Posted on Wednesday, August 15 at 6:53 PM

Hi dolls! I’d like to share a few of my favorite products that are especially great for these summer months when we’re out soaking up the sun. Summer or not, if you see me in person there is a 95% chance that these are the only products (aside from tinted brow gel) I use on myself because I love how they look, perform, and wear throughout the day as well as the skin care benefits and protection they offer. The products that have SPF have PHYSICAL sunblock (except for the Neutrogena lip balm, but we will get into that) instead of a CHEMICAL SPF which is very important! Physical sunblock sits on top of the skin and reflects the sun’s rays. The minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the main active ingredients in physical blocks. Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin and then absorbs UV rays, converts the rays into heat, and releases them from the body. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens include avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone. The problem with chemical SPF that is that it can cause and increase existing brown spots and discoloration due to a higher internal skin temperature (over heated skin can make brown spots worse, such as melasma). These are my everyday holy grail products that keep me looking fresh faced, radiant, and protected whether I’m running errands, going out, or getting some vitamin sea or D!

Alastin Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36: I love the way my skin looks when I’m wearing this, it gives the perfect “your skin but better” effect! It’s a tinted PHYSICAL sunscreen that provides sheer color that leaves the skin looking naturally even. It feels super lightweight but is very long wearing, performing beautifully through a full work day and staying put for upwards of 14 hours without getting patchy, bunching up, creasing, or doing anything weird! It’s water resistant so you can wear it while swimming or working out without worrying about it fading, sweating, or melting off. The most interesting part about this product is that it only comes in 1 shade but I’ve found that the tint is so neutral and sheer that it works on majority of skin tones. My boyfriend has very fair European skin and I have medium tan skin and it works perfectly on both of us. On him, it adds a little color and life to his face making him look healthy. On me, it looks just like my skin and evens everything out. I think the only skin tones this may not work for are extremely fair/ deep skin, but even then the color can be adjusted with a little concealer or bronzer. HydraTint works very well beneath makeup. If I have a blemish or pigmentation I just spot conceal to keep my skin covered but looking fresh. The finish of this formula is in between matte and dewy. I use Alastin’s Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer (another AMAZING holy grail Alastin product) underneath the HydraTint and this gives the most beautiful, radiant, dewy, healthy look to the skin. If you like more of a matte effect then just set it lightly with your favorite powder (I talk about my favorite powder to use with the HydraTint below). You get 2.6 ounces of product, that’s over 2.5 times the amount of product you get with a regular foundation. It lasts forever, I use it almost every single day and 1 tube will easily last me 3-4 months. I love the hygienic pump and that the packaging isn’t bulky. The HydraTint is perfect for anyone who doesn’t like wearing foundation on the daily but still wants to look their best, wants something that isn’t finicky, is easy to put on (I use my ring finger), and wants to protect their skin from the sun. I just can’t say enough good things about this product or brand. HydraTint is honestly incredible!

E.l.f. Cosmetics Beautifully Bare Sheer Tint Powder: Like the name suggests, this powder adds just a touch of color/ tint to the face. I love this powder because it’s not overly matte, doesn’t make my face look dry or cakey, and adds a hint more coverage giving me the perfect “no makeup makeup” look. It can be used as a blotting/ touch up powder and it doesn’t cake or bunch up. I love that the silky, finely milled formula doesn’t emphasize fine lines, texture, or crease so I can even use it on my under eyes. It comes in 5 shades. I use the lightest shade “Fair/ Light” for my under eye and “Light/ Medium” to lightly set all over my face. To top it all off, it’s super inexpensive! What’s not to love!?

Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12- Hour Blush in the shade “Paaarty”: I’m a HUGE blush lover, I just love how it awakens and brings life to the face. This is my favorite blush in my collection, I use it on everybody, or at least some combination that includes it. It’s the PERFECT color, not too warm, not too cool. It goes with any kind of makeup look, whether you’re going for a “no makeup makeup” or full glam look. The formula is smooth and silky, long wearing, isn’t drying or chalky, and looks just like skin. It gives the most beautiful naturally flushed appearance. You can apply this over and over and not overdo it. I can’t live without this blush! HOLY GRAIL!

COOLA Mineral LipLux SPF 30 Organic Tinted Lip Balm: These are my favorite lip balms to use if I know I’m going to be in the sun. They have PHYSICAL SPF and are water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Perfect for swimming or going to the beach! The formula is super comfortable, isn’t sticky, and does a good job of staying on while eating and drinking.  Each of the 6 shades adds a sheer, subtle, rosy color that is buildable. The organic, cruelty free, and vegan formula has a creamy texture that smooths and nourishes lips while keeping them hydrated, so they look healthy, plump, and youthful. People wear sunscreen all the time and forget to protect their lips! You’ve got to protect your lips, people! My favorite shades are “Bonfire” and “Summer Crush”, I mix them both to get a perfect color match to my natural lip color. I love the packaging too. So cute!

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20: Although this lip balm DOES NOT have physical SPF (it would literally be perfect if it did) I still love using it. I don’t spend a lot of time in the sun so I don’t mind that this product only has a chemical SPF. This lip balm gives your lips the most beautiful, moisturized, slightly glossy, healthy, plump appearance. It truly gives the perfect “your lips but better” effect (if you weren’t sure by now, I LOVE the “no makeup makeup” look). The formula has a sheer tint of color that lets your natural lips peek through. The formula isn’t the most long wearing but I don’t mind reapplying this product throughout the day. I love these so much that I have 2-3 at any given time. I always keep one in my pocket, and usually have 1 by my nightstand and 1 in my makeup bag. This lip balm also comes in 6 shades, with “Fresh Plum” (mauvey, pinky-brown) and “Sunny Berry” (true pink rose) being my favorites. I highly recommend this lip balm, not for its SPF qualities (try the Coola for that), but for how it makes my lips look and feel. I’ve been using it for years and feel naked without it. I literally use it every. single. day.

Wow, that was a lot! Who made it all the way down here? Thank you if you stayed until the end and read all of that! What are some of your holy grail makeup products that you love using during the summer? Comment and let me know! 😎