Happy summer! Even though this season feels somewhat like a Cruel Summer for me (hello Taylor and hello vid), I will still be sharing with you some of my faves in beauty and skincare. For my picks these warm sunny days, I opt for light foundations with good SPF coverage. I like to let my skin breathe and focus more on good skincare. For me, it’s all about the glow this summer. So, here are my picks this season.

Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub – Really love this exfoliator because it works very well at removing dead skin cells even with just a little amount. I find this to be so exfoliating that sometimes I don’t even know whether this is exfoliating my face or my hands, or both. I would say that this works even better than the Peter Thomas Roth Firmx in terms of its ability to exfoliate.

Kérastase Fresh Affair Refreshing Fine Fragrance Dry Shampoo – This is Kérastase’s take on dry shampoo and I think this is great. Be aware though that this has a strong lemon scent, which may be too much for some. I think this works to refresh the hair for about two days without washing, but I don’t think it can help much if you go beyond that time frame, especially if you tend to have oily strands.

The Ordinary Niacinamide – A lot of folks have a hit or miss experience with this. On my end, this works really well for my skin. This may have a slightly strong rubbery smell but it does wonders for my pores. In fact, this is the only product I’ve noticed that seems to have tightened my pores even after a few uses. Also, this seems to aid in oil-control. I think the key to this is to use this product with consistency. 

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam Makeup Remover – I think I found another holy grail makeup remover in this Sulwhasoo product. In fact, I may never look at any other makeup removing products again (fingers crossed). This feels like a light oil that foams immediately once swirled on the skin. One pump of this can cover the whole face and this cleanses very well while removing any stubborn makeup at the same time. Another best thing about this is the fresh botanical scent that is so heavenly. I highly highly recommend this.

Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner – I love how bouncy this toner feels on my skin and this is gentle enough for daily exfoliation. This really helps in giving that natural glow and in keeping the pores from getting clogged. 

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil – We may be in full-blown sun out there but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to moisturize. I love a good dry body oil like this instead of the typical body lotion because this isn’t sticky and this sets on the skin immediately. Also, the almond scent of this is really nice.

Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask – Pimples flaring up this summer? Use Sulfur. This Acne Treatment Mask from PTR has 10% Sulfur that will pull out the bacteria onto the surface, making it easier to extract, thus speeding up the healing process. I love using this on top of zits for a few hours or even overnight. Just be aware that like most Sulfur anti-acne products, this has a strong rubbery rotten egg scent which you may or may not be able to tolerate.

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ – Like most of you, I still love this popular tinted creamy moisturizer with SPF. This is definitely a step-up of the typical BB Cream, and when I say tinted, this almost feels like a creamy foundation that sets well and covers all your blemishes without being too oily. Also, this gives a nice natural finish that keeps your skin looking natural and not like wearing a mask.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – Another fave of mine this season is this lightweight updated version of the beloved original Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. For me, there’s really not much difference between this and the old one except that this updated version seems to be a bit less creamy and slightly more matte than the original. Coverage is about that same, wherein this and the old version are perfect for good-skin days, but not when you have a lot to cover.

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint – This one-of-a-kind tinted foundation is SOOO good. I don’t know why I waited so long to have this. From the unique packaging/presentation and texture, down to its ability to give a second-skin finish, I’m really impressed with this product. This is one of those light foundations you can wear everyday and not look like you’re wearing one. Also, the brush applicator that comes with this actually works very well in giving that natural even skintone look.

Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel – These are my favorite affordable hand sanitizers to combat the vid. I love the varied scents of these and they feel like a step up from the ordinary hand sanitizers which have very strong alcohol scents.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne – This is a really nice and neat summer scent. I love the combination of nectarine and honey in this fragrance, which is not overpowering yet fresh, toned-down, and long-wearing at the same time. 

e.l.f Primer-Infused Blush in Always Fiery – Got this blush for free and I’m really impressed by how easy this is to blend. Just a slight dab on the cheeks and you’ll have a nice peachy flush (not reddish at all). Also, this lasts a long time and doesn’t slide off.

Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Creme in Nude Honey and Barely Blush – Love these affordable plumping lip cremes. These are great as everyday tinted lip moisturizers that somewhat feels like a gloss. I really like the lightweight non-sticky feel of these and I love the shape and look of the tube, which make these so easy to apply. I also think these are a good alternative to the Too Faced Lip Injection because this feels milder, whereas the too faced one can sometimes feel too tingly. 

Drunk Elephant products are some of my go-to skincare favorites this summer. 

I especially love their F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask which really doesn’t feel like a mask, but more like a cooling lightweight moisturizer with some waterburst beads as part of its texture. Perfect as a daily facial hydrator and this feels so calming on the skin, eliminating all dry spots or dry areas. Tip: Put this in your minifridge.

I’m also loving their T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask for that immediate overnight glow. I love how this exfoliates and renews the skin, making it glowy and soft. This may have a slight tingly feel upon application, but this is all worth it.

Silk Eye Masks available HERE and HERE – Whenever I need a quick shut-eye, I grab these. These are so perfect for power naps because the soft satin textile is very conducive for relaxing or recharging. Also, the cute designs are very Holly Golightly-ish.

And those are my faves this summer. What’s yours? Stay tuned for my Fall picks.

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