With summer moving forward I wanted to share a collection of my favorites right now. It has been an incredibly hot and humid summer this year. My skin has really felt it and while few things can survive the extreme heat, I have a lot of new beauty discoveries that I’ve been loving this year.
Raffia Bags
I love a good raffia bag and this Loewe Medium Basket is one I bought three years ago (time really flies). It’s very well handled although I’ve read mixed reviews about this style. Mine was the color of the season but they still do the classic beige with a black or brown logo, and a few morenew trendsthis year. I’ve been looking at some Miu Miu ones but I can’t decide on a color yet. If you have any favorites let me know!
For an affordable option, the Eric Javits Squishee Tote has been a longtime favorite. These are well made and hold their shape well if you choose a more structured style. I have it in two colors (a dark mix and a neutral mix) and it lasts me a very long time.
Summer Hats
Continuing on the Eric Javits note, hats from his line are must-haves for me. I always bring them to the pool or beach because they provide the best sun protection of all the hats I’ve tried. The Hamptons style is my favorite, but I also love Bucket Hats. They have great sales if you buy directly from their site.
Favorite sunglasses
I have a bit of a sunglasses addiction but since I got these Chanel Rectangle ones, I haven’t branched out much from other styles. I own this in turtle and black – they really go with everything and I love the look. These are also the ones I get the most compliments on!
Portable fan
The Dyson HushJet Portable Mini Fan was an unexpected purchase this year and I love it. It fits easily in my tote and has been a life saver for me during Miami Swim Week.
The sun
I’m working on an updated sunscreen combo but I have some favorites that I wanted to share now. Finding one that’s makeup-friendly, long-lasting, doesn’t smudge on the eyes and still offers a high SPF isn’t easy. Many of you ask for mineral recommendations, but I still prefer chemical formulas.
For the face I really loved La Roche Posay Anthelios UVair Serum Sunscreen SPF50, Tatcha The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+, Prequel Solar Shade SPF 46, Chanel UV Essentiel and the new Christian Dior Le Fluide Invisible SPF 50. These are my go-to foundations with a really high SPF.
In the body Shiseido gains hands to find the best formula for long wear that is resistant to sweat and water. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector has been my go-to for years. I also tried the Sun Protector Mineral version which has great lasting power and adheres well to the skin. The only downside is that it is really hard to remove at the end of the day.
I also love the Kopari Sunnglaze Sheer Body Mist. For me this is superior to most sunscreen sprays because this is not an aerosol. You can really see where it’s applied to the skin and it stays on really well in the water too. The shimmer is nice and not overly shiny. It dries well without feeling greasy.
The Best Body Oils
Due to the heat my skin has been feeling unusually dry lately. I recently rediscovered L’Occitane Almond Body Oil and now I remember why I loved it so much. The updated look is nice but the same as the original. Almond Shower Oil is another staple that Andrew and I love. It sounds so fancy! The Bath Oil will be in this Almond Gift Set starting next week during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
Makeup Favorites
I have a lot of new makeup favorites this year. My new favorite foundation this year has to be the YSL Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation in 7.5N ( check it outin action here). It’s very easy to install, it doesn’t take much work to put together, and the coverage is perfect. It lasts all day on me and I love how it looks like leather but better.
To add a healthy glow to the complexion I’ve been really loving Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Cream. They add a nice dewy glow without being sticky like most baume sticks. I love that they look natural on the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint is still a favorite. I will layer or mix with other foundations. One of you recommended it over the Flawless Hollywood Filter for a more natural glow, and you were right! I wear this in Shade 7.5.
Armani Fluid Sheers are of course a classic. I alternate between Shades 10 or 11 because it gets closer to my skintone in that bright light shade.
Rhode Highlight Milks also deserve a mention.Full review here. They are glossy and I love the texture of the thin liquid.
For cream bronzers, there’s a three-way tie between Rhode Pocket Bronze, Westman Atelier Soleil Parfait Duos and Dior Forever Skin Bronze Stick. I’ve always been a powder bronzer person but this year’s launch has completely changed my mind.
- Rhode is the creamiest and easiest to blend (reviewheredemohere)
- Westman Atelier duos have a great mix of neutrals and cools (reviewhereon the skinhere)
- Dior is the best long lasting satin formula for me (review + swatcheshere)
The Best Summer Reds
For nails I’ve been obsessing over is Essie Geranium. You girls know that my go-to shade is usually Hermes Orange Poppy but I’ve switched it up this year. Last Christmas Andrew booked us a stay at The Standard Spa in Miami Beach. We had a spa treatment and mani/pedis together and had the best time. I brought my own colors for my pedicure but at the last minute I asked Andrew to help me choose a new color. She chose Geranium and I ordered a bottle as soon as we got home. It has been on my toes almost non-stop this whole year. It’s a really bright summer red. (The sandals are Fendi and I love them, they use TTS but I recommend adding these anti-slip grip pads.)
Lips Loves
On the lips I shared Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine in Sparkling Pink a few weeks ago and unfortunately it sold out very quickly. Although I don’t have a duplicate recommendation I think the Dior Addict Lip Glow Butter in Pink gives the same effect (reviewhere). And if glitter isn’t your thing the new YSL Candy Glaze in Bubblegum Pink (changedhere) is definitely a favorite.
I’m still a neutral lip lover at heart even though I’ve been playing around with other tones lately. The best neutral for me right now is Chanel Rouge Coco Baume in Honey Bliss (modifiedhereit will come inthis is a great set up for next week) and Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss in 443 Impertinente (reviewedhere).
Hair Care Obsessions
I also have two hair care products that I can’t stop using. Oribe Detangling Spray is still the best detangler I’ve tried and it’s been a lifesaver because my hair tangles so easily at the ends these days. I’ve been reaching for the Oribe Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick a lot. It’s similar to the R+Co Dart Stick but I’ve been reaching for the Oribe more, it gives more light.
It’s not a sticky or greasy stick, but if you have any level of perspiration, you’ll definitely need to wash your hair in the evening. I would love to find a hair spray that works on my hair, but for my frizzy flyaways wax pomade sticks are the only things that work for me.
Summer Perfume
Lastly, I have two new perfumes that I have been obsessing over this year. I found Memo Paris thanks to a few promoters I met this year. The latest launch from them is Menorca and it’s the best citrusy bergamot I’ve smelled this year. Think notes of bergamot, salty vibes, neroli, ginger, lemon and sandalwood.
I will always be a fan of Creed and Wild Vetiver is probably my favorite scent of the year. It is very powerful and unique. It has a beautiful blend of vetiver, bergamot, timur berry, rose, geranium, blackcurrent, cedarwood and amberwood. This is the scent I get stopped by and asked about a lot. If you are familiar with Creed perfumes, the new Wild Vetiver is very different from the Original Vetiver which smells really clean and fresh (and very masculine to me). Wild Vetiver is a bold version for women. I love the Sea Recycled Atomizer they introduced with this perfume (but you can put any scent inside).
A quick shout out to both not new but still summer in the bottle. I love Kilian’s Sunkissed Goddess and Creed Virgin Island Water for those iconic summer scents.
I know this was a long list but I wanted to cover everything in one post! If you have a summer crush let me know in the comments!