Wearstlerworld,
I shared some of my beauty essentials back in January, but at the turn of the season, a lot has to change… different conditions beg for a different look, different priorities, a different scent. And if you are paying attention, there are also always new brands and new ingredients to play with.
The height of summer, like the depth of winter, is a harsh season… a lot of sun and UV, air conditioning, it can be either super humid or incredibly dry (depending, of course, on where you are), and… if you’re lucky… you’re also dipping into the salty water of ocean or sea (very restorative, spiritually… but it can really suck the moisture out of skin).
My ambition with a beauty regime is first and foremost connected to a more holistic sense of wellness and betterment.
Body brushing that removes dead skin, or lymphatic drainage massage to reduce inflammation, always SPF (no matter the season!… I’ve long been loyal to SkinCeuticals SPF50, but I’m trying out something new… see below!)… these are core maintenance. Plus, something like the Kate McLeod foot stone to nourish your heels after (at least in my case) what will be a lot of barefoot time on beaches.
But, there is also aesthetics… I really embrace summer for it’s soft tints and glowing looks. And, that’s not for nothing.
Both core care and the finishing touches for me are about a routine that gives attention to the self… it’s a very simple, calming, tactile experience, and to go through this routine daily is about checking in as much as it is about discipline. And, it’s often time I spend with Crosby… he’s a big fan of the packaging (who isn’t, I guess?), and we have matching robes from OAS (for me and for him).
Here is what has found a place in my (very big) beauty cabinet:
BODY
Victoria Beckham Beauty – Portofino ‘97 Golden Shimmer Body Oil… an absolutely perfect glow of an almost amber-golden sun
Forah – Everyday Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 30… feels incredible, with collagen-boosting botanicals
Bondi Sands – Light/Medium Self Tanning Foam… my EA Bella came into the studio the other day looking so glowy with this on… I immediately ordered a bottle for myself
FACE
Eighth Day – The Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30… a new SPF in my regime, which goes on so well silky-smooth
Rhode Skin – The Spotwear Trio… Hailey Bieber’s brand stands up, and I use these overnight whenever I have a small blemish to attend to
Sofie Pavitt Face – Micellar Jar… really great make-up removing pads that are very easy to travel with, so they are definitely always with me on the road
Monastery Made – Gold Oil Cleanser… I love cleansing oils, because they are so beautiful to use and they don’t strip your skin back
Prada Beauty – Prada Refine Primer… a great primer for reducing pores with a matte finish so you can layer on a ‘glow' after
Allies of Skin – Multi Peptides & GF (Growth Factor) Lifting Serum…. a great plumping serum recommended by Maria my go-to makeup artist and friend
Dior – Capture Le Sérum… and another that is great for face and neck and helps to keep my skin firm, this one by a technology that helps bring more oxygen into the skin
Chanel – Les Beiges Healthy Glow Highlighter… the color is ‘summer gleam’ and that is exactly what it delivers
Sarah Creal – Long-Wear Cream Highlighter… a highlighter (which I use very light tough) that also hydrates, and is infused with peptides
Iris&Romeo – The Reset 3-in-1 Face Mist… I just started using this hydrating mist, and I’ve been loving it so far
Biologique Recherche – Sérum Spectral and Crème M.E.C… Biologique Recherche is one of my go-to brands, and I was very excited when they released these two new products
Beautyblender® – Nude Makeup Sponge… I love applying my SkinCeuticals SPF50 with this beauty blender. It gives a perfect coverage.
EYES
Rhode Skin – Peptide Eye Prep (Banana Peel)… a great de-puffing eye patch, which Crosby also likes to use… not because he needs them, obviously, but it’s a fun sort thing he can do with me
Dr. Diamond – Peptide Eyelift… a bit of a splurge product, but the results are incredible
Sarah Creal Beauty – Firm Offer… a combo of peptides, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine, it’s a super-packed eye cream that I find really delivers
Cellcosmet – CellCollagen Eye Contour Masks… another recommendation from Maria, it’s another real splurge but few things really compare when you want to intensely hydrate and revitalize under-eye
Byredo – Self Illusion Eyeshadow 5 Colors… warm, dimensional shadows that I add on if I’m heading out to dinner
Augustinus Bader – Eyebrow & Lash Enhancing Serum… I’m a huge fan of Augustinus Bader, and this plumps up brows and keeps them in perfect order
LIPS
B.I.G Mouth Polite Society – Lip plumper… I rarely wear strong color on my lips, so I just want something like this… a soft tint and a great effect
Prada Beauty – Moisturizing Lip Balm… a great lip balm in a very beautiful package, which makes it very nice to have around
Rhode – Peptide Lip Boost… more Rhode, a brand I am really liking right now, a great gloss that I keep in my bag and gets a few applications every day
YSL Beauty – Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss… a final recommendation from Maria, a great gloss in a lot of shades I love and the right amount of shine
Byredo – Tinted Lip Care… maybe only in terms of this balm am I “Chromophobic”…
BRONZING
Westman Atelier – Suntone Bronzing Drops… I’m almost always, always out of the sun (and heavily SPF-ed), so I rely on a little bit of color through makeup. I’m only ever after the tiniest touch of bronze, and with this I have so much control
YSL Beauty – All Hours Hyper Bronzer… a powered bronzer to add a little extra, usually just before I head out to dinner
Westman Atelier – Sun Tone Bronzing Creme… a great cream-to-powder bronzer that has a lot of control
SCENT
Crown Affair – The Signature Scent Hair Fragrance… a scent for hair is a really beautiful thing, and just like fragrance for your body, it’s just a nice and ceremonial finale to a haircare routine
Bottega Veneta – Come With Me Travel Scents… one thing about travel with fragrance is that bottles often end up in checked luggage because even if they are 100ml or less they are in very inconvenient shapes for getting through TSA. So, I love these Bottega travel-sized scents which are also very good for living in bags on-the-go in general
HAIR
Crown Affair – The Radiance Hair Oil… my hair is one thing I keep almost totally consistent, and I never want it to be “shiny” really, and so I need a hair oil that keep frizz down but doesn’t turn it into a Pantene commercial
Crown Affair – The Texture Air Drying Mousse… great for my waves and a brand I have really fallen in love with
RŌZ – Evergreen Styling Cream… Rōz is also great for shampoos and conditioners, and their styling cream is just the same: super high quality, great ingredients (including shea butter and pea protein)
HANDS AND NAILS
Habelo – Activating Hand Serum and Celisse Nails – The Trick, Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum… are both amazing serums for hand and nails, and I use them daily
Dior – Vernis Nail Polish Shade 513 J’Adore… I’m just really into gold right now (as you can see), and this is the perfect shade for me
Chanel – Le Vernis Nail Polish… it’s so important for me to have a polish that can hold through the summer days, and this one always delivers… plus they have two new shades that I’m loving
Manucurist – Blue Glazed Powder… chrome and shimmer is always fun to play with during the summer months
Hermès – Les Mains Hermès Enamel Base Coast… bare nails with a little shine is a chic look as well
FEET
Goop Beauty – Kate McLeod Foot Stone… really great product that keeps my feet in great condition, especially looking forward to having this week during our holiday (wherever it is… we haven’t landed on destination yet!), when surely they’ll be wreaked by sand and stone by the sea
Susanne Kaufman – Foot Cream… this moisturizing foot cream keeps skin supple and ready for whatever the day brings
Ten Over Ten – The Sole Scrub and The Foot File… a shower staple after long days on my feet
Summer is when I want to feel especially fresh and rested, and these products go a long way in helping me feel, and look, exactly that way.
One vanity tip: A dedicated beauty fridge is a must-have for me, especially in summer (… I love this one!). Heat quietly destroys active ingredients, serums, vitamin C, retinol, eye creams. And a cool serum on warm skin in the morning is one of those small things that just sets the tone.
Xo,
I … was …hoping for some parasol links?
Time to add Cassatt La Pommade Retinoid Skin Ointment to your routine, stat!