboo Smooth Dry Oil Mist
This super lightweight oil helps eliminate frizz & gives my hair that shine I’m always after.  A lot of the shine serums I’ve used in the past work well but they tend to weigh down my fine hair.  I spray this on before blowdrying & sometimes I will also spray a little more at the ends once it’s dry for some added moisture & shine.

2) Ouai Anti-Frizz Smoothing Sheets
There’s nothing worse than leaving the house with your hair freshly styled & walking out into the humidity to have it completely wrecked.  I have lots of fine hairs that love to stick up & these have completely changed my life!  Just swipe the sheet over the area(s) where you need it to help tame flyaways and eliminate frizz.  These are such a quick & easy solution – great for throwing in your purse to use on the go or for travel.

3) SheaMoisture Castor Oil Hair Masque
Ever since having more blonde added to my hair, I’ve noticed that it needs more moisture to keep it looking healthy.  I’m actually planning on chopping it short very soon too!  Most of you know that I’m a huge fan of this brand and already use their body wash & scrub (mentioned here).  This intensive hair masque is my new holy grail product – after just one application, my hair was softer & smoother without feeling weighed down (I use this weekly as a deep conditioning treatment).

4) Renpure Coconut Water Sea Salt Spray
Because I have natural curl to my hair, sometimes I like to skip the flat iron/curling iron and let it do its thing!  When I discovered that my favorite sea salt spray was discontinued, I began the search for a new one to replace it & this was the clear winner.  So many that I tried were really drying to my hair or left it crunchy, but this one kept my hair soft & shiny.  I let my hair air dry about 50% of the way and then spray this on & scrunch it through my strands to create effortless beachy waves.

5) Hydrea London Dry Skin Brush
I’ve been dry brushing for a couple of years ever since my naturopath recommended it to help with my autoimmune disease.  Not only is it great for lymphatic support & circulation, but I’ve noticed such an improvement in the overall texture & brightness of my skin.  You want to begin at your feet & work your way up using light but firm strokes, brushing each section of skin 10 times.  Be sure you’re always brushing towards your heart where the lymph system drains.

6) Raw Sugar Coconut + Mango Body Butter
This might be the best body moisturizer I have ever used!  The scent is heavenly, it’s paraben, phthalate and sulfate-free & it absorbs into your skin so nicely without leaving a greasy residue.  It also comes in another tropical scent here.  My only complaint is that it doesn’t come in a larger size because I have a feeling my daughter & I will be going through it pretty quickly this summer!