The Best Summer Beauty Products | July Favorites
With July coming to an end, I thought I'd share some of the summer beauty products that I've been obsessed with. Read below to find out what they are and why I love them!
1. Orly Breathable Treatment + Color ($9)
My nails are as fragile as they come and my regular gel polish manicures certainly don't help. So when we got these polishes at the office, I was pretty stoked to use them. ORLY already is a great brand because their polishes are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan. These new polishes are infused with argan oil and vitamins B5 and C and feature oxygen technology that lets your nails breath. Also, the brand says you don't need base or top coat.
After the first coat, I was pretty impressed with it already. I only needed to use one coat and my nails were totally covered. It has a glossy finish, so I can see why there's no top coat necessary. I still used a base coat just to be safe since I used a bright red color. Stained nails aren't pretty!
2. Murad Advanced Acne & Wrinkle Reducer ($44)
I honestly feel like this product was made for me. I'm at the point in my life where it's time to start preventative treatments for aging. At the same time, I still deal with acne on a regular basis. This product addresses both of those concerns.
It contains "Kombucha Collagen Defense" which is derived from fermented black tea and helps fight the signs of aging. It also contains retinol and glycolic acid which both help improve your skin's tone and texture.
I apply this product after I cleanse and tone my skin and then follow it with a moisturizer. I was doing it day and night, but when I realized there was retinol in it, I switched to just using it at night time since Retinol can make your skin sensitive to the sun.
So far, I've noticed my skin has less breakouts and clogged pores. Another great thing about this product is it's supposed to help with hormonal acne, something I seriously struggle with.
3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($26)
I recently went to a Clinique event and there was an expert there that recommended I use this lotion as my moisturizer. It's great for combination to oily skin and absorbs quickly, so it won't leave your skin feeling greasy.
I've been dealing with some clogged pore issues, so I was hoping a lighter moisturizer would help combat that. A month in, my pores do seem less clogged but that could also be due to the Murad acne treatment I've been using. Either way, the combination of the two has been doing wonders for my skin.
4. Hourglass 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Liner ($48 for a 3 pack)
I tried this eyeliner a long time ago and was obsessed with it. But given the nature of my job, I moved on to other products once this one ran out. Honestly, all the other eyeliners I tried never really stacked up. I finally got my hands on it again and the intense love I felt for it is still as strong as ever.
I love that it's super fine so you can get super close to the lashes and tightline with it. You can stop there and top it with mascara and just go for a defined lash look. OR you can take it up a notch. Apply it to your upper lash line and use a brush or your finger to smudge it out for a smokey eyeliner look.
And speaking of summer beauty products, this eyeliner is waterproof, so it's perfect for the heat!
5. Benefit They're Real! Mascara ($24)
I tend to have oily eyelids and it only gets worse as the temperatures go up. By the middle of the day, my mascara leaves an embarrassing imprint on my brow bone. Because of that, I've had to switch to a mascara that'll stick to my lashes and not anywhere else. I knew I didn't want a waterproof mascara because those are a bitch to take off. I tested a few mascaras until I found one that wore like a waterproof mascara, but washed off like a regular mascara. The winner was Benefit They're Real! Mascara.
The formula is glossy and jet black and it seriously stays on all day without any smudges. What I really love about this mascara is the brush. The domed tip helps you get every single lash big or small and helps you coat your lower lashes without any mistakes.
