Make a splash: Seven items you need this summer

Summer!!

Since I’m Canadian, we only tend to get a few months of warm weather every year (although this year we have been pretty fortunate in Winnipeg to get a heat wave early on). So, imagine my excitement when summer rolls around and the hemlines get shorter, the skin darker, and I get to bust out all my favourite summer beauty items!

Not only does the heat mean lots of barbecues, bikes rides, pools and the beach, but it also means the Winnipeg Folk Fest here at Bird’s Hill Provincial Park. I’ve attended the festival for the past few years and although I tend to reserve folk music for daytime hours (it’s the perfect work background music), I love hitting up the festival for the chill vibes, the great tunes, and the opportunity to enjoy music and food in the middle of the park.

Anyways, since summer means a little more skincare saviors and bright beauty essentials, here is my must-have list for these hot months and if you plan on hitting up a festival.

Sephora Collection After-Sun Mask – Watermelon

Ever get a sunburn on your face? Yeah, it totally sucks and your face feels like it’s on fire.  Even though you should be packing on the SPF (hey, it happens to even the best of us), if you do get a little too much sun exposure on your cheeks, forehead, chest, etc., then you’ll need to pick up this mask from Sephora Collection.

The Watermelon After-Sun Mask (C$6) is a cooling bio-cellulose mask for the face and chest that helps tame and soothe sun-exposed skin and prolong a nice sun-kissed glow.  This is great after a day in the sun as it will help cool sunburned skin and hydrate it if it feels dry. The coolest part about the mask though is definitely the extra part for your decollete, which is an area that is equally – if not more – common to get a burn as well (a lot of foundations I use have SPF in them, but I obviously don’t put those on my chest).

Sephora Collection After-Sun Watermelon Mask, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream, and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

Speaking of sunburns, prevent them easily with Neutrogena’s new Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen with SPF 50.  This new sunscreen has a water-light feel to it, so it won’t feel tacky or greasy on the skin (I honestly hate that feeling). It also has UVA and UVB protection and is infused with hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Not only does it prevent your skin from sun damage, but the water gel formula hydrates dry skin. In addition to all this, it doesn’t leave that usual white cast as it absorbs clear into your skin.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

I have previously reviewed this product but I had to add it to my list since I’ve been pretty much using it non-stop since I got it. This CC cream (C$49), available in seven shades, is a full-coverage, colour-correcting cream with anti-aging skin care and an SPF 50 sunscreen.

Sunscreen benefits aside, I really love how this makes my skin look since it does give you an amazing coverage, which I find to be quite rare for CC and BB creams. After application, your skin is left dewy, covered, and over time, the formula is shown to increase hydration, smooth texture, and enhance brightness. A total win-win! Check out my full review here for more info.

Sephora Collection Ocean Crush fan brush set

Sephora Collection Ocean Crush Fan Brush Set

Okay, so this is technically a year-round beauty item, but you can never have enough brushes, and when they look this cute and summery, then there is always an excuse to pick these up.

The Sephora Collection Ocean Crush Fan Brush set (C$49, an C$81 value) features five fan-shapes brushes themed in an ocean palette and design. If you loved the Tarte Mermaid brush set, then you’ll love these. This set includes the softest synthetic fibers with ombre purple to turquoise handles. The fibers are a rainbow of purple, blue, and pink bristles.

Brushes include a highlight fan brush, powder fan brush, all-over eye brush, fan concealer brush, and an eye fan brush. Although they are all fan brushes, they actually do give you an awesome range of uses and with the cute design, this set is a must!

Sephora Collection Bronzer Powder

Although bronzers are typically worn year-round as contours, if you want to up your tan game this season, then you’ll definitely have to pick up a bronzer to give you that sunkissed glow.

I have a million bronzers, but lately I’ve been digging the Sephora Collection Bronzer Powder (C$21), which is available in five different shades. This bronzing powder goes on smoothly, leaving you with an instant tanned and radiant complexion.  I have the colour Bora Bora, which is a lighter shade and contains a hint of shimmer in it, making it perfect for that faked beach glow. The best part about these are that they go on subtle, meaning that you can customize the amount of colour you want on your skin. Some of my other bronzers have the tendency to go on quite harsh, but that’s not the case with this one. The texture of the powder is incredibly soft and it gives you that “I just spent all day at the pool” look, even though you were at the office for the past seven hours.

Sephora Collection bronzer in Bora Bora, Caudalie moisturizer and Dermablend highlighter

Dermablend Glow Creator Highlighter Makeup 

Looking for a killer highlight to go with that tan?

The Dermablend Glow Creator Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter is a little jar of magic as it gives you the most unreal highlight. All you need is a small amount from the dropper for a luminous glow that will radiate your skin.  The formula is infused with 20 per cent pigmented pearls, leaving you with the most beautiful highlight in either Pearl (rose gold) or Gold. You can use this product by itself (try it on the highs of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, Cupid’s bow, or inner eye corner) or add it to your foundation or skincare for that glowing-from-within kinda look.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

Long day in the sun? Nourish your skin with the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (C$48), a gel-cream moisturizer that turns into water as soon as it touches your skin.  This formula helps to soothe, moisturize, and strengthen skin, toning down redness and replenishing water reserves. Perfect for after-sun or next-morning sun care.

If you are into clean beauty but find it difficult to spot great products, then you’ll want to take a look at this moisturizer as it contains organic grape water, chamomile to help calm your skin, and antioxidant-rich grape seed polyphenols to replenish moisture and soothe, even if you’re sensitive.  It also helps with redness and fights things like pollution, stress, and sun damage, all of which can cause wrinkles. If you want the ultimate skin pick me up, keep it in your fridge for a cooling sensation as soon as you apply it.

Summer beauty is so much fun since there are so many items that you can incorporate into your beauty routine. Some should be staples, like sunscreen, while others may be fun stuff that will help get you in the mood for your next beach day or festival trip.

What are your beauty summer essentials?

Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.

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