As summer blossoms, I felt it was time to highlight some of my current favorites. This summer has been particularly sweltering and sticky. My skin has certainly noticed the change, and while not many products can withstand the high temperatures, I’ve discovered numerous beauty gems that I’ve been adoring this year.
Raffia Bags
I have a fondness for a stylish raffia bag, and this Loewe Medium Basket is one I’ve had for three years (how time flies!). It has remained in excellent condition despite the mixed reviews I’ve encountered regarding this design. Mine is in a seasonal shade, but the classic beige with either a black or brown logo is still available, along with a few new styles introduced this year. I’ve been eyeing some from Miu Miu but haven’t settled on a color as of now. If you have any recommendations, please share!
For a more budget-friendly selection, the Eric Javits Squishee Tote has been a long-standing favorite. These bags are wonderfully crafted and maintain their shape beautifully if you’re after a more structured design. I own it in two colors (black mix and neutral mix), and they’ve withstood the test of time.
Summer Hats
Continuing the Eric Javits theme, his hats are absolute essentials for me. I always take them along to the pool or beach because they provide the best sun protection among all the hats I’ve tried. My favorite style is the Hamptons, but I’m also fond of the Bucket Hats. They often have excellent sales when purchasing directly from their website.
Favorite Sunglasses
I have a slight obsession with sunglasses, but since discovering these Chanel Rectangle ones, I haven’t spent much on other pairs. I have them in tortoise and black – they match with virtually everything, and I adore the shape. These are also the pairs that attract the most compliments!
Portable Fan
This year, I made an impulse purchase with the Dyson HushJet Portable Mini Fan, and I adore it. It fits snugly in my tote and was a lifesaver during Miami Swim Week.
Sunscreens
I’m preparing a revamped sunscreen roundup, but I have some favorites I want to share at the moment. Finding a sunscreen that works with makeup, remains intact, doesn’t migrate into the eyes, and still offers a high SPF can be challenging. Many of you have asked for mineral recommendations, but I tend to lean towards chemical formulas.
For my face, I’ve been loving the 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. They all work well with my foundations that have high SPF ratings and wear nicely throughout the day.
For body sunscreen, Shiseido is the clear winner for the best long-wear formula that is both sweat and water-resistant. The Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector has been my top choice for years. I also tried the Sun Protector Mineral version, which has remarkable lasting power and adheres well to skin, although it’s quite difficult to remove at the end of the day.
I also enjoy the Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist. To me, it’s superior to most sunscreen sprays since it’s not an aerosol. You can clearly see where it’s applied on the skin, and it lasts effectively even when in the water. The shimmer it provides is lovely and isn’t overly sparkly. It dries well without leaving a greasy feel.
The Best Body Oil
With the current heat, my skin has been exceptionally dry. I recently rediscovered the L’Occitane Almond Body Oil, and I now understand why I cherished it so much. The updated design is stunning, but it remains true to the original formula. The Almond Shower Oil is another staple that both Andrew and I adore. It feels incredibly luxurious! The Shower Oil will be included in this Almond Gift Set starting next week during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
Makeup Favorites
I have accumulated so many new makeup favorites this year. The standout foundation launch for me has been the YSL Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation in 7.5N (check it out in action here). It’s a breeze to apply, requires minimal effort to blend, and the coverage is just right. It lasts all day and gives me the appearance of radiant skin.
To achieve a healthy glow, I’ve been really enjoying the Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Cream highlighters. They impart a gorgeous dewy sheen without the stickiness that can accompany many balm sticks. I appreciate how natural they look on the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint continues to be a favorite of mine. I often layer or mix it with other foundations. One of you suggested it over the Hollywood Flawless Filter for a softer glow, and you were spot on! I wear this in Shade 7.5.
Armani Fluid Sheers are of course a classic choice. I switch between Shades 10 or 11 as they complement my skin tone for that lit-from-within glow.
The Rhode Highlight Milks deserve a mention too. Full review here. They’re luminous and I love the lightweight fluid consistency.
For cream bronzers, I find a three-way tie between Rhode Pocket Bronze, Westman Atelier Soleil Parfait Duos, and Dior Forever Skin Bronze Stick. I’ve traditionally been a powder bronzer enthusiast, but this year’s cream launches have completely shifted my perspective.
- Rhode stands out as the creamiest and easiest to blend (review here, demo here)
- Westman Atelier duos offer an excellent neutral and cool mix (review here, on the skin here)
- Dior provides the best satin texture that lasts the longest on me (review + swatches here)
The Best Summer Red
For nails, I’ve been enamored with Essie Geranium. You all know my usual go-to pedicure shade is often Hermes Orange Poppy, but I switched things up this year. Last Christmas, Andrew arranged a staycation for us at The Standard Spa in Miami Beach. We enjoyed spa treatments and mani/pedis together and it was a delightful experience. I brought my own colors for my pedicure, but at the last minute, I asked Andrew to help me select a new shade. He chose Geranium, and I ordered a bottle as soon as we got back home. It has adorned my toes nearly every day this year. It truly is the perfect vibrant summer red. (My sandals are Fendi, and I adore them; they fit true to size, but I recommend adding these anti-slip grip pads.)
Lip Loves
For my lips, I highlighted the Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine in Sparkling Pink a few weeks ago, and it disappeared so quickly. While I don’t have a dupe suggestion, I think the Dior Addict Lip Glow Butter in Pink offers a comparable effect (review here). If shimmer isn’t appealing to you, the newer YSL Candy Glaze in Bubblegum Pink (swatched here) is definitely a favorite.
I’m still a neutral lip enthusiast at heart, though I’ve been exploring other shades lately. The best neutral options for me currently include the Chanel Rouge Coco Baume in Honey Bliss (swatched here, it will be included in this adorable set next week) and the Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss in 443 Impertinente (reviewed here).
Hair Care Obsessions
I also have two hair care products that I can’t get enough of. The Oribe Detangling Spray remains the best detangler I’ve come across and has been a lifesaver since my hair tangles quite easily at the ends these days. I’ve also been using the Oribe Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick extensively. It’s comparable to the R+Co Dart Stick, but I’ve been reaching for the Oribe stick more often as it offers a bit more shine.
Neither stick appears or feels greasy, but if you experience any degree of perspiration, you’ll definitely need to wash your hair in the evenings. I would love to discover a hairspray that suits my hair, but for tackling pesky flyaways, the wax pomade sticks are the only effective solutions I’ve found.
Summer Perfumes
Lastly, I have two new fragrances I’ve been completely captivated by this year. Thanks to a few influencers I’ve met, I discovered Memo Paris. Their latest release is Menorca, and it features the best citrusy bergamot scent I’ve encountered this year. Imagine notes of bergamot, salty undertones, neroli, ginger, lemon, and sandalwood.
I’ll always be a fan of Creed, and Wild Vetiver is likely my favorite scent of the year. It’s very potent and quite unique. It combines vetiver, bergamot, timur berry, rose, geranium, blackcurrant, cedarwood, and amberwood beautifully. This is the fragrance I get approached about the most. If you’re familiar with Creed scents, the new Wild Vetiver varies significantly from the Original Vetiver, which has a fresher, cleaner scent (and feels more masculine to me). The Wild Vetiver is the bolder, more feminine interpretation. I also love the sea green Refillable Atomizer released with this fragrance (though it can hold any scent inside).
A quick mention goes to two scents that might not be new but still capture summer perfectly. I adore Kilian’s Sunkissed Goddess and Creed Virgin Island Water for those quintessential summer fragrances.
I realize this is quite a lengthy list, but I wanted to consolidate everything into one post! If you have any summer favorites, feel free to share in the comments!
