Summer Beauty Essentials
Can we all just take a moment to let it sink in that it's June. Freakin' JUNE already, I know we say it every year but seriously this year is flying by. Seeing as it is now officially summer (three cheers for beach trips, breakfast al fresco, and excessive ice lolly consumption), I thought I would compile a list of the beauty bits and bobs that I turn to in the warmer months. As you can see, narrowing things down is not my forte, and my summer essentials list is probably a little lengthier than you would expect from a post with the word "essentials" in the title.
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Saigon Summer I think it's safe to say that orange lipstick is going to be a steadfast inclusion in everybody's summer essentials this year. This super pigmented MAC offering packs some seriously summery punch.
The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Lotion* Would summer even be summer without a bottle of this Body Shop favourite?? No, of course not. A lighter take on The Body Shop's much hyped body butter this is perfect for the warmer months. Easy to apply and non-greasy it sinks straight into your skin, leaving a light, creamy scent perfect for summer evenings.
Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray For those of you who (like me) are naturally incapable of Olsen-esque beachy waves and can spend hours attempting to recreate the carefree mussed up surfer chick look...say hello to your new best friend. I have very thick, straight hair that doesn't like to be anything but thick and straight, and this is the only product capable of inspiring the notion of a wave (or god forbid a curl) in my hair. Plus it smells heavenly.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask If summer had a smell it would be peaches and apricot for sure, and when it comes to such fruity summery scents this Origins offering ticks all the boxes. An uber moisturising, thick, creamy, soothing mask, perfect for remedying dry and irritated skin.
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige My go-to summer base, this Chanel favourite is more tinted moisturiser than foundation and feel completely weightless upon the skin. It won't work wonders if you have a lot to conceal but it does a spot on job of evening out skin tone, reducing redness, and providing that bright dewiness required of a summer foundation. Plus it has SPF. What's not to love?
Aesop Petitgrain Hydrating Body Gel* The perfect antidote to sore, irritated, sunburnt skin. This cool, soothing body gel is a pricey but perfect post-sun treatment, it sinks into my skin super fast, smells of all things citrus, and is as hydrating as a body butter - minus the greasiness.
Essie Nail Polish in Chubby Cheeks A gorgeous pink-toned deep coral, this chunky Essie bottle is my holiday polish of choice. It's bright and summery without being too OTT and works great for both mani and pedi.
Dead Sea Spa Magik Body Salt Brushing I don't know about you but when it comes to kitting out my shower for the summer, a good scrub is my first pick. I love this one for its beachy scent and super-sized exfoliating chunks.
Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder As ever, the bronzed goddess look is championing the summer beauty trends this season. Hoola is my preferred way of sporting a natural sun-kissed complexion without the hassle of fake tan or the perils of excessive UV exposure.
A La Carte Cosmetics Cream Blush in Sweet Pea* Maintain SS'14's must-have dewy glow with a cream blush, preferably with a suitably summery name, and in a subtle but pretty pink such as this one. I like to dab this on with my fingers for a slightly brightening, slightly contouring effect, guaranteed to enliven a cool complexion.
Marc Jacobs Dot Eau de Parfum My failsafe summer fragrance, in one word Dot is best described as 'refreshing'. With juicy, fruity notes which give way to a lighter, more floral scent, I crack out this adorable bottle as soon as the temperature starts to up.
I'd love to know what your summer beauty essential are - let me know in the comments below! To stay updated on future posts you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bloglovin.