There are so many products and so little time to try them all.
That’s where I come in.
From things recommended by friends, generously sent to me by brands for consideration of review or just products I saw on social media and needed to try, I’m constantly changing up my routine and what I use. Because of that, I always try to update you on the ones I am loving so you can try them out for yourself.
Some are new, and some are old favorites, but these are a few products coming in clutch for my late-summer beauty routine.
Herbivore Botanicals Aquarius Pore Clarifying Cream
Late summer is still pretty hot and humid, which calls for a lightweight cream moisturizer designed to control oil but still hydrate and nourish skin. Made with white willow bark — a gentle, naturally derived version of the chemical exfoliant salicylic acid — that helps to very gently unclog pores while blue tansy oil balances hydration levels. It absorbs fast and balances and leaves skin feeling satiny, which makes it a great daytime moisturizer. I’ve also found it working nicely in my evening routine. I sandwich Aquarius right in between my other favorite Herbivore products, Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask and Lapis Oil, to balance and clarify my skin at night. Aesthetically, it comes in Herbivore’s signature glass jar in a dreamy blue hue that adds to the ritual. $44; herbivorebotanicals.com
Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick and SoftSculpt Bronzer
You may know makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic for his signature soft glam style, as seen on one of his most famous clients, Ms. Kim Kardashian. When he launched his own beauty brand last year, the line’s whole vibe encompassed that cool, soft, glam touch that can be seen on faces by Mario. I’m in love with both bronzing products from his SoftSculpt line: Soft Shaping Stick, a cream product, and SoftSculpt Bronzer, a pressed powder. I apply the bronzer with a fluffy brush along my hairline, temples and the sides of my nose to warm up my face. Then, I give my face soft depth and definition by running the stick just above the hollows of my cheeks and along my jawline before buffing it in with the dense bristle brush on the stick’s other end. $28 each; makeupbymario.com
Ollie Belle Cover Dot Acne Care
Thanks to my combination/oily skin, breakouts are part of my life year-round. Sweaty summer usually leads to more, and I just cannot live without these pimple patches. Pimple patches are tiny Band-Aids for your zits, made of a hydrocolloid dressing that provides a moist, insulated healing environment. They work to heal the pimple or, if you’re a picker like me, turn your blemish (or open wound) into a flat, pink dot. You can stick them on at night or, because these are so discrete, wear them to work tomorrow. $8.99; olliebelle.com
Odele Leave-In Conditioner
My naturally wavy hair is prone to frizz, but add in some bleach, heat styling, the sun and chlorine from the pool, and my poor hair takes a beating this time of year. I apply a leave-in product after I wash my hair, and I’ve been in love with this one lately. Because my hair is fine, I need something that won’t weigh it down, and this product is a very light, gel-cream texture that leaves my hair soft and bouncy. A salon-grade leave-in product for a drugstore price, this delivers deep moisture, detangles, defines and provides frizz control. It also contains a healthy dose of amino acids, which help improve hair health over time. $11.99; odelebeauty.com
Scentbird fragrances
When I need a vacation, I let fragrance whisk me away. I’m a total perfume head, and I love to try all different scents without the commitment of choosing one, so Scentbird has come in handy this season. For a flat fee, you can test mini samples of about 700 niche and designer fragrances. The trio of summertime scents I’ve been loving recently are Veronique Gabai Souvenirs de Tunisie, which blends white flower and orange absolute for the vibe of a Mediterranean getaway; Arquiste Sydney Rock Pool, which includes notes of sandalwood, driftwood and sea salt that evoke a trip to Australia’s golden beaches; and Lavanila Vanilla Coconut, which fuses warm Madagascar vanilla and fresh coconut to instantly transport you to paradise. $15.95 per month; scentbird.com
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