The Summer Beauty Survival Kit

Road-tested products that stand up to the sunniest season.

Note: This send is unlocked for everyone by the iNNBEAUTY Project. Our partnerships allow The Love List time and capacity to research, road-test, and write stories like these. If you would like to collaborate with us, please reach out via email to Sophie Krakoff at sophie@friendsofthehousegroup.com.

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It’s been a banner year for beauty. Innovation is happening fast, and product formulas are improving faster. Exciting things are hitting the market that put the old ways to shame. But with so much stuff out there, how can you know what’s actually good?

Brands send me all kinds of things to try. (In this case, gifting is a good thing.) I not only guinea pig products myself but also distribute them to friends to report back on—recognizing that I can’t provide feedback on only my skin type. I asked for feedback on efficacy, ease of use (product packaging that doesn’t tear off your fingernails to open, formulas that sink in quickly), value, and wild card elements like fragrance.

Here on the East Coast, we still have two solid months of legs-out weather ahead. Concerns from the hot-weather season — salt, sun, bugs and b.o. — are still at large. Now that I’ve polled the group chat and collected my own data, some hero products have emerged. I’ve also asked brands for discount codes where I could get them. Here’s what we like.

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iNNBEAUTY Project Extreme Cream + Mineral Sun Glow SPF

I’m listing these as a combo because while strong alone, they’re better together. As I’ve written before, Extreme Cream is a rock-solid swap for Augutinus Bader’s regular weight (not The Rich!) cream. The formula is substantive but lightweight to wear, mild on all skin types, and fragrance-free. Better, it’s refillable!

This time of year, when the air is full of water anyway, you don’t need much to flood your skin with extra moisture. A lightweight layer of SPF should do the trick atop your lotion—extra points if it has a little tint to even out tone, right?

iNNBEAUTY Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF checks both boxes. I’m resolved not to report on beauty brands that don’t offer a wide shade range, so rest assured they run the gamut. The fair/medium shade suits everyone from porcelain to olive and the medium/deep blends in beautifully on dark tones. It dries down to a touchable, not-too-dewy finish. The final result is radiant and glowy. If you need a little something extra, I’d finish with a few dabs of concealer. (LOVELIST20 for 20% off $65+ orders).

Hanni Shave Set + Dry Skin Rescue

One of my favorite brand discoveries of 2024 is Hanni, a body care line that has completely rethought and improved upon the shaving ritual. First up is their ingenious Shave Pillow, a stick-applicator balm that rolls on in the shower in lieu of messy shaving cream. Follow that with their single-blade razor, which is so sharp you need barely press against the skin. Fewer swipes + less friction = fewer bumps. While you can buy each separately, the kit comes with a smart little stand for your razor, extra blades, and a safety tin for old blades.

If you have sun-parched skin, I also recommend the brand’s Dry Skin Rescue. I took the whole rig with me for a month in Montauk. The Cocoon Cleanse kept my tanned legs from feeling soap-stripped, and The Fatty (also in a slick little stick) was clutch to stash away for after-shower moisture or a quick swipe before heading out in shorts. The Shower Scarf felt like a deep-body back scratch, especially when I got a little too much sun on my shoulders and couldn’t reach. (20% off with JESS20).

The Manicurist Active Nail Glow

For fellow manicure minimalists, this stuff requires only a few quick swipes to give otherwise naked nails a healthy pink glow. It nourishes and protects while you wear it, too—I’ve noticed less breakage since using it.

Kindred Black Madness in Waves Perfume

This is late summer in a bottle—sexy and heat-dizzy, it makes you yearn for a little more time together, much like the season it inspired. Madness in Waves smells of spicy peach and peppercorn and has a long-lasting oil-based formula that requires only a tiny dab on your pulse points.

Kate McCleod Dusk Stone + Kinfield Golden Hour Wipes

A lotion bar with insect repellent baked in: why did nobody think of this before? Kate McCleod’s Dusk Stone carries a fragrant blend of citronella, peppermint, rosemary, and lemongrass to deter unwelcome bites while soothing the ones you may already have. Rub yourself down before that glass of sunset rosè and plod back inside unbothered by dusk’s flying pests.

For on-the-go stashability, I prefer Kinfield’s Golden Hour Wipes. They have a similar clean, naturally derived formula and come in a tidy little pocket pack for hikes and beach bags. As a self-proclaimed mosquito magnet, both of these products are lifesavers. If only I had them sooner, bite-free legs could have been mine years ago.

Furtuna Skin Replenishing Balm

Technically this stuff is for anywhere you have skin, but I find it particularly useful this time of year on my lips and cuticles. Furtuna’s Replenishing Balm revives dull skin and nourishes it long-term, a godsend for someone like me whose lips are always sun-peeled. Maybe it’s the Italian in me, but oil-based formulas agree with my skin.

If I have too much sun on my face, I’ll apply it all over my face before makeup — the blue spirulina neutralizes red undertones. At night, I spread it all over the lower half of my face and follow up with a slather on my fingers. I have a mini jar in my bag and a big one on my bedside. It’s an indispensable product in my repertoire. (JESSG20 for 20% off).

Sofie Pavitt Nice Ice Toning Pods

Oh my God, when you have sunburn, there is literally nothing that feels better than these. You really can’t go wrong with anything in Sofie Pavitt’s line, but efficacy aside, these deserve a place on this list for sheer cleverness.

Nice Ice Toning Pods live in your freezer. Pull one of these out and drop it on a cotton pad, then rub it all over your face. The cold feels great but also beats back inflammation and puffy skin. As it melts, the residual product soaks into the cotton pad to rub on your neck and chest. It’s also great to reduce swelling after laser treatments and injectables. (10% off with code JESS10).

Crown Affair The Renewal Hair Mask + Goop Beauty G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo

This is another strong standalone product duo that I’m listing as a pair because they’re better together. In the summer, gunk buildup on the scalp compounds quicker from sweat, sun (yeah, your scalp can get burned), dead skin, and even residue from aerosol sunscreens and bug sprays. I’ve hacked this combo for when I want my hair squeaky clean but still manageable (read: minimal frizz).

I begin with Goop’s Scalp Scrub, which I take my time with and use generously. I part my hair in sections and rub the pink, coarse formula into my scalp, especially at my hairline and crown. I follow that with a nice long tub sit with a thick layer of Crown Affair’s Hair Mask coating every strand. After rinsing, my hair is soft and shiny, my scalp itch-free and clean as a whistle.

Dune The Bod Guard Sunscreen

What would a summer survival kit be without good old-fashioned sunscreen? I don’t favor aerosol formulas; the coverage is lame, and you don’t get much value by the end of the can. A liquid formula like Dune’s is superior. This one is an invisible gel that doesn’t leave you skin-streaked with white cast. You can swim in it for a solid 40 minutes before having to re-apply. It won’t clog pores (a big deal!!), and it even does legwork to moisturize while you wear it. I like how quickly it dries down (great for antsy kiddos) and how cooling it feels to apply. Pound for pound, it’s my favorite formula, and I’ve tried many.

P.S., Before you shop, you can always check our active discount codes here.

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