A summer beauty essentials blog in August? We needed the first six weeks of summer to make sure our recommendations could stand up to the famous DC humidity before sharing them with you. Summer lasts through September in DC, so some of you still have plenty of time to try our favorite summer beauty essentials!
The most dangerous part of putting together this blog? Lani always wants to buy all of Kyle’s favorite products too!
Happy Shopping!
Lani’s Favorite Summer Beauty Essentials
The neglected part of my beauty routine in recent years has been putting on lotion or body oil (I love both!) after my shower. Even when I had time for real showers and putting on lotion afterward, my skin was never as soft as I wished. Now, with the new Emma Heming Willis line, CocoBaba, it is as soft as a baby’s bottom! Although I was first gifted this product as an influencer, I’m now a paying customer. I believe in it so much, I became an affiliate partner, which is rare for me. I will get a small commission if you buy through this link, and you will get a discount!
CocoBaba Coconut Butter Mousse, $24.99
The Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Everyday Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 is one of my all time favorite beauty products. This is why I am including it on this list for a second year in a row. In fact, I scoured for an in-stock link, even though it comes at a slightly marked up price. This super-moisturizing, incredible smelling SPF 30 facial cream is still a great value. I highly recommend the entire Naked Bee line, which I discovered at the Asheville Bee Charmer shop on our family trip to Asheville in February 2020. (Read the blog, it is like a time capsule!)
The Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Everyday Facial Moisturizer SPF 30, $14.94
I am currently obsessed with rose face mists. I picked up the Pacifica Rose Flower Hydro Mist on a whim at Whole Foods. The bottle is small, making it ideal for travel. Why a mist you ask? Using a mist with ingredients that are good for your skin before your other skincare steps seals in extra moisture and nutrients. Using the scented mist doubles as an aromatherapy treatment!
Pacifica Rose Flower Hydro Mist, $10
By the time the Pacifica Rose Flower Hydro Mist (my gateway mist!) was empty, I was hooked. I needed a bigger bottle! I happened to run into this giant bottle of Vitamin Sea Beauty Sea Buckthorn & Rose Facial Toner Mist during my shopping travels. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance! My skin feels super clean and hydrated after using it. I typically use it both morning and night, after cleansing and before a serum. I’m operating with barely any beauty products during our construction right now, and this is the product I miss most. Verishop has so many cool clean beauty mists, I just may be tempted to try something else next!
Vitamin Sea Beauty Sea Buckthorn & Rose Facial Toner Mist, $16
Do you need a really rich moisturizer that doesn’t clog your pores? Ever feel like no matter how thick your moisturizer, you still wake up with tight, itchy skin? Look no further than Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich. Although I suppose it is meant to be used during the day, I use it as my night time moisturizer due to its heavenly lavender scent and lack of SPF. So does Kate Spencer from the top beauty and self-care Forever 35 Podcast, so I feel validated.
Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich, $35
Vitamin C serum in the morning is a must, people! As you’ll see below, Kyle concurs. I’m currently using the Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C Serum and my skin is glowing as it should with the use of a Vitamin C serum. However, I’m tempted to shell out for the holy grail of Vitamin C products the next time I need one, True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster in powder form. Have any of you tried it?
Do you have a favorite Vitamin C product? I also love BeautyCounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum!
Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C Serum, $28
I can’t decide which I like best, the Hask Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner Spray (pictured), or their Keratin Protein 5-In-1 Leave-In Spray. At $7.99 and available at a mass retailer near you, you don’t have to decide either! I’ve been using these sprays after the shower for months. There is a noticeable difference in the amount of frizz my hair develops. I also love that they act as heat protectors if I decide to straighten my hair later. I’ve even been using them on my curly-haired son when he lets me!
Hask Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner Spray, $7.99
As someone who has been fighting her always changing hair texture forever (I know, very un-2021 of me), I’m always on the hunt for the right product. Lately, I’ve come to realize that gel, not cream, is the secret to wearing my hair curly. I just started using Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls Gel. It is a product for people like me who want soft (never crunchy!) curls. So far I really like it!
Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls Gel, $15.99
Kyle’s Favorite Summer Beauty Essentials
Every summer, my face ends up a few shades lighter than the rest of my body due to my diligent sunscreen and hat regimen. With last summer’s Covid precautions, I spent more time outside and barely wore my usual foundation, which I use to balance out my skin tone. I decided that this year I would try to even out the shade difference with self-tanning drops. I use these about once a week to add a very subtle tan to my face. And make it match the color my body naturally becomes from being outside. I love that this serum is hydrating so I don’t have to worry about streaks or other self-tanner woes. However, it definitely has that self-tanner smell, and it will turn your hands orange if you forget to wash them after applying.
Isle of Paradise Hyglo Hyaluronic Self-Tan Face Serum, $32
After hearing a ton of recommendations for this product from both friends and influencers, I finally shelled out the money for the Youth to the People Vitamin C serum. I have a ton of dark spots from both acne scars and too much sun exposure as a kid and teen. I think this serum has done a great job at reducing those spots. As a reminder, it can take up to 8 weeks to see a difference from any vitamin C product, so be consistent. I use this every morning before sunscreen.
Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum, $68
I’m always on the hunt for a great mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast. This Biossance Squalane sunscreen is my current favorite! The formula is smooth, hydrating, non-sticky, and virtually invisible. I prefer a mineral sunscreen for my face because chemical sunscreens can irritate my eyes.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, $42
Tower 28 is a new POC woman-owned brand designed for sensitive skin, free of any known irritants and allergens including essential oils and synthetic fragrances. I currently own the Golden Hour blush which is an orange-coral shade perfect for summer, and the Gold Coast bronzer that has a golden shimmer which gives my skin a nice glow. I plan on buying more shades soon!
Tower 28 Beach Please Lip + Cheek Cream Blush in Golden Hour, $20
Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer in Gold Coast, $20
Colourpop released an Animal Crossing collaboration earlier this year, so naturally I had to have the full collection. There were eyeshadows and blushes, but the star of the show was the full set of 6 lip tints. They all smell like their corresponding fruit name and provide great hydration and color payoff. I gave the orange/peach duo to my sister and I use one of the coconut/pear or cherry/apple shades every day.
Colourpop x Animal Crossing So Fruitful Lip Tint Mini Kit Set, $36
My wavy, frizz-prone hair spends a lot of time in and out of pony-tails all summer due to the intense DC humidity. I love to use a hair oil to control any flyaways after air-drying or heat-styling my hair. The Olaplex oil is my current favorite because it provides shine without heaviness.
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil, $28
Megababe makes many great products for summer, including anti-chafe gel and multiple kinds of deodorant, but I am a fan of the Bust Dust powder. If I know I’m going to be outside for a long time and doing a lot of sweating, I puff some of this under my bra or bathing suit to keep everything dry.
Megababe Bust Dust Anti-Boob-Sweat Powder, $16
What are your summer beauty must-haves? A moisturizer with SPF? Something to control hair frizz? Have you tried any of our favorite summer beauty essentials? Let us know in the comments below!
Real Life Style is a style consulting firm that teaches busy women to wear their power so they can live their lives fully and confidently. Lani Inlander and Kyle Dunphy are based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and serve clients across the country. We offer personal styling services, an on-demand e-course, corporate services, and training to become a personal stylist.
Once in a while, you can find Lani Inlander and Real Life Style on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Mostly, they are happily busy serving their fabulous clients, not hanging out online!
