Summer is quickly sneaking up on us, which means it's time to change your makeup wardrobe to fit the season. Summer is all about shimmer and sun-kissed skin, but there are other things to keep in mind too, such as sunscreen, self tanner, and insect repellants. This summer, make the most of your time outdoors by being prepared with these great summer product must-haves.
PricegrabberIf you want a self tanner that does it all, looks completely natural, has a laundry-list of natural ingredients, and actually smells good then look no further! I honestly can't say enough about this self tanner. The end color is perfect, the scent is fresh and light, and you can use this naturally formulated lotion over and over until you reach your desired level of tan without worrying about looking fake, or streaky.
PricegrabberThe bottle is absolutely to die for, but the fragrance is even better. Michael Kors Very Hollywood Perfume has tons of great notes that work perfectly for summertime, no matter if it's a day at the beach or a night on the town. Infused with notes of mandarin, iced bergamot, wet jasmine, ylang-ylang, raspberry, gardenia, irris, creamy amber, soft white moss and vetiver this fragrance just light enough for the summer heat, yet strong enough to make you feel glamorous at the same time. I'm always looking for a few good perfumes for summer, and this is definitely one of them.
PricegrabberIf you plan to go to the beach or spend any time outside during the summer while on vacation then you will want to make sure that your skin is ready to be seen. I have tried many different gradual self tanners, but St. Tropez Everyday Legs is one of my new found favorites. The product comes with a double pump, one black and one white, on a single container. This offers a really natural looking self tanner as well as a great instant bronzer. The smell isn't too bad and it actually goes away fairly quickly, leaving you with a gorgeous sun-kissed look to your previously pale legs. The dual-bottle is perfect to take with you along the way for continued tanning and bronzing touch-ups.
PricegrabberWhether you plan on self tanning this summer or not, you should always wear a good sunblock. Self tanner alone will not protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, so you should use a really good sunblock, such as Australian Gold's Continuous Spray SPF30 Sunblock. It sprays on easily and requires no rubbing, plus with an SPF30 you can look forward to fun in the sun while getting a little bit of bronzing by days end, without the ache of a sun burn. I personally use Australian Gold Continuous Spray SPF30 year-round so I can enjoy the great outdoors while knowing that I will have at least 80-minutes of sun protection. The bonus is that it's also extremely water resistant, so even if I play in the sprinkler with my kids I know I'm still protected. This is definitely a must-have to keep in your summer bag this year.
PricegrabberIf you are planning on being outside at all this summer, besides the sunblock, one of the most important things to remember is the insect repellent. Off! makes a new family friendly insect repellent called Off! FamilyCare Smooth and Dry. It really does dry down smooth and dry, with no stickiness or disgusting bug repellent smell. I even tried Off! Smooth and Dry over my self tanner to make sure it wouldn't damage it, and the result was good. It didn't streak or lighten my self tanned skin what-so-ever. The other great thing was the fragrance that is added to the Off! Smooth and Dry spray. Instead of smelling like bug repellent it smells light and refreshing, which is why this is a definite summer must-have.
PricegrabberIf you are a sun worshipper, or just happen to accidentally get too much sun, you definitely need a good after-sun product like Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel. You can use this product on both your face and body after being in the hot sun all afternoon. The yogurt will help to hydrate your sun parched skin, as well as relieve any stinging or heat that accompanies a sun burn. For a really refreshing experience, pop Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel in the refrigerator, so it is chilled when you need to use it.
PricegrabberSmith's Rosebud Salve is a diverse little tin of wonderfulness. This is a must-have for summer because even though it can be used for lips and face, you can also use it on dry or chapped skin. Sometimes it can be hard to get you feet 100 percent smooth, especially the heels, but you can use a little of Smith's Rosebud Salve on them with some socks at night and wake up to softer tootsies. Since you can't hide your feet during the summer time, Smith's Rosebud Salve is a definite must-have for summer.
PricegrabberJust as with SPF for your body, you also need it for your lips. Since most lip glosses don't contain SPF, it's in your best interest to wear a good lip balm that has it added. Badger Lip Balm with SPF15 is a really great chemical-free lip balm that is also 100 percent natural. You can even use this while swimming because it is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. The bonus is that since it's natural, it's also safe to use on children as well. With a low price point, good SPF, and natural ingredients, this make Badger Lip Balm with SPF15 a definite must-have for summer.
PricegrabberI know this sounds odd for a must-have for summer, but Solarcaine First-Aid Medicated Spray is one of the staples you should have in your medicine cabinet to help with sun burns. This spray is not ideal to use as the only after-sun product, but the cooling effect and instant pain relief makes it a definite must-have for summer.
PricegrabberIt seems that it always goes back to sunblock for summer time, but that's a good thing. Since you obviously have your sunblock for your body and lips, don't forget your face too. Most makeup and moisturizers have minimal sunblock, and you can't ensure that you actually cover all of your face when using it. Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free with SPF40 is a definite summer must-have because you can wear it alone, although it doesn't give any added color, or you can use it under any makeup as well as over any moisturizer. Since it comes in an oil-free formula, everyone can take advantage of using a product with SPF 40.
