I am a summer Grinch (Srunch?). I hate so much about summer (the heat! My apartment turns into an oven! Everything is sticky! My brain turns to mush! People telling me I should enjoy life because the sun is shining! Mosquitos!), but even in my mind, there lives a summer fantasy of breezy dresses, cool drinks and aperitivo, beachy fragrances and days at the pool (I don’t have a pool, nor is there one near me). Live your summer vacation fantasy with the help of the following beauty products.
Fragrance
For me, there’re only two kinds of scents I want to wear in summer: either the super beachy, suntan lotion adjacent kind of fragrance, or the OG Eau de Cologne 4711 and Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino. The one gets me into a vacation-y state of mind, and the other refreshes me on hot and muggy days.
- Looking for inspo?
- Beachy budget scents!
- The OGs: Bronze Goddess and Soleil Blanc
- Fresh and unisex fragrances!
- Cheap thrills from Zara
Bath/shower products
In lieu of a pool, there’s still your own bathroom. If you’re a bubble bath person, there’s only one way to go here, and that’s Lush. Fun? Check. A variety of summery scents? Check. Financially NOT the best decision you could make? Also check. And I mean, what’s more summer than slightly aggravated skin?!
Still, their expensive fragrance bombs are just the thing for our purpose, so here we go.
Big Blue bath bomb even has bits of algae in it – very moisturizing! – so you can feel like you’re on the beach. Avobath with its lemongrass scent will transport you to Thailand, and Sunnyside with its lemon scent and golden (bio-degradable!) glitter will make you feel like a thousand bucks. I mean, sure, you can also faff around with TikTok’s ‘bathscaping’ (think petals, oils, candles and salts…) or just chuck a bath bomb into the water. *shrug*
When it comes to showering, I basically want to feel like I’m in swanky spa. I’m partial to a shower oil, because it gives me the right amount of hydration in summer.
Masks and mists
Is there anything quite so luxurious as masking in the morning? Other people might rush to get ready, but you – YOU can apply a mask and lounge around having breakfast. (Also works on the weekend.)
I LOVE Skin1004’s Quick Calming Pads: they’re like the best sheet mask you ever had, but without the single-use packaging and wrong fit. For even more ‘hey I’m in an expensive Korean spa!’ vibes – the Shangpree Gold Modeling Mask can’t be beat. I love Paula’s Choice’s Super Hydrating Overnight Mask, too, especially when my skin is stressed from the sun.
And for a quick refreshing spritz of face mist – first, don’t do it too often, it’ll wreck your skin barrier, and second, Eucerin does the best one.
Makeup
I never wear much makeup on vacation, but here’re three staples: Heroine Make waterproof mascara. SERIOUSLY waterproof. I did go and snorkel with it, and it stayed put. Also great during the super humid days we’ve been having lately.
A powder foundation, preferably with SPF. I like that you can use it lightly as a powder to prevent shine, or build it up for more coverage. And finally, a lip oil. I can’t help it, super into them right now. Great to prevent dry lips, and, different to lipsticks, can be thrown into a bag without them melting on a hot day.
Live your summer vacation fantasy: drinks and snacks
For me, summer food is all about berries and tomatoes. But also, I basically want to eat like I’m ordering from the pool bar all day, so bring on the little bites of pizza slices, chicken wings, summer rolls and truffle fries. I pair that with a romance novel (a proper beach read!), and an iced drink with a (reusable) straw.
Because I can’t drink (that much) alcohol any more, here’re my top mocktails you can easily rustle up at home (you’re welcome): First, the best iced tea ever – 1/3 cold Earl Grey tea, 2/3 Ginger Ale. Add a wedge of lemon and a lot of ice, done. Second is a quickie colada: 1/3 coconut milk, cream or even water (whatever floats your boat) and 2/3 pineapple juice, shaken with a lot of crushed ice. Both will make the sofa in your living room seem like a sun lounger in a resort.
Oh, and if you venture outside, don’t forget your sunscreen. 😉
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
