With summer in full swing, now is a good time to change your beauty routine and get yourself in tip-top shape for outdoor adventures, lazy beach days, and long summer nights. By switching to a warm-weather plan, your skin can look more radiant and by finding the right products, melting makeup and other sweaty mishaps can be kept to a minimum and perhaps even have the staying power it needs to keep you looking your best as the weather gets warmer and the humidity levels continue to surge. Nothing says summer like a subtle, bronzy highlight and there is no better time to experiment with playful colors and get that all-over radiant rosy glow. Everything looks better in the sunshine so get ready for the best season of all with these summer must-haves:
Equitance Brightening Collection
For covet worthy skin, Equitance Brightening Collection offers a full range of products to restore skin’s radiance from the inside out. What better time to change up your routine than this summer. The Equitance Brightening Collection boasts formulas that are made from precisely balanced herbal ingredients and technology which target women’s (especially Asian) biggest concerns: dark spots, uneven tone, pigmentation and discoloration. Equitance successfully combines holistic natural botanicals with an advanced delivery system in order to target these problem areas with specific formulas that are clinically proven to brighten, smooth and tone complexion. And what greater testament than other women, with 100% reporting that their skin was smoother, firmer and more luminous. Their line includes: Brightening Foaming Cleaner, $30; Brightening Toning Lotion, $50; Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector, $125; Hydrating Brightening Cream, $ 70; Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36, $30; and Skin Radiance Dietary Supplement, $50. A perfect addition to your summer skincare arsenal.
www.equitance-us.com
Comodynes Hydra Tanning Body Moisturizing Summer Glow Moisturizing Tanning Lotion
Prolong your tanning with the Hydra Tanning Body Moisturizing Summer Glow. Perfectly continue your summer tan into the fall for a beautiful sun kissed glow. Contains vitamins E and F to protect skin against free radicals. Shea provides intense moisturizing that lasts for 24 hours while providing a light and uniform color that progressively increases. Most importantly, it dries evenly and thoroughly so you do not need to worry about streaks on clothing!! Its light texture and easy absorption is suitable for all types of skin and can be used on face and body. It has a fresh perfume and leaves a Soft Touch finish. It replaces daily body milk. Does not contain sun filters. For all skin types. Paraben-Free.
www.comodynes.net, $21.99
Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30
A summer staple, SPF is one of the most important products everyone should be using religiously this season and essential to prevent sunburn and pigmentation, along with the other numerous and harmful effects of the sun. Peter Thomas Roth offers a great selection of sunscreens from powders to oil-free formulations. My favorite pick from their collection is their absorbable, greaseless lotion, Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30 which contains contains Parsol 1789, providing extra sheer protection against UVA radiation as well as UVB protection. It is a great alternative to the thicker titanium dioxide and zinc oxide-based sunblock which I find can clog pores and often leaves a residue which can be problematic for many Asians with oily skin. This sunscreen is so sheer and silky that it can be used on your face as well as your body and great for all skin types. Other great ingredients include healing allantoin & aloe, pro vitamin B5 and vitamins A, C & E which provide soothing and hydration along with an antioxidant boost for healthy and protected skin.
www.peterthomasroth.com; $26.00
AHAVA Age Perfecting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15
The perfect addition to your beach bag, AHAVA Age Perfecting Hand Cream will keep your hands looking moisturized and protect against visible signs of aging caused by the much loved but harmful sun. This light textured silky and amazing Hand Cream contains the power of Osmoter, a proprietary complex and SPF 15, which provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, helps reduce dark spots, evens skin tone, and restores radiance and elasticity. It has been clinically proven to lighten skin and reduce the contrast between dark spots and surrounding tissue ensuring your hands will never give away your age in the future!
www.ahavaus.com; $32
AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Mask
Beautify as you sleep with an ultimate overnight treatment from AMOREPACIFIC – one of my favorite brands from Korea. I love their full collection created with potent Asian botanicals with cutting edge technology and a global beauty philosophy. Take advantage of a few hours of sleep by applying their Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Mask to boost your skin’s rejuvenation from damage and stress as well as all the daily environmental aggressors which break down collagen and wreak havoc on our skin. This mask is also perfect for traveling and although can be used all year round is even more popular during the summer months since it is such a lightweight formula that you can pamper your skin without the risk of breaking out during these hot and humid summer months. Sleep Recovery Mask is formulated with 5-Hydra Complex, a potent blend of Asian botanicals that delivers maximum hydration and fortifies skin’s natural protective barrier while Exclusive Self-Transforming Technology ensures that skin maintains maximum moisture overnight. This mask feel so luxurious and has a beautiful light scent which is exactly what I want to be enjoying before falling into a deep slumber.
www.sephora.com; $60
Bliss ‘fuzz’ off bikini
Get beach ready with Bliss ‘fuzz’ off bikini, the only hair removal cream out there that is formulated specifically for your most intimate areas. Its best feature is that it comes with a specially designed precision applicator so the cream only removes hair where you put it, so say goodbye to messy depilatory creams that seem to always land in the wrong places! Hair removal never seemed so painless and quick, just about six minutes for a perfectly smooth and shaped bikini line. It also contains skin soothing and conditioning oils along with shea and cocoa butters which nourishes skin and leave it smooth and moisturized. Unlike other creams on the market, ‘fuzz’ off bikini has a fresh scent that is not overpowering and does not have that strong chemical scent.
www.blissworld.com; $30
MAC Fix +
This is one of my favorite products that I use year round, but comes especially handy in the summer. This multi-use spray not only moisturizes and provides an aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, a shot of nutrition for your face, but is also refreshing and cooling when used on a hot summer day. The perfect must-have for a girl on-the-go, for traveling, or just to freshen up your face of makeup. Mac Fix + is infused with a calming blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. It can also be used to set makeup and it adds radiance, leaving skin looking dewy and fresh.
www.mac.com; $21
Shea Moisture Shine On Lip Gloss
Formulated with a special blend of natural waxes and Shea butter, this perfect for your pocketbook gem, goes on smooth and silky. Natural moisturizers restore and renew collagen, making lips appear fuller. It helps reduce the appearances of fine lines and improves the texture of your lips, giving lips a more youthful appearance. A fashion must-have with an amazing color palette and amazing shine. This high fashion formula is not a sacrifice in comfort. Favorite colors for Asian skin: Lea, Rosie, Jenny.
www.SheaMoisture.com; $10
Julep – The Bright Side Mini Nail Polish Set
It wouldn’t be summer without vibrant fun shades of polish to experiment with. This impressive brand founded by Asian entrepreneur Jane Park is such a perfect example of high quality beauty products that are always keeping up with beauty trends while keeping customer’s needs in mind. It’s a subscription box service that is worth every penny. My favorites are the polishes available in every possible shade you can imagine. Mix and match, create your festive nail works of art with these five fun nail color minis sure to brighten your day, plus a mini Freedom Polymer Top Coat which dries smudge-free and keeps your nails looking like you just had them done at the salon. Colors include: Jackie – Maraschino cherry crème, Avery – Hot pink crème, Georgia – Peach microshimmer, Eden – Bright violet crème, and Denver – Seafoam green crème.
www.julep.com; $35 (sale price)
Guerlain Terra Soleia Tan-Enhancing Bronzer Face and Décolleté
Guerlain, the masters in bronzers and known for their luxurious quality and timeless elegance introduces this summer their limited edition Terra Soleia, a complexion-enhancing bronzing powder that is a must for that glowy sun-kissed skin. With its universal shade mixed with iridescent golden particles, you will be left with a naturally luminous tan. Be sure to apply Terra Soliea to face, shoulders, and neck area to enhance any tan with a subtle golden shimmery effect. Also don’t forget to contour the face and collarbone area for a slimming effect before hitting the town.
www.neimanmarcus.com; $69