The List: Going Bare

Summer skin is in. Are you ready?

May 09, 2025

The time has again come to bare your pale legs and get a little color. Summer skin is on my mind today, replete with all the maintenance that comes with after a long winter off-duty. I’m talking moisturizing, dealing with body hair, procuring a gleaming tan, buying fresh swimwear and undies, and (of course) lots of SPF.

Today’s letter is a survival kit of my hero products — and the early-season skivvies I’ve picked up. The MyTheresa private sale has an additional, massive selection of balmy weather wares, including coveted pieces from Savette, Dries, and Rohé. Also! If you’re in the market for a summer bag, *the* Tibi x LLBean tote is back in stock, in minimal quantities. Sell out is imminent, so don’t dilly-dally.

And remember. If your body is in a bikini, you have a bikini body.

Unless you’re new here, you know we’re all obsessed with EBY’s bras and undies — their heroic bras offer support without PAIN. I’m stocking up on this mesh-y, breathable material for hot summer days. (Code GRAVESFS15 for 15% off at join-eby.com.)
I love any good hypochlorous acid, but this Clean Slate Spritz from Barefaced stands out. It’s infused with moisturizing minerals that make it extra-soothing. Use it as a gentle disinfectant to gently cleanse your visage on the go (think sweaty beach days and post-workout). I often use mine in the morning instead of a sudsy cleanser. It controls oil, balances the skin barrier, reduces redness, and calms irritation in one step. (Code JESS10 for 10% off. Valid for new + existing customers through May ‘25, and new customers only after May at barefaced.com.)
Meet the Fur Trim System! I’m excited about this release, which dropped just in time for swimsuit season. Bikini lines are often irritating (literally) to maintain, and this whiz-bang nifty little tool makes body grooming way faster and easier. You can switch the heads to trim and shape or shave bare with it, and it’s waterproof for the shower groomers. I’ve been using mine and nary a nick or cut to report. And it gets CLOSE. A charge holds for a full hour, so no need to rush things! (Code THELOVELIST for 15% off at furyou.com.)
My beloved hair stylist, Ryan, looked particularly glowy one day, and I asked him where he’d been on vacation. “Babe, Dolce Glow!” he said. I was impressed. I usually hate the look and smell of a faux glow, but this is the most natural result I’ve ever seen. I got myself a can immediately and applied it to my legs.
J.Crew’s swim lineup is cute this season! I like this French-cut bikini (top + bottom) in an offbeat shade of chartreuse. Fun fact: Did you know the monks who make Chartreuse can’t travel together? If something happened, the recipe would be gone forever!
An all-time favorite body oil from Mara. Apply to damp skin after moisturizer (I greatly like Salt + Stone’s summery Basil + Neroli fragrance), right out of the shower.
My superstar (no, literally) dermatologist, Dr. Idriss, has her own skincare line, and when I was in this week, she loaded me up with a bag of her favorites. A standout is this lip peel, which is GREAT for nighttime mouth breathers — it softens lips with gentle acids, and you wake up with baby-soft smoochers. Let it absorb, then top it with the companion balm, which I promise will stay on all night.
Sometimes, you need a little faux flush. This particular pink has gone viral on TikTok because it’s the ideal youthful shade. Dab on some bronzing drops (13) and you’ll look like you’ve been basking.
Summer is air-dry season, and no hair product is better suited than Crown Affair’s leave-in conditioner. Apply it to damp hair, air dry, and let your beach waves shine.
Are we all obsessed with Cala de la Cruz right now? I think we are.
If you wear shorts or dresses in your summer rotation, try Mutha’s Glow Body Butter, a riff on their traditional formula with a little tint and sheen. It gives a subtle hint of color and amplifies an existing tan. It is also great for collarbones and shoulders. (Use code THELOVELIST15 for 15% off at mutha.com.)
The key to makeup that stays in sweltering weather begins with a GOOD PRIMER. U Beauty just dropped this yummy grippy formula loaded with SPF to save you a step. (Code JESS20 for 20% off for new customers.)

This Me + Em set (top + shorts) is en route to me. It’s precisely the kind of thing I want to play on the beach in.
All my friends are whispering about this stuff, which creates a satisfying exfoliating effect when rubbed onto skin. Fabulous for sloughing off that lingering gray layer.
Same deal, but for your face. I love anything May Lindstrom makes, but this stuff is particularly satisfying for that first facial winter shed.
Beauty trick alert: wear this under a tinted moisturizer for a faux bronzing effect that looks super natural.
I do my best grooming work in a bathrobe. Full stop.
Another cult product passed around the IYKYK crowd, this one-step peel delivers a result that rivals the in-office stuff.
I famously do not paint my nails all that much. But it’s a long-lasting, very subtle baby pink when I do. Olive & June’s entire line makes an at-home manicure a breeze, perfect for multitasking during Bravo shows.
This is THE buzzy SPF right now with the downtown crowd. The formula is thin and leaves a dewy (but not wet) glow that looks beautiful worn alone or under makeup.
I have no shame in a rash guard when I've overdone the sun. I added this one to my collection because I like the Bond girl-ish deep zipper.
There’s something so satisfying about using this lip balm! Maybe it’s the grippy case that feels damn near ergonomic or the tiny hint of pink sheen it imparts.
You’re wearing sunscreen anyway, so why not rub in a bit of color, too? Dune’s gel formulas are elite. (Code THELOVELIST for 15% off at dunesuncare.com.)
Top it off with a shimmery tanning oil, you sexy beast.