The beauty products that I display on my bathroom counter take a complete 180 when warmer weather hits. I no longer want to wear full-coverage foundation, I am more interested in lightweight lotions over thick creams, and I remember my appreciation for any and all frizz-control hair treatments—the heat and I get along very well, but the heat and my naturally curly hair don’t exactly vibe.
To me, swapping the products in my beauty routine is just as much fun (and as necessary) as reuniting with my summer capsule wardrobe at the beginning of the season. There are beauty products that I continue to reach for year after year when warm weather hits, and since I know a few fellow product lovers (read: TEG editors) that feel the same, I asked them to let me in on the products that they reach for most this time of year. So without further ado, here are the warm-weather products that we love and reach for the most:
When summer rolls around, there is only one way to describe my skin: sweaty. While I definitely deal with an oily T-zone, I am plagued by sweaty skin from the moment I wake up until the moment I stick my face into the AC (Listen, I don’t handle the heat well, OK!). So when it gets hot outside, I have to keep items to touch up my face and prevent sweat from taking over my entire makeup look. This refillable kit is ideal: One side contains blotting papers and the other is a finely milled powder to mattify and get rid of intense shine. It doesn’t make my skin look cakey or take away the intentional dew on my skin, but it does take me back to how I looked when I first put my makeup on that morning. Selena, you’re a genius for this.
— Beth, Editor
While my skin stays pretty combination in the summer (very oily T-zone + tightness thanks to extra time in the sun), the thick, occlusive moisturizers I rely on in the winter just feel heavy on my skin in the summer. In the mornings, I want something light that feels like nothing is on my face. At night, I can’t bear to handle something thick on my skin when I’m going to bed. Enter: this gel moisturizer. I couldn’t live without this last summer, and I’ve already picked up a new tub because I can’t imagine going through the warmer months without it. It feels so lightweight on my skin, but it leaves me feeling just as moisturized as my thicker formulas do. I couldn’t get through summer without it.
— Beth, Editor
I love to swap out my perfumes in the summertime for something lighter and brighter than the woody, darker perfumes I wear in the fall and winter. The second I smelled this, it became a go-to. I love how light and airy this perfume is, and it smells like nothing else I’ve tried. It’s definitely floral, but the white musk notes in the base ground it, so it just smells expensive. I’ve been savoring this all spring, but when the first slew of 70-degree days roll around, prepare to be sick of me and this scent.
— Beth, Editor
We are in the era of cream cheek products, and I’ve tried just about all of them—but when it comes to bronzer, nothing compares to this for me, especially in the summer. The formula of this looks incredibly natural on the skin—even bare skin—and really does just look like you’ve been kissed by the sun. I use this both on days I’m wearing makeup and days I’m not to warm up my skin, and I always know it’ll stay all day—even if my day involves a lot of sweat.
— Maddie, Fashion Editor
I have straight, fine hair, and while nothing could make it get curly or wavy, the humidity does make it quite frizzy, and this award-winning product has been a literal miracle for that. Coating your hair with it after you shower smooths hair with a humidity-blocking technology that lasts three to four washes (so the bottle lasts absolutely forever). This makes my hairstyles actually last in the summer and has made humidity a non-factor for me hair-wise. Since it’s formulated for all hair types, I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t love this too.
— Maddie, Fashion Editor
This has been my go-to body sunscreen for years (yes, I am on a subscription), and I am not switching anytime soon. The formula is clean of chemical propellants (meaning it’s a cleaner option than your typical chemical sunscreen, making it healthier for you and for the planet because it’s reef-friendly), but it’s also full of ingredients that really make my skin glow (even without a tan!) like vitamin C and various extract oils—it feels more like a luxe and light body oil or mist than it feels like a thick sunscreen. My favorite part is that it’s a spray (way easier than a lotion, right?), but it’s non-aerosol, so it’s better for you and the planet. Win, win, and win!
— Josie, Wellness Editor
I don’t tan; I burn and/or get moles. In other words, I do not even sit by a window without a healthy slather of SPF. But I love nothing more than a radiant glow and a "did I or didn’t I just get back from vacation" tan throughout all of summer, so I fake it with this gradual self-tanner. But don’t be fooled: This self-tanner is not like other self-tanners (notice the chicness of “self-tan water”) and is well worth the price, IMO. It’s a super gradual, even tan (so you can spray it on as a final step in your morning or evening routine every day without waking up with splotches or a bright-orange complexion), and it contains amazing ingredients for your skin to boost radiance and hydrate, so it’s just like any other skincare step loaded with powerful ingredients—except it leaves an even and natural tan.
— Josie, Wellness Editor
If you’ve ever felt the pain of sunburned lips, you understand why it’s so important not to forget your lips in your daily SPF routine. I’ve been using this Sun Bum lip balm for years, and even if I try something else, I always find my way back to this product. I love all of the flavors that it comes in and the fact that it’s super affordable. It’s formulated with aloe vera, cocoa butter, and vitamin E, so it leaves my lips feeling extra smooth while keeping them protected.
— Jess, Associate Editor
If there’s one thing I want my skin to be during the warmer months, it’s dewy and glowy. I’m always trying different skincare and makeup products that promise me that natural-looking glow, but I especially appreciate one that helps my skin glow all on its own. These Dew Drops are formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which is the perfect combination to make my skin feel hydrated and smooth, giving me the perfect canvas for the minimal, dewy makeup looks I love rocking all summer long.
— Jess, Associate Editor
I have tried many tinted moisturizers over the years, and I always come back to this one by bareMinerals. It’s perfect for warmer days because it has a gel-cream consistency that feels super lightweight on the skin, it has crazy-good hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, and it has SPF 30. I like to either wear it alone for light coverage or add another layer with a setting powder for additional coverage where and when I need it.
— Hailey, Editorial Assistant
One second, you’re wearing a cute ponytail in the sunshine, and the next, your part has a bright red sunburn. Is there really anything worse? Introducing: Supergoop! Mineral Part Powder. Call me dramatic, but this is a total lifesaver during warm-weather months. I love it because it is a 100% mineral powder spray with SPF 35, it applies just like a dry shampoo, and it is formulated with safe ingredients. Try this out, and thank me later.
— Hailey, Editorial Assistant
In the summer, my face sweats uncontrollably, so I do my best to avoid any sort of heavy makeup. I got this tinted sunscreen last year, and it’s the perfect solution for days when I want to look a little bit more alive and protect my face from the sun’s rays. I recently just got the Supergoop! Glow Screen, and while a lot of people really swear by it, I’ve found that this La Roche-Posay one is a much better fit for me because it’s a little more matte but still gives off a slightly dewey finish that I love.
— Ashley, Branded Content Editor
The mere idea of putting foundation on in the summer brings me pain. Spending hours on a full face just for it to melt away with ease has happened one too many times. This blurring skin tint is everything I needed and more. It’s extremely light and buildable, so it’s perfect for daily use. With 25 shades, this skin tint is perfect for literally anyone. It’s sweat- and humidity-resistant while also being the perfect size for travel!
— Tierra, Editorial Intern
Whoever said being an oily girl was fun completely lied, but this niacinamide serum from The Ordinary makes it a lot easier. When my pores are clogged with all of the excess sweat and oil from having fun in the sun, this serum is a great overnight formula to even out any shine and congestion.
— Tierra, Editorial Intern
My mom talked about this product nonstop, so I had to try it. Immediately, I fell in love. It’s the perfect light, airy moisturizer that will give a boost and keep you from feeling congested. For all the girls with eczema or skin conditions, it’s made with colloidal oatmeal to help calm the skin, too!
— Tierra, Editorial Intern
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