Skin Care:
Sunscreen & Self Tanning: Sunscreen is so crucial for me, because I'm naturally extremely fair, it's the Irish in me. I also freckle like nobody's business. Needless to say, I burn really easily, and I work outside, um hi, lifeguard? I use La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 spf ultra light sunscreen fluid or the Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen liquid on my face. I go through about two bottles a summer. For body I pretty much stick to Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock in spf 45, I find it really stays put and keeps my skin protected. I try not to buy anything higher than 45ish because on the one hand there isn't that much difference between spf 30 and spf 60, and I don't like the false confidence spf 80 gives you. You still have to reapply every 2 hours.
I don't normally use self tanners because I'm so fair. I usually end up looking orange. I also do not endorse laying out in the sun for hours and hours. I have to be outside in a pool at least 3 days a week to teach lessons, so I get plenty of sun exposure. So I normally steer clear of tanning oils and other products meant for people who are laying out. This summer though, I discovered something amazing. And it smells amazing, too. It's the Australian Gold spf 4 Spray Gel with Instant Bronzers. I put this on over my sunscreen when I'm outside. The "instant bronzers"actually really work and they don't turn me orange.
Face: My usual suspects are of course still in play: the DDF benzoyl peroxide gel, Ole Henricksen's Invigorating Night Gel, Clinique's All About Eyes Rich eye cream, and Ole Henricksen's Sheer Transformation moisturizer. But, I've kind of fallen in love with Origins VitaZing SPF 15 energy boosting moisturizer with mangosteen. At first I was on the fence about this product, I worried it was a little too orange, or a little too greasy. However, over the summer, my skin chemistry has either balanced out or gotten used to this product and with my slightly darker complexion, it doesn't come off too orange anymore either. This has literally replaced all foundations in my routine.
Lips: There are three lip balms that make it into my summer favorites: Korres Jasmine Lip Butter, Smith's Rosebud Salve & Aquafina Flavor Splash Wild Berry. All three are awesome, I usually only use the Korres or Smith's at night before bed, and I carry the Aquafina in my purse, it's perfect for layering under lipstick or gloss.
Hair Care:
Shampoo & Conditioner: Of course I'm using something moisturizing to save my hair from the sun and the chlorine, and I've found something that isn't too heavy and doesn't weigh me down with product or keep it greasy. My hair is actually ligher and shinier since I started using the Paul Mitchell Moisture Instant Moisture Daily Shampoo and Instant Moisture Daily Treatment. The products rinse out so clean and leave my hair soft and light and super shiny.
Treatments & Leave Ins: I'm still using the Argan Magic hair oil, It's a 10 leave in treatment and the Organix Brazilian Keratin anti breakage serum and loving them. I'm a little more on the fence about the It's a 10 hair masque, it's been weighing my hair down lately, and not making it as soft as it used to. I've also been using the Nexxus Split End Binding overnight treatment with a little extra Argan Oil on the ends of my hair when it's feeling especially dry. I love the way these make my hair soft, but the Nexxus cream smells straight up funky when you put it in your hair...it's weird.
Beauty:
Face: All time summer fave? Benefit's the Porefessional pore minimizing balm. I wear this on its own entirely, I won't wear any thing but moisturizer with it and I just leave it alone. It makes my skin look pretty flawless, I love it. It even looks great over the VitaZing tinted moisturizer.
Cheeks: For bronzer I've been loving Benefit's Hoola, it's not orange at all so it works on my face without messing with my skin tone. Blush has been a combination of MAC's Blushbaby and Benefit's Sugarbomb just on the top of my cheekbones to add a little tiny sheen. I'm extremely wary of anything glittery or shiny on my cheeks, because they're already so big.
Eyes: My absolute favorite eye combination this summer has been NARS Kalahari eye shadow duo, (only the lighter, more bronzey shade) on the lid and smudged slightly into the crease, with Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Rockstar smudged along the lashline over one layer of eyeshadow with another light layer on top, and MAC's Rosemary and Thyme Eye Kohl smudged on my lower lashline. Love. As usual, I have about a million favorite mascaras so narrowing them down was hard. Old timers: Clinique's High Impact Mascara in Black and Diorshow Iconic. Newbies: Clinique High Lengths Mascara & the new L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, in the black tube like the Million Lashes...don't know what it's called. All of these are so major.
Lips: I've been loving peachy glosses like Laura Mercier's Opal and MAC's Love Nectar. Also loving neutral pink-nude lipsticks like Urban Decay's Naked and NARS' Cruising. Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is a year-round staple for me, such an amazing bitten lips kind of look.
Perfume: Only three perfumes here: Acqua di Gioia by Armani, Tocca's Bianca, and Stella by Stella McCartney. I usually reserve the Stella for dates or night time events, it's super romantic and sort of heady but not at all overwhelming.
So that wraps up my summer faves so far. School starts soon and that means fall is around the corner. Time to gear it up and browse the new make up collections!
