Great Products To Kick Off Summer — As Seen On CBS Austin
The official start of summer is still 10 days away but, given the scorching temperatures we’re already experience, it’s safe to say the season arrived a bit early this year! To help you protect yourself from harmful UV rays and pesky mosquitoes during your outdoor escapades, give you some product options to update your beauty regimen, and help solve all your fashion dilemmas, I gathered some must-have products to kick off the summer season and chatted about them with my second family over on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin.”
Click here to watch the segment and keep on reading for all my product picks!
CoTZ Skincare 100% Mineral Sunscreens
When it comes to summer skincare rules, there’s one that surpasses them all: SPF is your BFF. You’ll want to choose a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection, is gentle and non-comedogenic, and which feels lightweight and comfortable on your skin. That’s precisely what CoTZ delivers with its all-mineral sunscreens, all of which are reef-friendly, cruelty-free and contain no dyes, parabens or fragrance.
One great option is the CoTZ Flawless Complexion SPF 50 Lightly Tinted ($29.50 at cotzskincare.com), a gentle, lightweight, all-mineral formula that contains 20% zinc oxide and provides broad spectrum SPF 50 protection. The cream-based formula has a silky soft feel and features a sheer tint that virtually vanishes on most skin tones.
And if you want a great sunscreen that will layer well under your makeup, reach for the CoTZ Face Prime & Protect SPF 40 Tinted ($29.50 at cotzskincare.com), a sheer, tinted mineral sunscreen that doubles as a translucent makeup primer. The lightweight formula gives skin a smooth matte finish, creating the perfect canvas for makeup application. You can also wear it on bare skin to give your complexion an airbrushed, soft matte look. The formula is also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so it’s a great choice for those hot and humid days in Texas!
Cover FX Radiant Start Tinted Moisturizer
Come summertime, most people gravitate away from the heavy foundations and, instead, embrace more minimalist makeup looks that accentuate and enhance our skin’s natural radiance. And that goes double for us in Central Texas given the sky-high temperatures and stifling humidity we navigate during the summer months. For a skin-centric makeup look that offers just the right amount of coverage, check out the Cover FX Radiant Start Tinted Moisturizer ($40 on coverfx.com)
This lightweight tinted moisturizer helps to even out skin tone and boost radiance while nourishing skin and replenishing moisture thanks to ingredients like mango seed butter and squalane. It’s ideal for mature, dry, dull, sensitive, or redness-prone skin types, and it comes in 8 beautiful shades that range from fair to deep.
Physicians Formula Butter Tinted Lip Conditioner
Continuing with the theme of skinimalist makeup, Physicians Formula’s new Butter Tinted Lip Conditioner is an absolute must-have for your summer makeup bag. This ultra-creamy, tinted lip conditioner goes on like butter, nourishing lips while adding a splash of high-shine color.
The comfortable, non-sticky and non-greasy formula features a blend of murumuru, cupuacu and tucuma butters from the Amazon, all of which are rich in essential fatty acids and pro-vitamins that soften, condition and moisturize lips.
The Butter Tinted Lip Conditioner is available in 3 subtle shades: Pink Paradise, Brazilian Berry and Beach Bronze. Each is $9.49 at H-E-B stores.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil
A good facial cleansing routine is always crucial — but particularly during summer when we’re wearing sweating, spending tons of time outdoors, and wearing potentially pore-clogging SPF and makeup.
To give your skin a truly thorough cleanse and leave it feeling refreshed and hydrated, try the new Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil ($40 on Sephora.com). This creamy cleanser transitions from a cream to an oil to a foam as it removes dirt and impurities, SPF, and makeup, leaving skin clean, hydrated, and radiant. It’s so effective at removing makeup that there’s no need to double-cleanse: this can be your go-to product for a 1-and-done face washing routine.
The formula features two forms of vitamin C to brighten and firm skin, soothing colloidal oatmeal, and a nourishing 7-oil complex that incorporates castor, sunflower, cotton seed, seabuckthorn, and apricot seed oils.
MIXIK Skincare The Complete Set
Summer is all about ease — and that’s one of the guiding principles behind Los Angeles-born, Korean beauty brand MIXIK. By drawing inspiration from age-old K-beauty rituals but marrying this wisdom with the laid-back and easy vibe of Los Angeles, MIXIK seeks to make skincare approachable and accessible to all. The all-mist skincare brand specializes in vegan formulas that feature botanical ingredients like rosewater and blue agave extracts. These plant-based ingredients are gently activated when each products’s bottle is shaken prior to being misted on the face.
Their products’s mist formats turn each skincare step into a joyful and easy experience. To enjoy the full MIXIK experience, check out The Complete Set ($99 on ThirteenLune.com and Mixikskin.com) which includes everything you need to achieve glass skin in 4 simple steps. The set includes the Cleansing Oil, Jelly Toner, Botanical Serum, and Hydra Cream.
Nabila K Frangipani & Argan Oil Body Scrub and Polynesian Monoi Body Oil
Female-founded beauty brand Nabila K aims to facilitate luxurious, highly sensorial moments and experiences through its elegant, indulgent products. This summer, you can enjoy your very own luxurious experience and mentally escape to the South Pacific with two of Nabila K’s most exquisite body care products.
First, to buff away dead skin cells and reveal smoother and brighter skin, reach for the Nabila K Frangipani & Argan Oil Body Scrub, which features a tropical frangipani scent. The vegan and cruelty-free formula contains organic cane sugar to exfoliate skin as well as moisturizing argan oil and skin-softening ingredients like shea, cocoa, and babassu butters. The 3 oz. scrub retails for $14 while the 10 oz. scrub retails for $44 on NabilaK.com and Amazon.
After your shower, reach for the Polynesian Monoi Body Oil to nourish skin and give it a beautiful glow. Inspired by the shiny hair and gleaming skin of the women in the South Pacific, this fast-absorbing oil combines a pure Monoi de Tahiti Tiare flower extract with indulgent coconut, avocado, and sesame oils. The 2.4 oz. bottle retails for $13 while the 9 oz. bottle option is $33 on NabilaK.com and Amazon.
SLIICK by Salon Perfect At-Home Microwave Waxing Kit and Salon Perfect Nail Art Stickers
With all the summer adventures on our agendas, who wants to spend hours on end cooped up in a salon? Luckily, with Salon Perfect’s high-quality and ultra-affordable products, we can enjoy salon-worthy results from the comfort of home — on your own schedule and without spending your entire bag in the process!
First, to remove unwanted chin hair, clean up eyebrows, and keep the underarms and smooth and hair-free, pick up the SLIICK by Salon Perfect Microwave Waxing Kit ($19.98 on Walmart.com). The kit contains a reusable, 100% silicone melting cup, a durable silicone applicator, and açai-scented hard wax beads. To use, simply pour the wax beads into the cup, microwave until melted into a caramel-like texture, cool ever so slightly, and apply the mixture to the area using the applicator.
And to spruce up your manicure, embellish your nails with the Salon Perfect Nail Art Stickers in Summer Crush ($4.98 on Walmart.com). These are self-adhesive, mix-and-match appliqués that you can wear atop bare nails or atop your nail polish. The Summer Crush option features adorable motifs like ice cream cones, pineapples, sunglasses, flamingo-shaped pool floaties, and more!
Hollywood Fashion Secrets Breast Contour Tape and Silicone Cover-Ups
Need the support of a bra but can’t find one that will work with some of your more daring summer tops and dresses? Fear not: Hollywood Fashion Secrets has the style solutions you need to rock your favorite summer ‘fits with confidence.
To get the lift and support of a traditional bra without the bulking or bunching, pick up the Breast Contour Tape ($24.99 on HollywoodFashionSecrets.com). Made with a hypoallergenic material and skin-friendly adhesive, this contour tape is fully customizable and features an easy cutting guide so you can trim the tape according to your cup size. It comes in 4 shades: light, medium, dark and deep.
The Silicone Cover-Ups ($14.99 on HollywoodFashionSecrets.com) are another must-have in any summer wardrobe. These silicone covers will conceal the nipple area for a smooth, no–show look under any outfit — whether it’s a bodycon dress, a halter tap, a bodysuit, or a swimsuit. Like the Breast Contour Tape, they’re available in 4 shades ranging from light to deep.
pH-D Feminine Care Boric Acid Instant Vaginal Odor Rinse and Boric Acid Sensitive Foam Wash
Swimsuit season can mean mayhem for our lady bits. To prioritize vaginal health, look to pH-D Feminine Health, a woman-owned and –operated business that specialized in holistic, affordable, and effective solutions for feminine care.
At the heart of all pH-D Feminine Health products is one clinically-validated ingredient: boric acid, a natural compound found in seawater that is a holistic solution for vaginal odor.
The Boric Acid Instant Vaginal Odor Rinse ($12.97 at Walmart and Walmart.com) instantly mitigates odors caused by sweating, menstruation, and so on.
Another great product to prioritize feminine care this season is the Boric Acid Sensitive Foam Wash ($8.97 at Walmart and Walmart.com) which combats sensitivity, irritation and odor-causing bacteria.
Zevo On-Body Mosquito + Tick Repellent
We love spending time outside in the summer but, unfortunately, so do pesky bugs — including mosquitoes that can transmit diseases like West Nile, Dengue fever, and Zika, as well as ticks that may carry Lyme disease.
Before embarking on any hikes, going camping, or inviting our friends and family members over for a backyard grilling session, it’s important to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Enter the Zevo On-Body Mosquito + Tick Repellent, which is designed to provide 8-hour protection against mosquitoes and ticks. The formula is odorless and non-sticky, plus it gives you peace of mind as you venture outdoors, providing Feel Good Protection for the entire family.
Zevo’s On-Body Mosquito + Tick Repellent is available in aerosol, pump spray and lotion forms. It retails for $9.99 at major retailers including Target and Walmart.
