Summer is in full swing, and my beauty routine is taking the hit.
While I love skin tints over full-coverage foundations and cream products over powder ones, summertime also provides a host of beauty challenges. A few products in my arsenal have come in handy over the last few weeks, and I’m hoping they can benefit you, too. Here are some common summer beauty blunders and how to fix them.
Body breakouts
Summers are sweaty. Whether you’re working out or just enjoying the hot weather, your body will work to cool you down with sweat. Sweat produces bacteria, which can turn into body breakouts. Also, SPF is a must, but improper cleansing could lead to clogged pores on the back, chest and shoulders. I tried Versed Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist, a superfine, easy-to-use mist that helped clear up and prevent body breakouts. Since it is made with 2% salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid), tea tree oil and witch hazel, it fights bacteria, controls excess oil, calms inflammation and soothes redness. It also has a cool 360-degree continuous spray (from an environmentally friendly non-aerosol bottle) that even works upside down to help cover the hard-to-reach spots. Combine that with a fast drying time and no residue left on clothing, and it’s a must for summertime.
Dry skin
I’m always on the hunt for ultra-luxe, thick body lotions in the summer to help with dry skin from too much sun, salt water or chlorine from the pool. Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream is a deliciously whipped oil body moisturizer is a decadent combination of tropical butters and extracts as well as a cocktail of seven oils, which melts into skin and deeply conditions it. Glycerin helps lock in that hydration for a nourished, glossy sheen effect.
Stressed-out scalp
From hair spray to protect from humidity to dry shampoo to soak up excess oils to chlorine from days at the pool, our hair and scalps take a beating in the summer. I swear by a weekly deep cleansing to ensure the health and integrity of my hair. Odele Beauty Clarifying Shampoo is made to wash away product residue and buildup from pollutants, hard water deposits and chlorine. Formulated with sulfate-free lathering cleansers and chelation technology that draws out impurities, it delivers a powerful, deep clean without stripping or drying your hair or scalp. While this shampoo is gentle, it’s not made for everyday use, so make this a weekly ritual.
Pool hair
We’ve all had it: that dry, stringy, straw-like hair from just coming out of the pool. Coco and Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque is the answer to pool hair as it’s made with oils, butters and essences to help nourish and restore hair back to its natural (aka “virgin”) state. Oils such as argan, castor seed and coconut add softness and shine to help repair your damaged hair. Essence of fig and shea butter moisturize and de-tangle hair without making it heavy or weighing it down, which is amazing for me and my fine, Tom Petty baby hair. The formula also includes Argan oil to tame frizz and add gloss to your hair. The price is scary, but a little goes a long way, so depending on hair thickness, a big jar should last you a while.
Scaly feet
Our feet need extra love, especially in the summer. Pumice stones offer the easiest results in making your feet silky and soft, and I love using Beauty By Earth Lava Exfoliating Pumice Stone a few nights a week. In the shower, after my feet are wet and soft, I use circular motions on the roughest parts. As soon as I get out of the shower, I immediately apply lotion such as Arm & Hammer Heels & Feet Moisturizing Scrub, an all-in-one pedicure replacement made with alpha hydroxy acids to break down and gently exfoliate that rough skin. Coconut oil provides much-needed deep hydratio
Gia Mazur is an award-winning staff writer and beauty obsessive who joined The Times-Tribune’s Lifestyles department in 2015. She’s a product enthusiast who can’t live without an eyelash curler. A proud Virgo, Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk is her go-to. Contact: gmazur@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127; @gmazurTT
