The Definitive High Summer Beauty Edit
20 items, straight from my home bathroom and beach bag
Today’s issue is in partnership with our friends from Violet Grey. Did you know they have a secret membership club for close friends, btw? Use code THELOVELIST15 for 15% off sitewide.
Additional consideration is provided by Bergdorf Goodman and CYKLAR. To work with The Love List, please email abby@bigheart.media.
I feel like the media is always making us look ahead a season. And that used to make more sense, back when print domination and lead times for placement in a magazine were around three months.
But immediacy is the way of the (digital) world now, and most people are shopping for RIGHT NOW — especially in the height of a sticky, muggy summer, when there is no excuse for something like your deodorant to fail you.
So today’s beauty edit is a definitive list of the products I think are the best out there right this very moment, from sunless tanning to sweatproof SPF. I have personally tested every single one of these, and each one has earned its integration into my everyday life. This is the stuff that sits out on the vanity and never gets put up because I reach for it so often.
In short: when summer’s doing her worst, this is the stuff that keeps me looking hot… without melting. And with Violet Grey’s Close Friends Membership, it’ll arrive in two days — in hand before the weekend.
Friendly reminder: you can always use THELOVELIST15 for a 15% discount sitewide.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Complexion Drops: Everyone loves this stuff, and it’s easy to see why once you use it. Is it expensive? Well, yeah. But a teeny dab goes a long way and sheers out beautifully to even up splotchy skin. It leaves your skin looking dewy (but not wet), hydrated (but not sweaty), and sets wonderfully with your spray of choice.
MUTHA Hydrating Peptide Undereye Patches: The brand sent me these when they were still top-secret, and I was incredibly impatient for them to finally hit the shelves. Now that they’re out, they’re as good as I remember for plumping up a sleepy undereye. Keep them in the fridge for an extra de-puffing boost.
RöZ WAVE Texturizing Mist: For my fellow summer air-dry queens, you know I have long espoused the virtues of Crown Affair’s perfect hair cream. RoZ’s mist is for that finishing touch, to define your natural wave without making your hair crispy for that effortless, just-off-the-beach tousel.
Fara Homidi The Blonzing Compact: Can Fara do anything wrong? She is so incredibly selective about what she puts out into the world, and her tight edit of Insta-bait cosmetics has all my friends abuzz. New to the party: what she calls a “Blonzer”, which is a blush/bronzer hybrid that gives you a believable sunkissed glow — that is to say, tawny with just a hint of flush.
TONAL Sunveil: I’ve never tried anything quite like this stuff. It applies like a sunscreen, covers like a foundation, and has a proprietary ingredient blend that somehow absorbs sebum so you don’t get all oily in the hot hot heat? I am unsure of the voodoo contained therein, but 100% locked in that it works: I wore it to the beach all day and even took a dip in the ocean. No burn on my face, no post-goo breakout, just me looking like I woke up like this all day long.
Mimetique Skin Restore Moisturizer: Inspired by French Pharmacy brands, this is the kind of workhorse moisturizer you could gift to just about anyone and their skin would find it agreeable. It’s great alone, on the face or body, under makeup or to soothe a sunburn. I’m already halfway through the tube!
Filament Restorative Hair Treatment: If you’ve been here awhile, you’ve heard me talk about Filament, which came for the crown of Olaplex and quickly knocked her off the pedestal. If you use it daily (read the instructions!), dry summer hair woes simply will not plague you. Breakage? idk her.
Bob Beauté The Face Mist: Stash this indie brand’s cooling mist in the fridge for when you need a mid-day cooldown, or carry it in your bag for a quick spritz on the go. It’s also great to reset makeup if you pair it with a beauty sponge.
Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Cream: Everybody needs sunscreen, but why not sex it up a little? This one’s got a gleamy, glowy bronzer streak that leaves your skin looking sunkissed as soon as you apply.
Vitalis Body Dry Brush for Sensitive Skin: The first step to a lasting tan is to keep your body exfoliated and moisturized — we all know this. A good dry brush is your primary line of defense in sloughing off whatever’s baked before you hop under the shower stream. This one is special: think of it as the Hästens of dry brushes, with natural fibers that gently sweep off dead skin cells without agitating follicles.
LILIS Instant Peel: For a satisfying slough, use this stuff in the tub to get your skin otherworldly smooth.
Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Creme: Everyone thinks I’m soooo tan this summer. But it’s really just this stuff. Hehe.
TRONQUE Firming Body Butter: If you can’t tone it, tan it, as they say. And before you tan it, tone it with this incredible body butter, which also boasts caffiene and other ingredients that tighten your skin. Cool!
MSK Labs The Quickie Sunless Tanner: From the mind of a celeb-beloved spray tan artist, The Quickie is an elite formula. I was never a sunless tanner person before this stuff, because I always ended up looking streaky and try-hard. This stuff doesn’t have any stink; it tans your skin to a subtle shade of bronze and doesn’t come off on your clothes, sheets, or shower. Best of all, you can’t screw it up. My only tip: work fast; it dries quickly.
MSK Labs sunless tanning mitt: For the best tan possible, apply the above with this mitt.
Westman Atelier Hydrobalm and Biologique Recherche Biokiss Balm: A crucial pairing that’s better together. Prep your lips with the balm and then finish with Westman Atelier’s moisturizing sheer lip color for a barely-there lip that looks yours, but better.
Hermès Limited Edition Silky Lipstick: With no other makeup whatsoever, a lip swathed in this shade will make a whole face look finished (and French!)
Sofie Pavitt Micellar Pads: Use these before cleansing to be extra-sure you got all of the heavy-duty waterproof mascara and sunscreen off your mug. Think of them like a portable magnet for gunk.
CYKLAR Vanilla Verve Clarifying Deodorant: Deodorant with mandelic acid? Why didn’t I think of that!?!
Dries van Noten Soie Malaquais perfume: On your dresser, she is beauty and grace. On your body, she is a heady, intoxicating blend of bergamot and blackcurrant that begs for a summer night. The tiny beat of cocoa gives it a whiff of nostalgia, so that any man who tucks into your neck will be reminded of the beach.
PS, Use THELOVELIST15 for a 15% discount sitewide at Violet Grey
I LOVE Tonal!! Cannot recommend enough!
Can confirm the Roz Salt Spray is worth it (as someone who does everything to avoid brushing my hair)